10.1177/1525822X03254847 ARTICLE FIELD METHODS Vadez et al. / SELF-REPORTS IN MEASURING DEFORESTATION Validity of Self-Reports to Measure Deforestation: Evidence from the Bolivian Lowlands VINCENT VADEZ Brandeis University VICTORIA REYES-GARCÍA University of Florida RICARDO GODOY Brandeis University LUKE WILLIAMS University of Florida LILIAN APAZA Universidad Mayor de San Andrés ELIZABETH BYRON University of Florida TOMÁS HUANCA Beni, Bolivia WILLIAM R. LEONARD Northwestern University EDDY PÉREZ Universidad Mayor de San Andrés DAVID WILKIE Wildlife Conservation Society To assess rates of deforestation, researchers typically use questionnaires. But do questionnaires provide accurate information about the extent of forest clearance by households? In this article, the authors provide data on the amount of deforestation in a Tsimane’ Amerindian village (Bolivia) and assess informant error by cross- checking three different assessments: (1) a direct physical measure by a research team of each plot cleared from the forest, (2) an estimate by the household head of the entire area cleared by his household during the year before the interview, and (3) an estimate by the plot owners of the area cleared of each plot he owns. Results show a high correlation between direct measures and estimates of areas provided by infor- mants; plot owners provided more accurate information than heads of households. Field Methods, Vol. 15, No. 3, August 2003 289–304 DOI: 10.1177/1525822X03254847 © 2003 Sage Publications 289