The purpose of this paper is to analyse the following strategies used to assess productivity of vegetation: (1) measuring LAI and fPAR; (2) calculating band ratios representing soil and vegetation stresses; and (3) modelling net primary productivity. Amazonian site-specific challenges are addressed in relation to each of the approaches, and pertinent research gaps are delineated. Conclusions focus on the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, and describing optimal strategies for integrating the productivity of vegetation into future Amazonian land-use change research.
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