Month: March 2022

MAAP #153: Amazon Deforestation Hotspots 2021

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Amazon Base Map. Deforestation hotspots across the Amazon in 2021 (as of September 18). Data: UMD/GLAD, ACA/MAAP.

We present a first look at the major 2021 Amazon deforestation hotspots.*

The Amazon Base Map illustrates several key findings:p

  • We estimate the loss of over 1.9 million hectares (4.8 million acres) of primary forest loss across the nine countries of the Amazon biome in 2021.
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  • This matches the previous two years, bringing the total deforestation to 6 million hectares (15 million acres) since 2019, roughly the size of the state of West Virginia.
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  • In 2021, most of the deforestation occurred in Brazil (70%), followed by Bolivia (14%), Peru (7%), and Colombia (6%).
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  • In Brazil, hotspots are concentrated along the major road networks. Many of these areas were also burned following the deforestation.
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  • In Bolivia, fires once again impacted several important ecosystems, including the Chiquitano dry forests.
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  • In Peru, deforestation continues to impact the central region, most notably from large-scale clearing for a new Mennonite colony.
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  • In Colombia, there continues to be an arc of deforestation impacting numerous protected areas and indigenous territories.

Below, we zoom in on the four countries with the highest deforestation (Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia), with additional maps and analysis.

Brazil Base Map. Deforestation hotspots in Brazilian Amazon. Data: UMD/GLAD, ACA/MAAP.

Brazilian Amazon

The Brazil Base Map shows the notable concentration of deforestation hotspots along the major roads (especially roads 163, 230, 319, and 364) in the states of Acre, Amazonas, Pará, and Rondônia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bolivia Base Map. Deforestation hotspots in Bolivian Amazon. Data: UMD/GLAD, ACA/MAAP.

Bolivian Amazon

The Bolivia Base Map shows the concentration of hotspots due to major fires in the Chiquitano dry forest biome, largely located in the department of Santa Cruz in the southeast section of the Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peru Base Map. Deforestation hotspots in the Peruvian Amazon. Data: UMD/GLAD, ACA/MAAP.

Peruvian Amazon

The Peru Base Map shows the concentration of deforestation in the central Amazon (Ucayali region).

We highlight the rapid deforestation (365 hectares) for a new Mennonite colony in 2021, near the town of Padre Marquez (see MAAP #149).

Also, note some additional hotspots in the south (Madre de Dios region), but these are largely from expanding agriculture instead of the historical driver of gold mining.

Indeed, gold mining deforestation has been greatly reduced due to government actions, but this illegal activity still threatens several key areas and indigenous territories (MAAP #130).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colombia Base Map. Deforestation hotspots in northwest Colombian Amazon. Data: UMD/GLAD, ACA/MAAP.

Colombian Amazon

As described in previous reports (see MAAP #120), the Colombia Base Map shows there continues to be an “arc of deforestation” in the northwest Colombian Amazon (Caqueta, Meta, and Guaviare departments).

This arc impacts numerous Protected Areas (particularly Tinigua and Chiribiquete National Parks) and Indigenous Reserves (particularly Yari-Yaguara II and Nukak Maku).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Notes and Methodology

The analysis was based on 10-meter resolution primary forest loss alerts (GLAD+) produced by the University of Maryland and also presented by Global Forest Watch. These alerts are derived from the Sentinel-2 satellite operated by the European Space Agency.

We emphasize that this data represents a preliminary estimate and more definitive annual data will come later in the year.

We also note that this data does include forest loss caused by natural forces and burned areas.

Our geographic range for the Amazon is a hybrid between both the biogeographic boundary (as defined by RAISG) and watershed boundary, designed for maximum inclusion.

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 the 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: 5-7%; High: 7-14%; Very High: >14%.

Acknowledgements

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

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N, Spore J (2022) Amazon Deforestation Hotspots 2021. MAAP: 153.

MAAP #152: Major Deforestation Continues in Chiribiquete National Park (Colombian Amazon)

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Base Map. Seven fronts of deforestation inside Chiribiquete National Park. Data: MAAP.

Deforestation within and around Chiribiquete National Park represents one of the most critical threats to primary forests in the Colombian Amazon.

In this report, we document the recent deforestation of more than 2,000 hectares (4,950 acres) across seven fronts within Chiribiquete National Park, between September 2021 and February 2022 (see Base Map).

In addition, we estimate the total deforestation of more than 6,000 hectares (14,800 acres) within the Park since its expansion in 2018.

It is important to note that many of the major fires during February 2022 in the Colombian Amazon were actually burning recently deforested areas like these.

Below, we zoom in on the 7 deforestation fronts (Letters A-G on the Base Map) with both high resolution (3 meters) and very high resolution (0.5 meters) satellite images.

 

 

 

 

Zoom A shows the recent deforestation of 158 hectares (390 acres) in perhaps the most severe front, located in the western sector of the Park. Surrounding the park is an additional 243 hectares (600 acres) of forest loss. We also include a pair of very high-resolution images of the most recently deforested areas surrounded by intact but threatened primary forest (Zooms A1 and A2).

Zoom B shows recent deforestation of 0.5 hectares within the park, but there is an advancing deforestation front just outside the Park (more than 600 hectares, or 1,480 acres).

Zoom C shows the recent deforestation of 222 hectares (550 acres). Note the presence of the Tunia-Ajaju road. Surrounding the park is an additional 300 hectares (740 acres) of forest loss.

Zoom D shows the additional deforestation of 64 hectares (158 acres) further down the Tunia-Ajaju road.

 

Zoom E shows the recent deforestation of 388 hectares (960 acres) along the Cachicamo-Tunia road. Surrounding the park is an additional 660 hectares (1,630 acres) of forest loss. We also include a couple of very high-resolution images of the most recently deforested areas surrounded by intact but threatened primary forest (Zoom E1).

 

 

 

Zoom F shows the recent deforestation of 314 hectares (775 acres) in the northern sector of the Park. Surrounding the park is an additional 450 hectares (1,112 acres) of forest loss.

 

Finally, Zoom G shows the recent deforestation of 58 hectares (143 acres) in the northeast sector of the Park.

 

Acknowledgments

We thank L.A. Gómez and R. Botero for their contributions to this report.

This report is part of a series focused on the Colombian Amazon through a strategic collaboration between the Amazon Conservation and FCDS (Fundación para la Conservación y el Desarrollo Sostenible), with the support of the International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC).

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2022) Major Deforestation Continues in Chiribiquete National Park (Colombian Amazon). MAAP: 152.