Author: Ana Folhadella

MAAP Synthesis: 2019 Amazon Deforestation Trends and Hotspots

Posted on by Ana Folhadella

MAAP, an initiative of Amazon Conservation, specializes in satellite-based, real-time deforestation monitoring of the Amazon. Our geographic focus covers five countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru (see Base Map).

We found that, since 2001, this vast area lost 65.8 million acres (26.6 million hectares) of primary forest, an area equivalent to the size of the United Kingdom (or the U.S. state of Colorado).

Base Map. Amazon Deforestation, 2001-2019. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, MAAP
Base Map. Amazon Deforestation, 2001-2019. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, MAAP. Click to see image in high resolution.

In 2019, we published 18 high-impact reports on the most urgent cases of deforestation. 2019 highlights include:

  • Fires in the Brazilian Amazon actually burned freshly deforested areas (MAAP #113);
  • Effective illegal gold mining crackdown in the Peruvian Amazon as a result of the government’s Operation Mercury (MAAP #104);
  • Illegal invasion of protected areas in the Colombian Amazon (MAAP #106);
  • Construction of oil-drilling platforms in the mega-diverse Yasuni National Park of the Ecuadorian Amazon (MAAP #114).

Here, in our annual Synthesis Report, we go beyond these emblematic cases and look at the bigger picture for 2019, describing the most important deforestation trends and hotspots across the Amazon.

*Note: to download a PDF, click the “Print” button below the title.

Synthesis Key Findings

Trends: We present a GIF comparing deforestation trends for each country since 2001. The preliminary 2019 estimates have several important headlines:
  • Possible major deforestation decrease in the Colombian Amazon following a dramatic increase over the previous three years;
  • Likely major deforestation increase in the Bolivian Amazon due to forest fires;
  • Downward deforestation trend continues in the Peruvian Amazon, but still historically high;
  • Deforestation of 2.4 million acres in the Brazilian Amazon, but the trend depends on the data source.
Hotspots: We present a Base Map highlighting the major deforestation hotspots in 2019. Results emphasize the deforestation and fires in the Brazilian Amazon, along with several key areas in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia.

Deforestation Trends 2001-2019

The following GIF shows deforestation trends for each country between 2001 and 2019 (see descriptive notes below). Click here for static versions of each graph.

Three important points about the data: First, as a baseline, we use annual forest loss from the University of Maryland to have a consistent source across all five countries (thus it may differ from official national data). Second, we applied a filter to only include loss of primary forest (see Methodology). Third, the 2019 data represents a preliminary estimate based on early warning alerts.

maaproject.org-maap-synthesis-2019-amazon-deforestation-trends-and-hotspots

  1. Deforestation in the Ecuadorian Amazon is relatively low, reaching a maximum of 18,800 hectares (46,500 acres) in 2017. The estimate for 2019 is 11,400 hectares (28,000 acres).
    .
  2. In the Bolivian Amazon, deforestation decreased in 2018 to 58,000 hectares (143,000 acres) after a peak in 2016 of 122,000 hectares (302,000 acres). However, with the recent widespread forest fires, deforestation increased again in 2019, to 135,400 hectares (334,465 acres).
    .
  3. The Colombian Amazon experienced a deforestation boom starting in 2016 (coinciding with the FARC peace accords), reaching an historical high of 153,800 hectares (380,000 acres) in 2018. However, the deforestation estimate for 2019 is back to pre-boom levels at 53,800 hectares (133,000 acres).
    .
  4. Deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon declined in 2018 (compared to 2017) to 140,000 hectares (346,325 acres), but remained relatively high compared to historical data. The official deforestation data from the Peruvian government for 2018 is slightly higher at 154,700 hectares (382,272 acres), but also represents an important reduction compared to 2017. The deforestation estimate for 2019 indicates the continued downward trend to 134,600 hectares (332,670 acres).
    .
  5. Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is on another level compared to the other four countries. The 2019 deforestation estimate of 985,000 hectares (2.4 million acres) is consistent with the official data of the Brazilian government. The trend, however, is quite different; we show a decrease in deforestation compared to the previous three years, but the official data indicates an increase. To better understand the differences between data sources (including spatial resolution, inclusion of burned areas, and timeframe), consult this blog by Global Forest Watch.

Deforestation Hotspots 2019

Base Map shows the most intense deforestation hotspots during 2019.

maap-synthesis-2019-amazon-deforestation-trends-and-hotspots-BaseMap-Letters
Base Map. Amazon Deforestation, 2001-2019. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, MAAP. Click to see image in high resolution.

Many of the major deforestation hotspots were in Brazil. The letters A indicate areas deforested between March and July, and then burned starting in August, covering over 735,000 acres in the states of Rondônia, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Acre, and Pará (MAAP #113). They also indicate areas where fire escaped into the surrounding primary forest, impacting an additional 395,000 acres. There is a concentration of these hotspots along the Trans-Amazonian Highway. The letter B indicates uncontrolled forest fires earlier in the year (March) in the state of Roraima (MAAP #109).

Bolivia also had an intense 2019 fire season. Letter C indicates the area where fires in Amazonian savanna ecosystems escaped to the surrounding forests.

In Colombia, the letter D indicates an area of high deforestation surrounding and within four protected areas: Tinigua, Chiribiquete, and Macarena National Parks, and the Nukak National Reserve (MAAP #106).

In Peru, there are several key areas to highlight. Letter E indicates a new Mennonite colony that has caused the deforestation of 2,500 acres in 2019, near the town of Tierra Blanca in the Loreto region (MAAP #112). Letter F indicates an area of high concentration of small-scale deforestation in the central Amazon (Ucayali and Huánuco regions), with cattle ranching as one of the main causes (MAAP #37). Letter G indicates an area of high concentration of deforestation along the Ene River (Junín and Ayacucho regions). In the south (Madre de Dios region), letter H indicates expanding agricultural activity around the town of Iberia (MAAP #98) and letter I indicates deforestation caused by a combination of gold mining and agricultural activity.

 

Methodology

As noted above, there are three important considerations about the data in our analysis: First, as a baseline, we use annual forest loss from the University of Maryland to have a consistent source across all five countries. Thus, the values may differ from official national data. Second, we applied a filter to only include loss of primary forest in order to better approximate the official methodology and data. Third, the 2019 data represents a preliminary estimate based on early warning alerts.

The baseline forest loss data presented in this report were generated by the Global Land Analysis and Discovery (GLAD) laboratory at the University of Maryland (Hansen et al 2013) and presented by Global Forest Watch. Our study area is strictly what is highlighted in the Base Map.

Specifically, for our estimate of forest cover loss, we multiplied the annual “forest cover loss” data by the density percentage of the “tree cover” from the year 2001 (values >30%).

For our estimate of primary forest loss, we intersected the forest cover loss data with the additional dataset “primary humid tropical forests” as of 2001 (Turubanova et al 2018). For more details on this part of the methodology, see the Technical Blog from Global Forest Watch (Goldman and Weisse 2019).

All data were processed under the geographical coordinate system WGS 1984. To calculate the areas in metric units the UTM (Universal Transversal Mercator) projection was used: Peru and Ecuador 18 South, Colombia 18 North, Western Brazil 19 South and Bolivia 20 South.

Lastly, to identify the deforestation hotspots, we conducted a kernel density estimate. This type of analysis calculates the magnitude per unit area of a particular phenomenon, in this case forest cover loss. We conducted this analysis using the Kernel Density tool from Spatial Analyst Tool Box of ArcGIS. We used the following parameters:

Search Radius: 15000 layer units (meters)
Kernel Density Function: Quartic kernel function
Cell Size in the map: 200 x 200 meters (4 hectares, 9.88 acres)
Everything else was left to the default setting.

For the Base Map, we used the following concentration percentages: Medium: 10%-20%; High: 21%-35%; Very High: >35%.

References

Goldman L, Weisse M (2019) Explicación de la Actualización de Datos de 2018 de Global Forest Watch. https://blog.globalforestwatch.org/data-and-research/blog-tecnico-explicacion-de-la-actualizacion-de-datos-de-2018-de-global-forest-watch

Hansen, M. C., P. V. Potapov, R. Moore, M. Hancher, S. A. Turubanova, A. Tyukavina, D. Thau, S. V. Stehman, S. J. Goetz, T. R. Loveland, A. Kommareddy, A. Egorov, L. Chini, C. O. Justice, and J. R. G. Townshend. 2013. “High-Resolution Global Maps of 21st-Century Forest Cover Change.” Science 342 (15 November): 850–53. Data available on-line from: http://earthenginepartners.appspot.com/science-2013-global-forest.

Planet Team (2017). Planet Application Program Interface: In Space for Life on Earth. San Francisco, CA. https://api.planet.com

Turubanova S., Potapov P., Tyukavina, A., and Hansen M. (2018) Ongoing primary forest loss in Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia. Environmental Research Letters  https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aacd1c 

Acknowledgements

Agradecemos a S. Novoa (ACCA), R. Botero (FCDS), A. Condor (ACCA) y G. Palacios por sus útiles comentarios a este reporte.

Acknowledgements

We thank S. Novoa (ACCA), R. Botero (FCDS), A. Condor (ACCA), A. Folhadella (Amazon Conservation), M. Cohen, and G. Palacios for helpful comments to earlier versions of this report.

This work was supported by the following major funders: NASA/USAID (SERVIR), Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), Metabolic Studio, Erol Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI).

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2020) MAAP Synthesis: 2019 Amazon Deforestation Trends and Hotspots. MAAP Synthesis #4.

Madre de Dios: 22 kids utilizing technology to combat deforestation

Posted on by Ana Folhadella

400 students at La Pampa College are able to monitor the schools forests themselves.

Madre de Dios: 22 kids utilizing technology to combat deforestationA group of 22 adolescents at I.E. Virgen de la Candelaria continue to learn about and monitor their 7 hectare forest near their school, thanks to the donation of various technological kits.

The kits were delivered on November 18th, and they consisted of a DJI model drone Mavic 2 Zoom, a special carrier case, two additional batteries, an iPad mini with an adaptor to control the drone, and two cameras for recording.

After a year of training with the new technology and learning through the Techcamp: Aprender Conservando program, the students can now teach others how to use the drones and cameras. They will continue under the supervision of their professors and specialists at Conservación Amazónica – ACCA when it’s required.

The students presented their project at local and regional science fairs, placing third in the Madre de Dios region.

Thanks to the financial aid of the United States, the Techcamp: Aprender Conservando from Conservación Amazónica – ACCA project has finally become a project large enough for national recognition, becoming the first of it’s type in the Madre de Dios region. The initiative sought to teach students about new technologies and how to use them to care of the Amazon.  What sparked their interest in conservation of rainforests was places like La Pampa, where caring for ecosystems is a valiant mission, and the only hope for conservation is biodiversity.

 

MAAP #113: Satellites Reveal What Fueled Brazilian Amazon Fires

Posted on by Ana Folhadella

As part of our ongoing coverage, we present two key new findings about the Brazilian Amazon fires that captured the world’s attention in August (see our novel satellite-based methodology below).

First, we found that many of the fires, covering over 450,000 hectares, burned areas recently deforested since 2017 (orange in Base Map). That is a massive area equivalent to over a million acres (or 830,000 American football fields), mostly in the states Amazonas, Rondônia, and Pará.

Importantly, 65% (298,000 hectares) of this area was both deforested and burned this year, 2019.

satellites-reveal-what-fueled-brazilian-amazon-fires-BrazilianAmazon-Fires
Base Map. Brazilian Amazon 2019. Data: UMD/GLAD, NASA (MODIS), DETER, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA.

Second, we found 160,400 hectares of primary forest burned in 2019 (purple in Base Map).* Most of these areas surround deforested lands in the states of Mato Grosso and Pará, and were likely pasture or agricultural fires that escaped into the forest.

As far as we know, these are the first precise estimates based on detailed analysis of satellite imagery. Other estimates based solely on fire alerts tend to greatly overestimate burned areas due to their large spatial resolution.

Below we present a series of satellite time-lapse videos showing examples of the different types of fires we documented.

 

 

 

Policy Implications

The policy implications of these findings are critically important: national and international focus needs to be on minimizing new deforestation, in addition to fire prevention and management.

That is, we need to recognize that many of the fires are in fact a lagging indicator of previous deforestation, thus to minimize fires we need to minimize deforestation.

For example, one of the leading deforestation drivers in the Brazilian Amazon is cattle ranching (1, 2, 3). What measures can be taken to prevent the further expansion of the ranching frontier?

 

Satellite Time-lapse Videos

Deforestation Followed by Fire

Video A shows the deforestation of 1,760 hectares (4,350 acres) in Mato Grosso state in 2019 (May to July), followed by fires in August. Planet link.

Video B shows the deforestation of 650 hectares (1,600 acres) in Rondônia state in 2019 (April to July), followed by fire in August. Planet link.

 

Deforestation Caused by Fire

Videos C-D show 2019 fires burning primary or secondary forest surrounding recently or previously cleared areas.

*Notes

In addition to the finding of 160,400 hectares of primary forest burned in 2019, we also found: 25,800 hectares of secondary forest burned in 2019;
35,640 hectares of primary forest burned in the northern state of Roraima in March 2019 (plus an additional 16,500 hectares of secondary forest.

 

Methodology

Deforestation Fires

We created two “hotspots” layers, one for deforestation and the other for fires, by conducting a kernel density analysis. This type of analysis calculates the magnitude per unit area of a particular phenomenon, in this case forest loss alerts (proxy for deforestation) and temperature anomaly alerts (proxy for fires)

Specifically, we used the following data three sets:

2019 GLAD alert forest loss data (30 meter resolution) from the University of Maryland and available on Global Forest Watch.

2017 and 2018 forest loss data (30 meter resolution) from the University of Maryland and available on Global Forest Watch (4).

NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) MODIS-based fire alert data (1 km resolution).

We conducted the analysis using the Kernel Density tool from Spatial Analyst Tool Box of ArcGIS, using the following parameters:

Search Radius: 15000 layer units (meters)
Kernel Density Function: Quartic kernel function
Cell Size in the map: 200 x 200 meters (4 hectares)
Everything else was left to the default setting.

For the Base Map, we used the following concentration percentages: Medium: 10%-25%; High: 26%-50%; Very High: >50%. We then combined all three categories into one color (yellow for deforestation and red for fire). Orange indicates areas where both layers overlap. As background layer, we also included pre-2019 deforestation data from Brazil’s PRODES system.

We prioritized the orange overalp areas for further analysis. For the major orange areas in Rondônia, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Acre, and Pará, we conducted a visual analysis using the satellite company Planet’s online portal, which includes an extensive archive of Planet, RapidEye, Sentinel-2, and Landsat data. Using the archive, we identified areas that we visually confirmed a) were deforested in 2017-19 and b) were later burned in 2019 between July and September. We then used the area measure tool to estimate the size of these areas, which ranged from large plantations ( ~1,000 hectares) to many smaller areas scattered across the focal landscape.

Forest Fires:

To estimate forests burned in 2019 we combined analysis of several datasets. First, we started with 30 meter resolution ‘burn scar’ data produced by INPE (National Institute for Space Research) DETER alerts, updated through October 2019. In order to avoid overlapping areas, we eliminated alerts previously reported from 2016 to 2018, and alerts from other land use categories (selective logging, deforestation, degradation and mining, and other). Second, we eliminated previously reported 2001-18 forest loss from University of Maryland and INPE (PRODES). Third, to distinguish burning of primary and secondary forest, we incorporated primary forest data from the University of Maryland (5).

 

References

  1. Krauss C, Yaffe-Bellany D, Simões M (2019) Why Amazon Fires Keep Raging 10 Years After a Deal to End Them. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/10/world/americas/amazon-fires-brazil-cattle.html
  2. Kelly M, Cahlan S (2019) The Brazilian Amazon is still burning. Who is responsible? Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/07/brazilian-amazon-is-still-burning-who-is-responsible/#click=https://t.co/q2XkSQWQ77
  3. Al Jazeera (2019) See How Beef Is Destroying The Amazon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o2M_KL8X6g&feature=youtu.be
  4. Hansen, M. C., P. V. Potapov, R. Moore, M. Hancher, S. A. Turubanova, A. Tyukavina, D. Thau, S. V. Stehman, S. J. Goetz, T. R. Loveland, A. Kommareddy, A. Egorov, L. Chini, C. O. Justice, and J. R. G. Townshend. 2013. “High-Resolution Global Maps of 21st-Century Forest Cover Change.” Science 342 (15 November): 850–53.
  5. Turubanova S., Potapov P., Tyukavina, A., and Hansen M. (2018) Ongoing primary forest loss in Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia. Environmental Research Letters https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aacd1c 

 

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the following major funders: MacArthur Foundation, International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Metabolic Studio, and Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI).

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2019) Satellites Reveal what Fueled Brazilian Amazon Fires. MAAP: 113.

A New Science-based Monitoring Tool To Improve Communities’ Brazil Nut Production

Posted on by Ana Folhadella

The vastness of the Bolivian Amazon makes it a daunting task to understand the plant species that live in it, where they are located, and the status of their health. Knowing where key plant species are in a forest can help answer questions that improve forest and biodiversity conservation decisions. Improved understanding of the forest and its composition also makes forest production easier for communities in conservation areas like Santa Rosa de Abuná, who live off harvesting forest products sustainably. Finding a mature Brazil nut tree can mean having to walk for an entire day or more in heavy forest terrain, since no forest inventory exists for most conservation areas in the country.

To this end, we have developed an innovative computer model to detect, analyze, and classify Brazil nut tree using remote sensing, drones and photogrammetric analysis. The model can analyze the density of Brazil nut trees using satellites with a 10 meter resolution and validate that information through a series of complex orthomosaics built with photographs taken by drones. To date, we have collected information on over 53,000 Brazil nut trees which helps clarify species density, potential production and forest health.

Images taken from satellite are the first step in our model to identify Brazil nuts without humans having to do the tradition manual census on foot
Images taken from satellite are the first step in our model to identify Brazil nuts without humans having to do the tradition manual census on foot

We have been able to pilot and roll out the tool to 11 of the 19 communities in the Santa Rosa de Abuná conservation area. The model was met with much excitement from the communities, as they recognize the benefit that this technology can bring to them to map, plan and reduce the on-the-ground effort needed to manage this labor- intensive forest product.

An exciting aspect of the potential of this tool is that, with some investment and adjustments, it can be used to detect and track other forest species. We are now determining what our next application of this incredible technology will be: it could support scientists in conducting scientific studies, help local authorities track illegal logging of high-value species, and in making the case to governments to prioritize the protection of forests.

This work was made possible thanks to the generosity and support from The Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation.

 

Our Progress on the 2019 Amazon Fires

Posted on by Ana Folhadella
Volunteer holding 50 fire protection vests
Volunteer holding 50 fire protection vests
Tools for the fire hose pump
Fire hose tools

As part of our current fire management efforts in Bolivia, we have been working with several organizations to generate reliable information to implement actions that are helping firefighters and inhabitants of affected areas. We have also been providing communities and governments with fire prevention training and supplies, so that local people can be better prepared and at the forefront of preventing and fighting forest fires.

Donations that we have received have been turning into immediate action during the heart of the fire season, enabling us to move quickly to support communities and governments in firefighting and prevention efforts.

MAAP #108: Understanding The Amazon Fires With Satellites, Part 2

Posted on by Ana Folhadella
Base Map. Updated Amazon fire hotspots map, August 20-26, 2019. Red, Orange, and Yellow indicate the highest concentrations of fire, as detected by NASA satellites that detect fires at 375 meter resolution. Data. VIIRS/NASA, MAAP.
Base Map. Updated Amazon fire hotspots map, August 20-26, 2019. Red, Orange, and Yellow indicate the highest concentrations of fire, as detected by NASA satellites that detect fires at 375 meter resolution. Data. VIIRS/NASA, MAAP.

Here we present an updated analysis on the Amazon fires, as part of our ongoing coverage and building off what we reported in MAAP #107.

First, we show an updated Base Map of the “fire hotspots” across the Amazon, based on very recent fire alerts (August 20-26). Hotspots (shown in red, orange, and yellow) indicate the highest concentrations of fire as detected by NASA satellites.

Our key findings include:

– The major fires do NOT appear to be in the northern and central Brazilian Amazon characterized by tall moist forest (Rondônia, Acre, Amazonas, Pará states),* but in the drier southern Amazon of Brazil and Bolivia characterized by dry forest and shrubland (Mato Grosso and Santa Cruz).

– The most intense fires are actually to the south of the Amazon, along the border of Bolivia and Paraguay, in areas characterized by drier ecosystems.

– Most of the fires in the Brazilian Amazon appear to be associated with agricultural lands. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary may be expanding plantations or escaping into forest, including indigenous territories and protected areas.

– The large number of agriculture-related fires in Brazil highlights a critical point: much of the eastern Amazon has been transformed into a massive agricultural landscape over the past several decades. The fires are a lagging indicator of massive previous deforestation.

– We continue to warn against using satellite-based fire detection data alone as a measure of impact to Amazonian forests. Many of the detected fires are in agricultural areas that were once forest, but don’t currently represent forest fires.

In conclusion, the classic image of wildfires scorching everything in their path are currently more accurate for the unique and biodiverse dry forests of the southern Amazon then the moist forests to the north. However, the numerous fires at the agriculture-moist forest boundary are both a threat and stark reminder of how much forest has been, and continues to be, lost by deforestation.

Next, we show a series of 11 satellite images that show what the fires look like in major hotspots and how they are impacting Amazonian forests. The location of each image corresponds to the letters (A-K) on the Base Map.

*If anyone has detailed information to the contrary, please send spatial coordinates to maap@amazonconservation.org

Zooms A, B: Chiquitano Dry Forest (Bolivia)

Some of the most intense fires are concentrated in the dry Chiquitano of southern Bolivia. The Chiquitano is part of the largest tropical dry forest in the world and is a unique, high biodiversity, and poorly explored Amazonian ecosystem. Zooms A-C illustrate fires in the Chiquitano between August 18-21 of this year, likely burning a mixture of dry forest, scrubland, and grassland.

Zoom A. Recent fires in the dry Chiquitano of southern Bolivia. Data- Planet
Zoom A. Recent fires in the dry Chiquitano of southern Bolivia. Data- Planet

Zoom B. Recent fires in the dry Chiquitano of southern Bolivia. Data- Planet.
Zoom B. Recent fires in the dry Chiquitano of southern Bolivia. Data- Planet.

Zoom D: Beni Grasslands (Bolivia)

Zoom D. Recent fires and burned areas in Bolivia’s Beni grasslands. Data- ESA
Zoom D. Recent fires and burned areas in Bolivia’s Beni grasslands. Data- ESA

Zooms E,F,G,H: Brazilian Amazon (Amazonas, Rondônia, Pará, Mato Grosso)

Zoom E-H take us to moist forest forests of the Brazilian Amazon, where much of the media and social media attention has been focused. All fires we have seen in this area are in agricultural fields or at the agriculture-forest boundary. Note Zoom E is just outside a national park in Amazonas state; Zoom F shows fires at the agriculture-forest boundary in Rondônia state; Zoom G shows fires at the agriculture-forest boundary within a protected area in Pará state; and Zoom H shows fires at the agriculture-forest boundary in Mato Grosso state.

Zoom E. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary outside a national park in Amazonas state. Data- Planet
Zoom E. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary outside a national park in Amazonas state. Data- Planet
Zoom F. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary in Rondônia state. Data- ESA
Zoom F. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary in Rondônia state. Data- ESA

 

Zoom G. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary within a protected area in Pará state
Zoom G. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary within a protected area in Pará state

 

Zoom H. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary in Mato Grosso. Data- ESA
Zoom H. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary in Mato Grosso. Data- ESA

Zooms I, J: Southern Mato Grosso (Brazil)

Zooms I and J shows fires in grassland/scrubland at the drier southern edge of the Amazon Basin. Note both of these fires are within Indigenous Territories.

Zoom I. Fires within an Indigenous Territory at the drier southern edge of the Amazon Basin. Data- Planet
Zoom I. Fires within an Indigenous Territory at the drier southern edge of the Amazon Basin. Data- Planet
Zoom J. Fires within an Indigenous Territory at the drier southern edge of the Amazon Basin. Data- Planet
Zoom J. Fires within an Indigenous Territory at the drier southern edge of the Amazon Basin. Data- Planet

Zooms C, K: Bolivia/Brazil/Paraguay Border

Zooms C and K show large fires burning in the drier ecosytems at the Bolivia-Brazil-Paraguay border. This area is outside the Amazon Basin, but we include it due it’s magnitude.

Zoom C. Recent fires in the dry Chiquitano of southern Bolivia. Data- Planet
Zoom C. Recent fires in the dry Chiquitano of southern Bolivia. Data- Planet
Zoom K. Large fires burning around the Gran Chaco Biosphere Reserve. Data- NASA:USGS.
Zoom K. Large fires burning around the Gran Chaco Biosphere Reserve. Data- NASA:USGS.

Acknowledgements

We thank  J. Beavers (ACA), A. Folhadella (ACA), M. Silman (WFU), S. Novoa (ACCA), M. Terán (ACEAA), and D. Larrea (ACEAA) for helpful comments to earlier versions of this report.

This work was supported by the following major funders: MacArthur Foundation, International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), Metabolic Studio, and Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI).

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2019) Seeing the Amazon Fires with Satellites. MAAP: 108.

MAAP #107: Seeing The Amazon Fires With Satellites

Posted on by Ana Folhadella
Recent fire (late July 2019) in the Brazilian Amazon. Data: Maxar.
Recent fire (late July 2019) in the Brazilian Amazon. Data: Maxar.

Fires now burning in the Amazon, particularly Brazil and Bolivia, have become headline news and a viral topic on social media.

Yet little information exists on the impact on the Amazon rainforest itself, as many of the detected fires originate in or near agricultural lands.

Here, we advance the discussion on the impact of the fires by presenting the first Base Map of current “fire hotspots” across three countries (Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru). We also present a striking series of satellite images that show what the fires look like in each hotspot and how they are impacting Amazonian forests. Our focus is on the most recent fires in August 2019.

Our key findings include:

  • Fires are burning Amazonian forest in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.
    .
  • The fires in Bolivia are concentrated in the dry Chiquitano forests in the southern Amazon.
    .
  • The fires in Brazil are much more scattered and widespread, often associated with agricultural lands. Thus, we warn against using fire detection data alone as a measure of impact as many are clearing fields. However, many of the fires are at the agriculture-forest boundary and maybe expanding plantations or escaping into forest.
    .
  • Although not as severe, we also detected fires burning forest in southern Peru, in an area that has become a deforestation hotspot along the Interoceanic Highway.

Given the nature of the fires in Bolivia and Brazil, estimates of total burned forest area are still difficult to determine. We will continue monitoring and reporting on the situation over the coming days.

Base Map

The Base Map shows “fire hotspots” for the Amazonian regions of Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru in August 2019. The data comes from a NASA satellite that detects fires at 375 meter resolution. The letters (A-G) correlate to the satellite image zooms below.

Base Map. Fire Hotspots in the Amazon during August 2019. Data- VIIRS:NASA.
Base Map. Fire Hotspots in the Amazon during August 2019. Data- VIIRS:NASA.

Zoom A: Southern Bolivian Amazon

Fires are concentrated in the dry Chiquitano of southern Bolivia. It is part of the largest tropical dry forest in the world. The fires coincide with areas that have been part of cattle ranching expansion in recent decades (References 1 and 2), suggesting that poor burning practices could be the cause of the fires. Ranching using sown pastures has previously been referred to as a direct cause of forest loss in Bolivia (References 2 and 3). The Bolivian National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology (SENAMHI) issued high wind alerts in July and August for southern Bolivia, which could have led to the expansion of poorly managed fires. Also, August is usually the driest month of the year in this region. These conditions could explain the origin (poor fire practice) and expansion (little rain and strong winds) of the current fires.

Zoom A1. Fire in southern Bolivian Amazon. Data- ESA
Zoom A1. Fire in southern Bolivian Amazon. Data- ESA
Zoom A2. Fire in southern Bolivian Amazon. Data- ESA
Zoom A2. Fire in southern Bolivian Amazon. Data- ESA
Zoom A3. Fire in southern Bolivian Amazon. Data- Planet
Zoom A3. Fire in southern Bolivian Amazon. Data- Planet

Zooms B, C, E, F, G: Western Brazilian Amazon

The major fires in western Brazil seem to be at the agriculture-forest boundary. Note that Zoom B shows fire in a protected area in Amazonas state; Zoom C seems to show fire escaping (or deliberately set) in the primary forests in Rondonia state; and Zooms F and G seems to show fire expanding plantation into forest in Amazonas and Mato Grosso states, respectively.

Zoom B. Fire in a protected area in Amazonas state. Data- ESA
Zoom B. Fire in a protected area in Amazonas state. Data- ESA
Zoom C. Fires at agriculture-forest boundary in Rondonia state. Data- Sentinel
Zoom C. Fires at agriculture-forest boundary in Rondonia state. Data- Sentinel
Zoom E. Fire escaping (or deliberately set) in the primary forests in Rondonia state. Data- Planet
Zoom E. Fire escaping (or deliberately set) in the primary forests in Rondonia state. Data- Planet
Zoom F. Fire that seems to be expanding plantation into forest in Amazonas state. Data- Planet.
Zoom F. Fire that seems to be expanding plantation into forest in Amazonas state. Data- Planet.
Zoom G. Fire that seems to be expanding plantation into forest in Mato Grosso state. Data- Planet
Zoom G. Fire that seems to be expanding plantation into forest in Mato Grosso state. Data- Planet
Bonus Zoom. Recent fire in Brazilan Amazon. Data- Planet
Bonus Zoom. Recent fire in Brazilan Amazon. Data- Planet

 

Zoom D: Southern Peruvian Amazon

Fires burning forest near the town of Iberia, an area along the Interoceanic Highway that has become a deforestation hotspot in the region of Madre de Dios (see MAAP #28 and MAAP #47).

Zoom D. Fire in southern Peruvian Amazon (near Iberia, Madre de Dios). Data- ESA
Zoom D. Fire in southern Peruvian Amazon (near Iberia, Madre de Dios). Data- ESA

Additional References

We have these to be some of the most informative additional references:

New York Times, Aug 24

Global Forest Watch, Aug 23

Technical References

1 Müller, R., T. Pistorius, S. Rohde, G. Gerold & P. Pacheco. 2013. Policy options to reduce deforestation based on a systematic analysis of drivers and agents in lowland Bolivia. Land Use Policy 30(1): 895-907. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. landusepol.2012.06.019

2 Muller, R., Larrea-Alcázar, D.M., Cuéllar, S., Espinoza, S. 2014.  Causas directas de la deforestación reciente (2000-2010) y modelado de dos escenarios futuros  en las tierras bajas de Bolivia. Ecología en Bolivia 49: 20-34.

3 Müller, R., P. Pacheco & J. C. Montero. 2014. El contexto de la deforestación y degradación de los bosques en Bolivia: Causas, actores e instituciones. Documentos Ocasionales CIFOR 100, Bogor. 89 p.

Acknowledgements

We thank  J. Beavers, D. Larrea, T. Souto, M. Silman, A. Condor, and G. Palacios for helpful comments to earlier versions of this report.

This work was supported by the following major funders: MacArthur Foundation, International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), Metabolic Studio, and Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI).

Citation

Novoa S, Finer M (2019) Seeing the Amazon Fires with Satellites. MAAP: 107.

MAAP #106: Deforestation Impacts 4 Protected Areas In The Colombian Amazon (2019)

Posted on by Ana Folhadella
Table 1. Deforestation in the Colombian Amazon. Data- Hansen:UMD:Google:USGS:NASA
Table 1. Deforestation in the Colombian Amazon. Data- Hansen:UMD:Google:USGS:NASA

We continue our focus on the northwest Colombian Amazon,* one of the most intense deforestation hotspots in the western Amazon (see MAAP# 100).

Here, we analyze deforestation data over the past five years (2015-19) to better understand current trends and patterns.

We found a major increase in deforestation as of 2016. The Colombian Amazon lost nearly 1.2 million acres (478,000 hectares) of forest between 2016 and 2018. Of this, 73% (860,000 acres) was primary forest (see Table 1).

One of the main deforestation drivers in the region is conversion to pasture for land grabbing or cattle ranching.

Next, we provide a real-time update of 2019, based on early warning forest alerts (GLAD alerts) from the University of Maryland/Global Forest Watch), updated through July 25, 2019.

*MAAP in Colombia represents a collaboration between Amazon Conservation and its Colombian partner, the Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development (FCDS).”

Deforestation 2019

Base Map. Deforestation hotspots in Colombian Amazon. Data- UMD:GLAD, RUNAP, RAISG
Base Map. Deforestation hotspots in Colombian Amazon. Data- UMD:GLAD, RUNAP, RAISG

The GLAD alerts estimate the additional loss of 150,000 acres (60,654 hectares) in the first 7 months of 2019 (through end of July). Of  this, 75% (113,000 acres) was primary forest.

The Base Map shows that 2019 deforestation primarily impacts 4 protected areas* in the northwest Colombian Amazon: Tinigua, Serranía de Chiribiquete, and Sierra de la Macarena National Parks, and Nukak National Reserve.

Next, we detail the recent deforestation in these four protected areas of the Colombian Amazon, including the presentation of a series of satellite-based images.

*There are other protected areas in the Colombian Amazon with recent deforestation (such as Picachos and La Paya National Parks), but here we focus on the four with the highest deforestation thus far during 2019.

Deforestation in Protected Areas

We conducted a deforestation analysis within the 4 protected areas noted above (Chiribiquete, Tinigua, Macarena, and Nukak), generating the following key results:

Protected Areas Zoom Map. Deforestation in four protected areas of the Colobian Amazon. Data- UMD:GLAD, Hansen:UMD:Google:USGS:NASA, RUNAP, RAISG
Protected Areas Zoom Map. Deforestation in four protected areas of the Colobian Amazon. Data- UMD:GLAD, Hansen:UMD:Google:USGS:NASA, RUNAP, RAISG
  • From 2016-18, deforestation claimed over  70,000 acres (29,000 ha) in the four protected areas, 86% of which were primary forests (62,000 acres).
    .
  • Thus far in 2019 (through July 25), deforestation claimed an additional 10,600 acres (4,300 ha), 87% of which were primary forests (9,200 acres).
    .
  • Tinigua National Park has been the most impacted protected area, as deforestation claimed 39,500 acres (16,000 ha) from 2017-19 (96% of which were primary forests). Note the major deforestation spike in 2018.
    .
  • Deforestation has claimed 6,400 acres (2,600 ha) in Chiribiquete National Park since its expansion in July 2018 (96% of which were primary forests).

Zoom A: Deforestation in Tinigua, Chiribiquete, and Macarena National Parks

See location of Zooms A-C in Protected Areas Zoom Map above. Data updated through July 25, 2019.

Zoom A. Deforestation in Tinigua, Serranía de Chiribiquete, and Sierra de la Macarena National Parks, *through July 25, 2019. Data- UMD:GLAD, Hansen:UMD:Google:USGS:NASA, RUNAP, RAISG.jpg
Zoom A. Deforestation in Tinigua, Serranía de Chiribiquete, and Sierra de la Macarena National Parks, *through July 25, 2019. Data- UMD:GLAD, Hansen:UMD:Google:USGS:NASA, RUNAP, RAISG.jpg

Zoom B. Deforestation in Chiribiquete National Park (western sector)

Zoom B. Deforestation Serranía de Chiribiquete National Park (western sector), *through July 25, 2019. Data- UMD:GLAD, Hansen:UMD:Google:USGS:NASA, RUNAP, RAISG
Zoom B. Deforestation Serranía de Chiribiquete National Park (western sector), *through July 25, 2019. Data- UMD:GLAD, Hansen:UMD:Google:USGS:NASA, RUNAP, RAISG

Zoom C. Deforestation in Nukak National Reserve

Zoom C. Deforestation in Nukak National Reserve *through July 25, 2019. Data- UMD:GLAD, Hansen:UMD:Google:USGS:NASA, RUNAP, RAISG.jpg
Zoom C. Deforestation in Nukak National Reserve *through July 25, 2019. Data- UMD:GLAD, Hansen:UMD:Google:USGS:NASA, RUNAP, RAISG.jpg

Annex 1: Table
Deforestation of Primary Forest in four protected areas (2015-18)

Annex 1- Table Deforestation of Primary Forest in four protected areas (2015-18)
Annex 1- Table Deforestation of Primary Forest in four protected areas (2015-18)

Annex 2: Map
Deforestation of Primary Forest in four protected areas (2016-19)

Annex 2- Map Deforestation of Primary Forest in four protected areas (2016-19)
Annex 2. Data: Turubanova 2018, UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, RUNAP, RAISG

Methodology

We primarily used data generated by the GLAD laboratory of the University of Maryland, available on Global Forest Watch. This data is based on moderate resolution Landsat imagery (30 m). For 2017-18, we analyzed annual data (Hansen et al 2013), and for 2019 we analyzed GLAD alerts (Hansen et al 2016).

For our deforestation estimates, we multiplied the annual “forest cover loss” data by the density percentage of the “tree cover” from the year 2000 (values >30%). Including this percentage allows us to look at the precise area of each pixel, thus improving the preciseness of the results.

We define primary forest as “mature natural humid tropical forest cover that has not been completely cleared and regrown in recent history,” following the definition from Turubanova et al 2018. For our primary forest deforestation estimates, we intersected the forest cover loss data with the additional dataset “primary humid tropical forests” as of 2001 (Turubanova et al 2018). For more details on this part of the methodology, see the Technical Blog from Global Forest Watch (Goldman and Weisse 2019).

All data were processed under the geographical coordinate system WGS 1984. To calculate the areas in metric units the UTM (Universal Transversal Mercator) projection was used: Colombia 18 North.

To identify the deforestation hotspots in the Base Map, we conducted a kernel density estimate. This type of analysis calculates the magnitude per unit area of a particular phenomenon, in this case forest cover loss. We conducted this analysis using the Kernel Density tool from Spatial Analyst Tool Box of ArcGIS. We used the following parameters:

Search Radius: 15000 layer units (meters)
Kernel Density Function: Quartic kernel function
Cell Size in the map: 200 x 200 meters (4 hectares)
Everything else was left to the default setting.

For the Base Map, we used the following concentration percentages: Medium: 10%-25%; High: 26%-50%; Very High: >50%.

References

Hansen, M. C., P. V. Potapov, R. Moore, M. Hancher, S. A. Turubanova, A. Tyukavina, D. Thau, S. V. Stehman, S. J. Goetz, T. R. Loveland, A. Kommareddy, A. Egorov, L. Chini, C. O. Justice, and J. R. G. Townshend. 2013. “High-Resolution Global Maps of 21st-Century Forest Cover Change.” Science 342 (15 November): 850–53.

Hansen, M.C., A. Krylov, A. Tyukavina, P.V. Potapov, S. Turubanova, B. Zutta, S. Ifo, B. Margono, F. Stolle, and R. Moore. 2016. Humid tropical forest disturbance alerts using Landsat data. Environmental Research Letters, 11 (3).

Hansen, M.C., A. Krylov, A. Tyukavina, P.V. Potapov, S. Turubanova, B. Zutta, S. Ifo, B. Margono, F. Stolle, and R. Moore. 2016. Humid tropical forest disturbance alerts using Landsat data. Environmental Research Letters, 11 (3).

Turubanova S., Potapov P., Tyukavina, A., and Hansen M. (2018) Ongoing primary forest loss in Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia. Environmental Research Letters.

Acknowledgements

We thank R. Botero (FCDS), A. Rojas (FCDS) y G. Palacios for helpful comments to earlier versions of this report.

This work was supported by the following major funders: MacArthur Foundation, International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), Metabolic Studio, and Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI).

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2019) Deforestation impacts 4 protected areas in the Colombian Amazon (2019). MAAP: 106.

MAAP #105: From Satellite To Drone To Legal Action In The Peruvian Amazon

Posted on by Ana Folhadella
ACOMAT member flying a drone for monitoring. Source- ACCA
ACOMAT member flying a drone for monitoring. Source- ACCA

Amazon Conservation, in collaboration with its Peruvian sister organization, is implementing a project aimed at linking cutting-edge technology (satellites and drones) with legal action, in the southern Peruvian Amazon (Madre de Dios region).

The project is building a comprehensive deforestation monitoring system with a local group of forestry concessionaires, known as ACOMAT,* who manage over 486,000 acres (see Base Map).

The monitoring system has three basic steps:

1) Real-time deforestation monitoring with satellite-based early warning forest loss alerts.*

2) Verify and document the alerts with drone overflights.*

3) Initiate a criminal complaint with the local environmental prosecuter’s office* (or an administrative complaint with the relevant forestry authorities) if suspected illegalities are found.

Below, we describe 6 cases (A-E) that have been generated from this comprehensive monitoring system.

It is important to emphasize that this type of monitoring system, featuring local forest custodians (such as concessionaires and indigenous communities) is possible to replicate in the Amazon and other tropical forests.

This innovative project is largely funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC).

Base Map. The 6 Acomat cases (A-F) described in this report. Data- ACCA, MINAM:PNCB, SERNANP
Base Map. The 6 Acomat cases (A-F) described in this report. Data- ACCA, MINAM:PNCB, SERNANP

 

Case A. Illegal logging in the “Los Amigos” Conservation Concession

This evidence in this case was obtained from a drone overflight of an area that was the subject of an early warning forest loss alert within Los Amigos Conservation Consession (a conservation area where logging is not permitted). The overflight documented the illegal logging of the timber species known locally as tornillo (Cedrelinga cateniformis) within the concession (see image below).  The drone images were presented to the environmental prosecuter’s office in Madre de Dios as part of a criminal complaint.

Case A. Illegal logging in the Conservation Concession “Los Amigos”, identified with a drone flying over. Source- ACCA
Case A. Illegal logging in the Conservation Concession “Los Amigos”, identified with a drone flying over. Source- ACCA

 

Case B. Illegal mining in the “Sonidos de la Amazonía” Ecotourism Concession      

The owner of the Sonidos de la Amazonía Ecotourism Concession received an early warning forest loss alert on his cellphone. She then organized a drone overflight and documented active illegal gold mining activity, including infrastructure (see image below). The drone images were presented to the environmental prosecuter’s office in Madre de Dios as part of a criminal complaint.

Case B. Illegal mining in the Tourism Concession “Sonidos de la Amazonía,” identified with drone images. Source- ACCA
Case B. Illegal mining in the Tourism Concession “Sonidos de la Amazonía,” identified with drone images. Source- ACCA

 

Case C. Illegal mining in the “AGROFOCMA” Forestry Concession    

The owner of the AGROFOCMA forestry (logging) concession received an early warning forest loss alert on his cellphone. He then organized a drone overflight and documented active illegal gold mining activity, including infrastructure (see image below). The drone images were presented to the environmental prosecuter’s office in Madre de Dios as part of a criminal complaint.

Case C. Illegal mining in the Forest Concession “AGROFOCMA,” identified with drone images. Source- ACCA
Case C. Illegal mining in the Forest Concession “AGROFOCMA,” identified with drone images. Source- ACCA

 

Case D. Illegal mining in the “Inversiones Manu” Forestry Concession     

The owner of the Inversiones Manu forestry (logging) concession received an early warning forest loss alert on his cellphone. He then organized a drone overflight and documented active illegal gold mining activity, including workers and infrastructure (see image below). The drone images were presented to the environmental prosecuter’s office in Madre de Dios as part of a criminal complaint.

Case D. Illegal mining in the Forest Concession “Inversiones Manu,” identified with drone images. Source- ACCA.
Case D. Illegal mining in the Forest Concession “Inversiones Manu,” identified with drone images. Source- ACCA.

Case E. Illegal logging in the “Sara Hurtado” Brazil Nut Concession 

The owner of the Sara Hurtado Brazil Nut Concession received an early warning forest loss alert on her cellphone. She then organized a drone overflight and documented active illegal logging activity, including cedar wood planks (see image below). The drone images were presented to the environmental prosecuter’s office in Madre de Dios as part of a criminal complaint.

In a related case, drones also captured images of a nearby collection center and transport truck for the recently logged planks. These images were also presented to the environmental prosecuter’s office as part of a sixth case.

Case E. Illegal logging in the Forest Concession “Sara Hurtado” identified with drone images. Source- ACCA
Case E. Illegal logging in the Forest Concession “Sara Hurtado” identified with drone images. Source- ACCA

 

*Notes

ACOMAT is the “Asociación de Concesionarios Forestales Maderables y no Maderables de las Provincias del Manu, Tambopata y Tahuamanu.”

The early warning alerts are generated by the Peruvian government (Geobosques/MINAM). GLAD alerts can also be used (these are generated by the University of Maryland and presented by Global Forest Watch). In our case, the concessionaires receive Geobosques alerts in their emails.

We used quadricopter drones. Obtained images are very-high resolution (<5 cm).

The local environmental prosecuter’s office is the “Fiscalía Especializada en Materia Ambiental (FEMA) de Madre de Dios.”

 

Acknowledgements

We thank S. Novoa (ACCA), H. Balbuena (ACCA), E. Ortiz (AAF), T. Souto (ACA), P. Rengifo (ACCA), A. Condor (ACCA), y G. Palacios for helpful comments on earlier drafts of this report.

This work supprted by the following funders:  Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), MacArthur Foundation, Metabolic Studio.

 

Citation

Guerra J, Finer M, Novoa S (2019) From satellite to drone to legal action in the Peruvian Amazon. MAAP: 105.

New UN report shows that protecting and restoring forests and wetlands is a key climate change mitigation strategy

Posted on by Ana Folhadella

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change, has released a new report on the intersection of climate change and land use. 

The report analyzed over 7,000 scientific publications on the topics of land-climate interactions, including land degradation, desertification, and food security. It found that changes in land conditions, either from land-use or climate change, affect global and regional climate, and at the regional scale, these negative conditions can reduce or accentuate warming and affect the intensity, frequency, and duration of extreme climate events.

Manu National Park, Peru – August 06, 2017: Family of Capybara at the shores of the Amazon rainforest in Manu National Park, Peru

The report also found that in order to keep warming to 1.5ºC or well below 2°C as recommended by the Paris Agreement, major changes in how we use land need to take place. Sustainable land management, including sustainable forest use, can prevent and reduce land degradation, maintain land productivity, and sometimes reverse the adverse impacts of climate change on nature and people.

IPCC concluded that one of the central strategies to mitigate climate change is to protect the forests and wetlands that are still standing and to restore as much of the currently degraded land as possible. This is the type of conservation action we are taking in the headwaters of the Amazon – one of the last wild places left on Earth. By creating new conservation areas, empowering forest users and farmers to use land and natural resources sustainably, and reforesting degraded land, we help mitigate the effects of climate change on all of us. 

Read the IPCC full press release here.