Biologist Ruthmery Pillco, Who Leads our Andean Bear Reforestation Project, Named National Geographic Emerging Explorer

Photo of Ruthmery Pillco in the field Ruthmery Pillco, who leads field activities for the Community-Based Reforestation to Protect Andean bears project, was recently announced as one of fifteen changemakers worldwide to be selected for National Geographic’s Emerging Explorers award. She joins a global community of National Geographic Explorers that include a diverse array of scientists, educators, storytellers, and conservationists. 

Ruthmery is an Indigenous Peruvian biologist from a village outside of Cusco, and is a trilingual speaker of Spanish, English and Quechua. She recently received her Master’s degree in plant and fungi taxonomy, conservation, and biodiversity from Queen Mary University of London and Kew Gardens, and has also been featured as one of our Incredible Women in Science. 

Aside from leading the Andean bear conservation project, she has led rare and threatened tree conservation projects on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, making inventories of flora, collecting seeds, and germinating threatened trees to later be used in restoration projects. 

Photo of Ruthmery Pillco in the fieldNational Geographic’s Emerging Explorers are selected annually from a global pool of candidates, and come from a variety of fields ranging from anthropology and earth sciences to technology and filmmaking. Aside from Ruthmery’s species conservation work, the projects from this year’s Emerging Explorers’ include ocean exploration, inventing space technologies, and understanding the past through archaeology and anthropology, among others.

“Our emerging explorers are inspiring young visionaries who are looking at ways to remedy global problems and are undertaking innovative research and exploration,” said Terry Garcia, National Geographic’s chief science and exploration officer at the time, in a past interview about the program. “They will help lead a new age of discovery.”

See the National Geographic announcement here.

 

 

Amazon Fire Tracker 2021: Brazilian Amazon Fire Season Begins

2021 Brazilian Amazon Fire #2. Mato Grosso. Data: MAAP, Planet.
2021 Brazilian Amazon Fire #2. Mato Grosso. Data: MAAP, Planet.

Last year (2020), we demonstrated the power of our real-time Amazon fire monitoring app (see MAAP #118 and MAAP #129).

In a novel approach, the app uniquely combines data from the atmosphere (aerosol emissions in smoke) and the ground (heat anomaly alerts) to quickly and precisely detect major Amazon fires.*

Using the app, we just detected the first two major fires in the Brazilian Amazon for 2021.

These fires occurred on May 19 and 20, respectively, both on the southern edge of the Amazon in the state of Mato Grosso. For comparison, last year’s intense fire season started on May 28.

(Editor’s note: Since the initial publishing of this article, we have identified four additional major fires. This brings the total number of major fires in the Amazon to six; these six major fires are all burning in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Please follow @MattFiner and @ACA_DC on Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest Amazon fires updates).

We confirmed the fires using high-resolution imagery from the satellite company Planet.

Importantly, the imagery also revealed that these fires burned recently deforested areas. That is, instead of being actual “forest fires,” these areas were actually first deforested in 2020 and then burned in 2021. See MAAP #113 for background on this important point.

Below, we show a striking series of satellite imagery videos showing the first two fires, which highlights critical process of Amazon deforestation followed by Amazon fires.

 

2021 Brazilian Amazon Fire #1

We detected the first major fire of the year in the Brazilian Amazon on May 19, on the southern edge of the Amazon in the state of Mato Grosso. As the satellite video shows, this area was first cleared in 2020 and then later burned in 2021.

2021 Brazilian Amazon Fire #1. Mato Grosso. Data: MAAP, Planet.
2021 Brazilian Amazon Fire #1. Mato Grosso. Data: MAAP, Planet.

 

 

2021 Brazilian Amazon Fire #2

We detected the second major fire of the year in the Brazilian Amazon the following day, on May 20, also on the southern edge of the Amazon in the state of Mato Grosso. As the satellite video shows, this area was also first cleared in 2020 and then later burned in 2021.

2021 Brazilian Amazon Fire #2. Mato Grosso. Data: MAAP, Planet.
2021 Brazilian Amazon Fire #2. Mato Grosso. Data: MAAP, Planet.

*App Background

We launched a new and improved version of the Amazon real-time fire monitoring app in May 2021. The app is hosted by Google Earth Engine and updated every day by the organization Conservación Amazónica, based in Peru.

The app displays aerosol emissions as detected by the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-5 satellite. Elevated aerosol levels indicate the burning of large amounts of biomass, defined here as a “major fire”. In a novel approach, the app combines data from the atmosphere (aerosol emissions in smoke) and the ground (heat anomaly alerts) to effectively detect and visualize major Amazon fires.

When fires burn, they emit gases and aerosols. A new satellite (Sentinel-5P from the European Space Agency) detects these aerosol emissions (aerosol definition: Suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air or another gas). Thus, the major feature of the app is detecting elevated aerosol emissions which in turn indicate the burning of large amounts of biomass. For example, the app distinguishes small fires clearing old fields (and burning little biomass) from larger fires burning recently deforested areas or standing forest (and burning lots of biomass). The spatial resolution of the aerosol data is 7.5 sq km. The high values in the aerosol indices (AI) may also be due to other reasons such as emissions of volcanic ash or desert dust so it is important to cross reference elevated emissions with heat data and optical imagery.

We define “major fire” as one showing elevated aerosol emission levels on the app, thus indicating the burning of elevated levels of biomass. This typically translates to an aerosol index of >1 (or cyan-green to red on the app). To identify the exact source of the elevated emissions, we reduce the intensity of aerosol data in order to see the underlying terrestrial heat-based fire alerts. Typically for major fires, there is a large cluster of alerts. The major fires are then confirmed, and burn areas estimated, using high-resolution satellite imagery from Planet Explorer.

Since the data updates daily and is not impacted by clouds, real-time monitoring really is possible. Our goal is to upload each day’s new image in the late afternoon/early evening.

 

Acknowledgements

The app was developed and updated daily by Conservación Amazónica (ACCA). The data analysis is led by Amazon Conservation in collaboration with SERVIR Amazonia.

This work was mainly supported by NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation) and ICFC (International Conservation Fund of Canada).

 

Citation

Finer M, Villa L (2021) Amazon Fire Tracker 2021: Brazilian Amazon Fire Season Begins. MAAP.

Download PDF of this article >>

 

Nine New Beetle Species Discovered at Our Biological Stations in the Peruvian Amazon

Image of Greensladella cicra beetle found at Amazon Conservation's Los Amigos Biological Station
Image of Greensladella cicra sp.n

Nine new beetle species and two new genera were recently discovered at our biological stations in the Peruvian Amazon by British researcher Dr. Michael Darby, noted in his recent publication “New genera and species of Ptiliini (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) with a tribal revision and key to genera.”

Two of those species he named in honor of our biological stations: Greensladella cicra sp.n  is named after our Los Amigos Biological Station where the insect was found, while Numa carmen sp.n is named after our Manu Biological Station (previously called Villa Carmen), where it was collected.

Greensladella cicra sp.n measures 0.68 mm, with a reddish brown body with dusky yellow legs and antennae. Its head is covered with large circular shallow setal depressions, and the row behind the eyes is slightly elongated. Numa carmen sp.n measures 0.61 mm and the color is dark, almost black, with pale yellow antennae and a strongly sculpted head and body

Image of Numa Carmen beetle discovered at Amazon Conservation's Villa Carmen Biological Station
Image of Numa Carmen sp.n

They are part of the Ptiliidae family of beetles, which includes some of the smallest beetles in the world. These are also sometimes called featherwing beetles, because the hindwings are narrow and feathery.

In total, Dr. Michael Darby’s publication added three new genera (two from Peru at our stations) to the beetle tribe Ptiliini and 29 new species (nine discovered at our stations). His research helps better categorize this tribe of beetles, as he also created a key to help determine specimens. 

Our stations have hosted over 200 research projects and produced over 200 publications, including biological inventories of more than 30 types of organisms. Due to the range of elevational gradients, they host an incredible array of species found in a variety of habitats, ranging from cloud forest to montane and lowland Amazonian forests. 

 

MAAP #137: New Illegal Gold Mining Hotspot In Peruvian Amazon – Pariamanu

In 2019, the Peruvian government launched Operation Mercury to confront the illegal gold mining crisis in the southern Amazonian area known as La Pampa (Madre de Dios region).As a result, deforestation decreased 90% in this critical area (MAAP# 130).

Some illegal gold mining, however, has moved to several new hotspots (Image 1), although at much lower levels.

Image 1. Very high-resolution image of the recent gold mining deforestation (10 hectares) in the new hotspot around the Pariamanu river. Data: Planet (Skysat)
Image 1. Very high-resolution image of the recent gold mining deforestation (10 hectares) in the new hotspot around the Pariamanu river. Data: Planet (Skysat)

The most emblematic hotspot is located along the Pariamanu River, northeast of La Pampa in the Madre de Dios region (see Base Map, below).

We have documented the gold mining deforestation of 204 hectares (504 acres) in the Pariamanu area from 2017 to the present

This mining activity is clearly illegal because it is located within Brazil-nut forestry concessions, and is outside the permitted mining zone (commonly called the “mining corridor”).

Fortunately, a series of timely actions by the Peruvian Government has minimized the irreversible damage along the Pariamanu (see below).

The objective of this report is to present Pariamanu as an emblematic case that links technology with the rapid response action of public entities to address illegal activity in the Amazon.

It also represents a concrete case of strategic collaboration between civil society and the government to try and achieve zero illegal deforestation (and avoided deforestation).

 

 

Pariamanu

Base Map

Base Map. Illegal gold mining deforestation along the Pariamanu river, in the context of La Pampa. Data: MAAP.
Base Map. Illegal gold mining deforestation along the Pariamanu river, in the context of La Pampa. Data: MAAP.

The Base Map shows the location of illegal gold mining along the Pariamanu River, in the southern Peruvian Amazon (Madre de Dios region).

For context, La Pampa (the previous epicenter of illegal mining) and the regional capitol city of Puerto Maldonado are inlcuded. We also show another new illegal mining hotspot next to La Pampa, known as Apaylon.

In total, we have documented the deforestation of 204 hectares (504 acres) of primary forest caused by illegal gold mining in Pariamanu since 2017, indicated in red.

Note that this deforestation is located within Brazil nut forestry concessions and outside the “mining corridor,” thus clearly indicating its illegality.

 

 

 

Satellite Video: Illegal Gold Mining Deforestation in Pariamanu

We present a satellite image video showing an example of illegal gold mining in the Pariamanu area. These images show the deforestation of 71 hectares (175 acres) between 2016 (first image) and 2021 (last image), in the area indicated by the white inset box in the Base Map above. Note that each image is from July of each year (2016-20), with the exception of 2021 which shows January and March.

Satellite image video. Data: Planet.

Planet link: https://www.planet.com/stories/illegal-gold-mining-in-southern-peruvian-amazon-pa-6DfO4KuGg

 

 

MAAP Reports & Government Action

Operativo en Pariamanu, septiembre del 2020. Foto: FEMA Madre de Dios.
Operativo en Pariamanu, septiembre del 2020. Foto: FEMA Madre de Dios.

The first MAAP report about Pariamanu was published in November 2016, where we described “the start of mining in a new area” (MAAP #50). We found the mining-caused deforestation of 69 hectares (170 acres) on the banks of the Pariamanu river.

In January 2020, we published the second MAAP report about Pariamanu, documenting that the mining deforestation increased to 99 hectares (245 acres) (MAAP # 115). In this report, we warned that there were indications that some miners displaced by Operation Mercury (in February 2019) have moved to this area.

In response to this situation, the Peruvian Government, led by the Special Prosecutor for Environmental Matters (known as FEMA), carried out a series of field operations in 2020 (MayAugust and September, respectively), as an extension of Operation Mercury focused on cracking down on the illegal mining in Pariamanu.

The operations were effective in destroying mining equipment and sending a strong message that the government was engaged in this area.

However, we found that gold mining deforestation continued in several small areas between October 2020 and March 2021 (see Image 2), reaching the new total of 204 hectares (504 acres).

Fortunately, the government continues to respond effectively. Most recently (March 19, 2021), FEMA and the Peruvian Coast Guard carried out a new operation in Pariamanu, finding an illegal mining camp and equipment.

As mentioned above, the objective of this section (and this report) is to present Pariamanu as an emblematic case that links technology with the rapid response action of public entities to address illegal activity in the Amazon. It also represents a concrete case of strategic collaboration between civil society and the government to try and achieve zero illegal deforestation (and avoided deforestation).

 

Image 2. Data: Planet, MAAP.
Image 2. Data: Planet, MAAP.

 

Acknowledgments

We thank S. Novoa (ACCA), G. Palacios (ACA), and A. Felix, K. Nielsen, A. Caceres, I. Canelo, J. Carlos Guerra, O. Liao, y H. Che Piu from USAID’s PREVENT Project, for their helpful comments on this report.

This report was conducted with technical assistance from USAID, via the Prevent project. Prevent is an initiative that is working with the Government of Peru, civil society, and the private sector to prevent and combat environmental crimes in Loreto, Ucayali and Madre de Dios, in order to conserve the Peruvian Amazon.

This publication is made possible with the support of the American people through USAID. Its content is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US government.

This work was also supported by NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation), ICFC (International Conservation Fund of Canada), and EROL Foundation.

 

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2021) New Illegal Gold Mining Hotspot in Peruvian Amazon – Pariamanu. MAAP: 137.

Download PDF of this article >>

 

 

 

Peruvian Government and Local Agro-exporters Association Committed to Economic Recovery that Protects Environment

A group of three key conservation actors in Peru recently signed the Manu Conservation Agreement, which looks to promote exports, fair trade, and conservation of Amazonian forests in the vast Manu Biosphere Reserve in southeastern Peru. Through the sustainable commercialization of forest products that can only exist in healthy forests, this agreement works to build deforestation-free economic recovery for the area.

This agreement will benefit 51 local families by protecting 1,000 acres from deforestation and the 30,000 Peruvian groundcherry plants found within, that produce fruit that can be harvested and generate income. These plants have been a staple crop gathered by local communities, and have contributed to the area’s conservation for the past eight years. The local communities, who have been committed to the conservation of Manu National Park from the beginning, are now being offered new opportunities with this agreement, because their products will move from local markets in Cusco to national markets, with the possibility of being exported internationally.

During the signing ceremony, the President of the Ukumari Paucartambo Agro-exporters Association, Ricter Cárdenas, stated in his speech: “First of all, I thank the National Service for Protected Areas (SERNANP)…as well as Conservación Amazónica -ACCA and the Frankfurt Zoological Society, because they always support us with their coordination.  We’ve been working on this for 6 years, and after 3 years, Conservación Amazónica -ACCA, SERNANP and two other organizations joined to support us.” He also added that, “My colleagues and I are proud, we have finished delivering the fruit, now we are selling to a company thanks to much effort and training.” 

Since 2019, we have supported producers in Challabamba through our sister organization on the ground in Peru, Conservación Amazónica -ACCA, with technical training from production to harvest, packaging and shipping, advice in the development of marketing agreements, of products such as aguaymanto, apple, passion fruit, avocado, coffee, in coexistence with the forests where the Andean bear lives. This is thanks to the alliance with the Resilient Amazon project – National Service for Protected Areas (SERNANP) PNUD. Through this project, we have been promoting the creation of the Manu biosphere project for zero-deforestation products.

The organizations who signed this agreement include the Ukumari Paucartambo Association of Agro-exporters, the National Service for Protected Natural Areas (SERNANP) and superfruit juice vendor Amaru Mayu Company. Ronald Catpo, the Conservation Director at our sister organization Conservación Amazónica-ACCA, was invited to join the signing ceremony that included the President of Peru, Peru’s Minister of the Environment, the head of National Services for Protected Areas, the regional governor of Cusco, representatives of the Challabamba communities, ambassadors of the United Kingdom and Germany, and the Frankfurt Zoological Society.