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Tropical forest deforestation is an important concern and remote sensing techniques are key elements that can lead us to a better evaluation of its dynamics. The study of the spatial and temporal vegetation patterns by means of vegetation indexes has been widely used at a global and regional scale. Transition zones between countries with different cultures and environmental policy are important cases of study, like the one that is shown here, that takes place in the Caribbean Island of the Hispaniola. Making use of the Global Land 1-km AVHRR project data set, monthly NDVI and land surface temperature trends have been analyzed for a one year period in the Hispaniola. In order to address the great contrast between countries, present study has been concentrated on the vegetation dynamics across the border region. It is attempted to show the utility of these two variables to confirm much higher mean monthly NDVI trends in the Dominican side and remark the more extreme biomass changes and over pressure against Haiti natural forests. (c) 2005 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.