Abstract There is currently no consensual definition of deforestation. Given its importance in several research topics ranging from biodiversity to climate change, conservation, restoration, and emerging diseases as well as in comparative studies, it is necessary to provide an integrated framework towards a harmonized definition of deforestation. Here, we analyze and compare international and national reports on deforestation management (e.g., FAO, UNFCCC) and find important differences, including contrasting definitions of deforestation and conceptual ambiguities. We also present a straightforward, harmonized definition of deforestation that is linked to a specific methodology for decision-making studies. This proposal can contribute to informed decision-making on studies related to deforestation.

中文翻译：

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统一毁林定义的综合框架

摘要 目前还没有关于森林砍伐的一致定义。鉴于其在从生物多样性到气候变化、保护、恢复和新出现的疾病以及比较研究等多个研究主题中的重要性，有必要为森林砍伐的统一定义提供一个综合框架。在这里，我们分析和比较了关于森林砍伐管理的国际和国家报告（例如，粮农组织、联合国气候变化框架公约），并发现了重要的差异，包括森林砍伐的不同定义和概念上的歧义。我们还提出了一个直接、统一的森林砍伐定义，该定义与决策研究的特定方法相关。该提案有助于就与森林砍伐相关的研究做出明智的决策。