Peru

MAAP #52: Update – Fires Degrade 11 Protected Areas in northern Peru

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Image 52a. Data: MODIS/NASA, SERNANP, NCI.

In the previous MAAP #51, we gave an initial impact assesment regarding the recent wave of fires in protected areas in northern Peru. Here, we provide a more comprehensive update.

Our revised estimate is 6,594 acres (2,668 hectares) burned in 11 Protected Areas (see Image 52a) in late 2016. Note that the image is from November and smoke from the fires is clearly seen.

The majority (4,165 acres) occured in 7 national protected areas under national administration (Cutervo National Park, Pagaibamba Protected Forest, Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge, Tumbes National Reserve, Cerros de Amotape National Park, Tabaconas-Namballe National Sanctuary, Udima Wildlife Refuge).*

The estimates refer to areas directly affected by fires (i.e. burned) and come from two sources: our analysis of satellite images and field information from SERNANP, the Peruvian protected areas agency.

It appears that the primary cause of these fires is poor agricultural burning practices during a time of intense drought. These conditions allowed fires to escape into protected areas.

Below, we show a series of new satellite images of some of the burn areas (for images of other areas, see MAAP #51). We also publish a statement from SERNANP.

 

*The rest occured in 3 national protected areas under private administration (Chicuate-Chinguelas, Huaricancha, and Bosques de Dotor Private Conservation Areas; 1,927 acres) and 1 municipal protected area (ACA Cachiaco-San Pablo; 502 acres).


Cutervo National Park

The following image shows a comparison of the northern sector of Cutervo National Park before (left panel) and after (right panel) the fires. The estimated burn area within the park is 731 acres. The red dots indicate the fire alerts (heat sources) detected by the VIIRS satellite sensor (note the high correlation between the distribution of the alerts and confirmed burn areas).
Image 52b. Data: Planet, VIIRS/NASA, SERNANP. Click to enlarge.

Pagaibamba Protected Forest

The following image shows a comparison of the southern sector of Pagaibamba Protected Forest before (left panel) and after (right panel) the fires. The red dots indicate the fire alerts. SERNANP estimates the burn area within the protected forest at 1,013 acres (see SERNANP statement below).

Image 52c. Data: Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview), VIIRS/NASA, SERNANP. Click to enlarge.

Tumbes National Reserve

The following image shows a comparison of the western sector of Tumbes National Reserve before (left panel) and after (right panel) the fires. It also shows the smaller burn area within Cerros de Amotape National Park. The estimated burn area within the two adjacent protected areas is 1,285 acres. The red dots indicate the fire alerts.

Image 52d. Data: Planet, SERNANP, VIIRS/NASA. Click to enlarge.

Tabaconas-Namballe National Sanctuary

The following image shows a comparison of the western sector of Tabaconas-Namballe National Sanctuary before (left panel) and after (right panel) the fires. The estimated burn area within the national sanctuary is 35 acres. The red dots indicate the fire alerts.

Image 52e. Data: Planet, USGS/NASA, SERNANP, VIIRS/NASA. Click to enlarge.

Dotor Private Conservation Area

The following image shows a comparison of the northern sector of the private conservation area before (left panel) and after (right panel) the fires. The estimated burn area within the national sanctuary is 395 acres. The red dots indicate the fire alerts.

Image 52f. Data: Planet, VIIRS/NASA, SERNANP. Click to enlarge.

 

Statement from SERNANP

Note: This statement refers to the data in MAAP #51. In the current MAAP #52 report we have made the necessary corrections.

In regards to the effect of forest fires in 6 natural protected areas (Refugio de Vida Silvestre Laquipampa, Refugio de Vida Silvestre Bosques Nublados de Udima, Parque Nacional de Cutervo, Parque Nacional Cerros de Amotape, Reserva Nacional de Tumbes y Bosque de Protección Pagaibamba), located in the departments of Lambayeque and Cajamarca, we clarify that although the ACA and ACCA report refers to 1,400 hectares of heat sources in the particular case of the Pagaibamba Protected Forest, it should be noted that according to the verification carried out in-situ by the SERNANP personnel, the burned habitat amounts to only 410 hectares. The remaining 990 hectares were affected, but indirectly, by presence of smoke and ash.

In addition, SERNANP led a multisectoral action along with our park guards who hare specialized in forest fires, as part of immediate attention to the emergency regarding the forest fires in the affected protected areas, obtaining positive results in a short time.

Finally, SERNANP personnel are assessing the ecological damage and developing a recovery plan.

Citation

Novoa S, Finer M (2017) Update – Fires Degrade 11 Protected Areas in northern Peru. MAAP: 52.

MAAP #51: Fires degrade 7 Protected Areas in northern Peru

Posted on by dcadmin
analisis_focos_2_v1_b_v1_en
Image 51a. Data: VIIRS/INPE, SERNANP.

Peru’s intense 2016 fire season continues, most recently hitting the northern part of the country.

As seen in this map on the left, during November 2016 the highest concentration of fire alerts (as detected by the VIIRS satellite sensor) were concentrated in the headwaters of the northern Amazon basin (departments of Cajamarca, Piura, and Lambayeque).

It appears that the primary cause of these fires is poor agricultural burning practices during a time of intense drought. These conditions allowed fires to escape into protected areas, including 6 national-level protected areas and 1 municipal protected area.

Until additional cloud-free satellite images are available it is difficult to quantify the total burned area. However, by analyzing the currently available imagery, we estimate 1,980 acres burned in 3 of the protected areas (Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge, Chicuate-Chinguelas PCA, and Cachiaco-San Pablo PCA). The Peruvian protected areas agency, SERNANP, estimates an additional 1,000 acres burned in the Pagaibamba Protected Forest. In addition, by analyzing fire alert data, we estimate that an additional 890 acres affected in the other 3 protected areas (Cutervo National Park, Tabaconas Namballe National Sanctuary, and Huaricancha PCA. See below for details.

Moreover, the Peruvian civil society organization SPDA is highlighting that one of the main problems is the lack of fire-related planning by the Peruvian government, which since 2001 has not fulfilled its mandate to create a National System of Fire Prevention and Control.

 

 

 

Protected Natural Areas

Imagen 51b. Datos: MODIS/NASA, SERNANP, NCI. Click para agrandar.
Image 51b. Data: MODIS/NASA. Click to enlarge.

The image to the left shows a zoom of the area of interest with the high concentration of fire alerts, and highlights the 7 protected areas affected by the fires.

Note in the image (from November 21), the smoke columns inside and surrounding the protected areas. Below, we show a series of high resolution satellite images of these fires.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Sanctuary Tabaconas Namballe
Private Conservation Area Chicuate-Chinguela
Private Conservation Area Huaricancha
Environmental Conservation Area Cachiaco

La Imagen 51c. Datos: SERNANP, USGS/NASA
Image 51c. Data: SERNANP, USGS/NASA. Click to enlarge.

These 4 adjacent areas protect highland (paramo and montane forest) ecosystems important for regulating water resources in the Amazon headwaters.

In the image to the left, the dashed yellow lines indicate where the fires were concentrated.

We estimate that approximately 2,125 acres have burned in these 4 areas.

The following images zoom in on the burn areas, showing them both before (left panel) and after (right panel) the fires. Note that in the right panels, the dark areas correspond to the burned areas. Also note that the paramo ecosystem was most affected.

La Imagen 51d. Datos: Planet, USGS/NASA
Image 51d. Data: Planet, USGS/NASA
La Imagen 51e. Datos: SERNANP, Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview). Click para agrandar.
Image 51e. Data: SERNANP, Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview). Click to enlarge.
La Imagen 51f. Datos: SERNANP, Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview). Click para agrandar.
Image 51f. Data: SERNANP, Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview). Click to enlarge.

Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge

La Imagen 51f. Datos: SERNANP, USGS/NASA. Click para agrandar.
Image 51g. Data: SERNANP, USGS/NASA. Click to enlarge.

The Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge is an important protected area that conserves one of the most threatened ecosystems in Peru, the Seasonally Dry Northwest Forests.

In the image to the left, the dashed yellow lines indicate where the fires were concentrated.

We estimate that approximately 250 acres have burned in the refuge.

The following images zoom in on the burn areas, showing them both before (left panel) and after (right panel) the fires. Note that in the right panels, the dark areas correspond to the burned areas.

 

 

 

La Imagen 51h. Datos: SERNANP, Digital Globe (Nextview). Click para agrandar.
Image 51h. Data: SERNANP, Digital Globe (Nextview). Click to enlarge.
La Imagen 51i. Datos: SERNANP, Digital Globe (Nextview). Click para agrandar.
Image 51i. Data: SERNANP, Digital Globe (Nextview). Click to enlarge.

Pagaibamba Protected Forest

La Imagen 51j. Datos: SERNANP, USGS/NASA. Click para agrandar.
Image 51j. Data: SERNANP, USGS/NASA. Click to enlarge.

The Pagaibamba Protected Forest, home to an important ecosystem of paramo and montane forest that helps regulate local water supply, was another important protected area affected by the fires.

The Peruvian protected areas agency, SERNANP, estimates that 1,000 acres burned in the Pagaibamba Protected Forest.

The image to the left shows the extensive smoke columns from 7 fire outbreaks during the peak burning in November.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cutervo National Park

La Imagen 51k. Datos: SERNANP, Airbus. Click para agrandar.
Image 51k. Data: SERNANP, Airbus. Click to enlarge.

Cutervo National Park, created in 1979, was the first protected area established in Peru. It too has also been degraded by the intense season.

The fire alerts indicate that around 494 acres burned within the national park.

The image to the left shows the extensive smoke during the peak burning in November. The yellow circle indicates where the fire alerts were concentrated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Citation

Novoa S, Finer M (2016) Fires degrade 6 Protected Areas in northern Peru. MAAP: 51.

 

MAAP #50: Gold Mining Deforests 31,000 Acres in southern Peruvian Amazon during last 4 years

Posted on by dcadmin

We analyzed hundreds of high-resolution satellite images to calculate the amount of recent (October 2012 – October 2016) gold mining deforestation in the southern Peruvian Amazon: 30,895 acres. Combining this finding with previous studies, we estimate the total gold mining deforestation of around 154,440 acres in the region. Image 50a shows the recent gold mining deforestation in red, and all previous gold mining deforestation in yellow.

Key findings include:

  • The vast majority of the deforestation has occurred in the Madre de Dios region, but also has extended to the adjacent regions of Cusco and Puno.
  • The rate of recent gold mining deforestation was much lower (42%) than during its peak, which occurred between 2010 and 2012 (6,640 vs. 15,650 acres/year).
  • However, half of the recent gold mining deforestation (15,830 acres) occurred within the buffer zones of three protected areas (Tambopata National Reserve, Bahuaja Sonene National Park, and Amarakeari Communal Reserve).
  • Moreover, recent gold mining deforestation invaded two protected areas (Tambopata and Amarakaeri).
Image 50a. Data: MAAP, Asner et al (2013) PNAS, SERNANP. Click to enlarge.
Image 50a. Data: MAAP, Asner et al (2013) PNAS, SERNANP. Click to enlarge.

Previously, Dr. Greg Asner and colleagues documented the deforestation of approximately 123,200 acres (50,000 hectares) by gold mining activities in the southern Peruvian Amazon through September 2012 (Asner et al 2013). We have updated this information by analyzing hundreds of recent (2016) high-resolution satellite images (see Methodology section below). We documented an additional 30,895 acres (12,503 hectares) of gold mining deforestation between October 2012 and October 2016. Thus, combining both studies, we estimate the total gold mining deforestation of around 154,440 acres (62,500 hectares).

Areas of Interest

We have identified at least 7 areas of interest, characterized by high levels of gold mining deforestation between 2013 and 2016 (see Insets A-G in Image 50b). Below, for each of these areas, we briefly describe its situation and show a recent image from 2016 (right panel) in relation to an older image from between 2011 and 2013 (left panel). The yellow circles indicate the primary areas of gold mining deforestation between those dates. Also, we show a high resolution image that represents each area.

Image 50b. Data: MAAP, Asner et al (2013) PNAS, SERNANP
Image 50b. Data: MAAP, Asner et al (2013) PNAS, SERNANP

A. Tambopata National Reserve and Buffer Zone (La Pampa sector)

Image 50c. Data: USGS/NASA, SERNANP. Click to enlarge.
Image 50c. Data: USGS/NASA, SERNANP. Click to enlarge.

This area is the most serious in terms of the advance of deforestation in a protected area. As documented in MAAP #46, after the initial invasion in November 2015, illegal mining within the Tambopata National Reserve has now exceeded 450 hectares. Recently, the Peruvian Government has carried out a series of major raids against the illegal miners in this area (see MINAM 2016).

Image 50d. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP. Click to enlarge.
Image 50d. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP. Click to enlarge.

In regards to the buffer zone, there has been a sharp increase in the deforestation in the area known as La Pampa. In total, we estimate 9,720 acres of gold mining deforestation within the buffer zone of Tambopata National Reserve over the past four years.

Image 50e. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP. Click to enlarge.
Image 50e. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP. Click to enlarge.

B. Upper Malinowski River (Bahuaja Sonene National Park buffer zone)

Image 50f. Data: USGS/NASA, SERNANP. Click to enlarge.
Image 50f. Data: USGS/NASA, SERNANP. Click to enlarge.

Upstream of the Tambopata National Reserve, illegal gold mining is also advancing along the upper Malinowski River. This area is located in the buffer zone of Bahuaja Sonene National Park. We estimate 2,256 acres of gold mining deforestation has occurred within this buffer zone over the past four years.

Image 50g. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP. Click to enlarge.
Image 50g. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP. Click to enlarge.

C. Delta-1/Amarakaeri Communal Reserve

Image 50h. Data: USGS/NASA, SERNANP. Click to enlarge.
Image 50h. Data: USGS/NASA, SERNANP. Click to enlarge.

An area known as Delta-1 has also experienced a recent increase in gold mining deforestation. This area is partially located within the buffer zone of the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve. As we reported in MAAP #6, illegal gold mining entered the Reserve between 2014 and 2015. The joint patrol and monitoring actions between the national government and indigneous representatives of the Reserve (ECA Amarakaeri) managed to stop the advance of mining deforestation within the Reserve in 2016 (MAAP #44). However, gold mining deforestation continues in the buffer zone of the Reserve, clearing 3,857 acres over the past four years.

Image 50i. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP. Click to enlarge.
Image 50i. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP. Click to enlarge.

D. Cusco: Camanti/Quince Mil

Image 50j. Data: USGS/NASA, SERNANP. Click to enlarge.
Image 50j. Data: USGS/NASA, SERNANP. Click to enlarge.

The advance of gold mining is not limited to Madre de Dios, as it has also expanded in the Cusco region. Most mining activity in Cusco occurs along the Araza and Nuciniscato Rivers in an area known as Camanti/Quince Mil (located between the southeastern sector of the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve and the Interoceanic Highway). We estimate that gold mining deforestation in Cusco reached 1,006 acres over the past four years.

Image 50k. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP. Click to enlarge.
Image 50k. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP. Click to enlarge.

E. Madre de Dios River (i)

Gold mining deforestation also continues to advance along the Madre de Dios River, between the city of Puerto Maldonado and the area of Boca Colorado. Mining in this area is characterized by many small and scattered mining operations.

Image 50l. Data: USGS/NASA, MINAGRI. Click to enlarge.
Image 50l. Data: USGS/NASA, MINAGRI. Click to enlarge.
Image 50m. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), MINAGRI. Click to enlarge.
Image 50m. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), MINAGRI. Click to enlarge.

F. Madre de Dios River (ii)

Image 50m. Data: USGS/NASA. Click to enlarge.
Image 50m. Data: USGS/NASA. Click to enlarge.
Image 50n. Data: USGS/NASA. Click to enlarge.
Image 50n. Data: USGS/NASA. Click to enlarge.

G. Pariamanu River

Image 50o. Data: USGS/NASA. Click to enlarge.
Image 50o. Data: USGS/NASA. Click to enlarge.

Finally, we documented the start of mining in a new area: along the Pariamanu river. We estimate that, so far, gold mining deforestation along this river has reached 170 acres.

Image 50p. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview). Click to enlarge.
Image 50p. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview). Click to enlarge.

Methodology

We used gold mining deforestation data from Asner et al 2013 as a pre-2013 base. We then added 2013-2014 forest loss data (Hansen et al 2013) and 2015-2016 GLAD alerts (Hansen et al 2016), both datasets generated by the University of Maryland and Google. The 2013-2016 data was filtered to only include forest loss directly caused by gold mining as determined by visual analysis of 2016 high-resolution satellite imagery. This included 0.5 m resolution imagery from Digital Globe and 3-5 m resolution imagery from Planet. In total, we analyzed 135 images from Digital Globe and 34 from Planet. Gold mining deforestation is suitable for this type of visual analysis because it leaves a unique footprint, quite distinct from other possible causes such as agriculture, cattle pasture, and natural river movement. As described in Asner et al 2013, “gold mining operations result in a unique combination of bare substrate and standing water[…]” Finally, we erased any overlapping mining deforestation data to avoid duplicating information between data sets. Displayed Landsat images are bands 753, made transparent over bands 432.

References

Asner GP, Llactayo W, Tupayachi R,  Ráez Luna E (2013) Elevated rates of gold mining in the Amazon revealed through high-resolution monitoring. PNAS 46: 18454. They reported 46,417 hectares confirmed and 3,268 hectares suspected (49,865 ha total).

Hansen MC et al (2013) High-Resolution Global Maps of 21st-Century Forest Cover Change. Science 342: 850–53.

Hansen MC et al (2016) Humid tropical forest disturbance alerts using Landsat data. Environ Res Lett 11: 034008.

Citation

Finer M, Olexy T, Novoa S (2016) Gold Mining Deforests 32,000 Acres in southern Peruvian Amazon from 2013 to 2016. MAAP: 50.

MAAP #49: New Frontiers of Gold Mining in the Peruvian Amazon

Posted on by dcadmin
maap_amazonas_mineria_1_v3_beta_en
Imagen 49a. Peru’s gold mining frontiers.

In a series of articles, we have previously detailed the progress of gold mining deforestation in the southern Peruvian Amazon (mainly in the Madre de Dios region).

In the current report, we show the new gold mining frontiers in northern and central Peru (Image 49a): two cases in the region of Amazonas and a case in the buffer zone of El Sira Communal Reserve, in the Huanuco region.

Deforestation in these cases is still in its early stages, so there is still time to avoid larger-scale damage, as in the case of Madre de Dios.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazonas Region

In the Amazonas region, there are two cases of recently active gold mining deforestation: the Afrodita project in the Cóndor mountain range (Inset A) and along the Santiago River (Inset B) (Image 49b).

maap_amazonas_mineria_1_v2_en
Image 49b. Data: SERNANP

Amazonas: Condor Mountain Range

The remote Condor Mountain Range, located along the Peru-Ecuador border, is home to rich biodiversity and territories of the Awajún and Wampís indigenous peoples. The mining concession Afrodita, on the Peruvian side, has been controversial due to the potential environmental and social impacts of mining activity in a sensitive environment. Image 49c shows the beginning of deforestation within the Afrodita concession, between December 2015 (left panel) and July 2016 (right panel). Thus far, deforestation within the concession is 12 hectares (30 acres), including the access road from Ecuador.

maap_amazona_mineria_a_v1_en
Image 49c. Data: Planet. Click to enlarge.

Amazonas: Santiago River

In the previous MAAP #36, we showed the first evidence of gold mining deforestation along the Santiago River. Image 49d shows a comparison between the situation last shown by MAAP in March 2016 (left panel), and its current state in October 2016 (right panel). To date, this deforestation has reached 10 hectares (25 acres). Importantly, in September, the Peruvian Navy intervened in the area (known as the Pastazio tributary), destroying some dredges and other equipment.

maap_amazona_mineria_b_v2_en
Image 49d. Data: Planet. Click to enlarge.

El Sira Communal Reserve

In the previous MAAP #45, we showed illegal gold mining within the El Sira Communal Reserve. Here, we highlight a new active gold mining area in the buffer zone of the reserve (Image 49e). Image 49f shows the appearance of a new mining area between August 2015 (left panel) and August 2016 (right panel). To date, the mining deforestation at this site has reached 10 hectares (25 acres).

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Image 49e. Data: SERNANP
esira_mineria_2_m_v1_en
Image 49f. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview). Click to enlarge.

Citation

Novoa S, Finer M (2016) New Frontiers of Gold Mining in the Peruvian Amazon. MAAP: 49

MAAP #48: Oil Palm Deforestation in the central Peruvian Amazon

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Image 48a. Data: UMD/GLAD
Image 48a. Data: UMD/GLAD

In MAAP #26, we presented a 2015 Deforestation Hotspots map for the Peruvian Amazon, which showed that the highest concentration of deforestation is located in the central Amazon region.

Here, we zoom in on one of these hotspots, located in the northern Huanuco region along its border with San Martin (see Inset E of Image 48a).*

We found that the main deforestation driver in this hotspot was the establishment of small- and medium-scale oil palm plantations.**

*Note that we analyzed the hotspots in Insets A-D in MAAP #26 and MAAP #37.

** We defined small-scale as less than 5 hectares, medium-scale as 5-50 hectares, and large-scale as greater than 50 hectares

 

 

 

 

Image 48b. Data: ACA, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA
Image 48b. Data: ACA, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA

Oil Palm Causing Deforestation

Image 48b shows our area of interest.

The San Martin side is characterized by large- and medium-scale plantations (yellow), while the Huanuco side is characterized by small- and medium-scale plantations.

Red indicates areas deforested and converted to oil palm plantations between 2010 and 2014, according to our analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery.

We estimate the deforestation of 558 hectares (1,370 acres) for establishment of oil palm plantations between 2010-2014 in northern Huanuco. Two-thirds of the plantations are medium scale (5-50 hectares) and the remaining third are small-scale (<5 hectares).***

Historical forest loss data indicates that most of the deforestation occurred in secondary forests, with a smaller percentage in primary forests.

***See MAAP #32 for more information on the importance of knowing the size of the deforestation events.

 

 

Image 48c. Data: ACA, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA
Image 48c. Data: ACA, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA

High-Resolution Zooms

Image 48c shows a zoom of our area of interest.

The insets indicate the areas shown below with satellite imagery from August 2009 (left panel) and October 2015 (right panel).

Each image shows the existence of forest in 2009 replaced by oil palm in 2015 (the red dot is a point of reference indicating the same spot across time).

huanucooilpalm_zoome2_engver3

Image 48d. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 48d. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
huanucooilpalm_zoome4_eng
Image 48e. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)

Citation

Finer M, Olexy T (2016) Oil Palm Deforestation in the central Peruvian Amazon. MAAP: 48.

MAAP #47: Fires Degrade Southern Peruvian Amazon (Madre De Dios)

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The Peruvian Amazon is experiencing an intense 2016 fire season due to one of its driest periods in decades. In recent weeks, we have presented a series of articles showing the power of the new GLAD alerts in detecting deforestation in near real time. Here, we go a step further and also evaluate alerts to detect fires in near real time. These fire alerts are based on the moderate resolution (375 meters) VIIRS sensor that detects heat sources and highlights areas where the temperature is significantly above normal.

We compared, for the first time, these two types of alerts and found a correlation between fires and forest loss along a stretch of the Interoceanic Highway in the southern Peruvian Amazon (Madre de Dios region).

Image 47a shows the occurrence of fire alerts (left panel) in relation to deforestation alerts (right panel) during 2016 along the highway between the towns of Iberia and Iñapari. Insets A-E indicate the areas highlighted in the high-resolution zooms below, where approximately 600 hectares were affected by fires in 2016..

maap_focos_calor_mdd_1_m_v1_en
Image 47a. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, USGS/NASA, NASA/INPE

Zooms A – E

Images 47b-f show the forest loss/degradation between July (left panel) and September (right panel) of 2016 in the areas indicated by Insets A-E. Yellow circles indicate areas with the most forest loss/degradation between these dates. Brown dots indicate the fire alerts. Note that the forest loss/degradation is often adjacent to recently burned pasture and agricultural areas.

maap_focos_calor_mdd_a_m_v1_en
Image 47b. Data: Planet, INPE
maap_focos_calor_mdd_b_m_v1_en
Image 47c. Data: Planet, INPE
maap_focos_calor_mdd_c_m_v1_en
Image 47d. Data: Planet, INPE
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Image 47e. Data: Planet, INPE
maap_focos_calor_mdd_e_m_v1_en
Image 47f. Data: Planet, INPE

Confirmation of the relation between Fires and Deforestation

Image 47g shows a detailed example of the relationship between fire and deforestation alerts. The left panel shows both the fire hot spots (brown spots) and confirmed burned areas (purple). Also note the forest fire smoke. The confirmation of the burned areas was achieved through the Normalized Burn Ratio index. The right panel displays the subsequent GLAD forest loss alerts in red.

maap_focos_calor_mdd_f_m_v1_en
Image 47g. Data: Planet, INPE

Citation

Novoa S, Finer M, Mendoza E (2016) Fires Degrade Southern Peruvian Amazon (Madre De Dios). MAAP: 47.

MAAP #46: Gold Mining Deforestation Within Tambopata National Reserve Exceeds 450 Hectares

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In previous articles, we documented the illegal gold mining invasion of Tambopata National Reserve (Madre de Dios region in the southern Peruvian Amazon) in November 2015 and the subsequent deforestation of 350 hectares as of July 2016. Here, we report that the mining deforestation in the Reserve now exceeds 450 hectares (1,110 acres) as of September 2016. Image 46a illustrates the extent of the invasion, with red indicating the most recent deforestation fronts. Insets A-D indicate the location of the high-resolution zooms below.

Imagen 46a. Datos: Planet, SERNANP, MAAP
Image 46a. Data: Planet, SERNANP, MAAP

High Resolution Zooms

Images 45b-e show, in high-resolution, the recent deforestation within Tambopata National Reserve between July (left panel) and September (right panel) 2016. These areas correspond to Insets A-D. The red circles indicate the primary areas of new deforestation between these dates. Click on images to enlarge.

Imagen 45b. Datos: Planet, SERNANP
Image 45b. Data: Planet, SERNANP
Imagen 45c. Datos: Planet, SERNANP
Image 45c. Data: Planet, SERNANP
Imagen 45d. Datos: Planet, SERNANP
Image 45d. Data: Planet, SERNANP
Imagen 45e. Datos: Planet, SERNANP
Image 45e. Data: Planet, SERNANP

Citation

Finer M, Olexy T, Novoa S (2016) Gold Mining Deforestation Within Tambopata National Reserve Exceeds 450 Hectares. MAAP: #46

MAAP #45: Threats to El Sira Communal Reserve in central Peruvian Amazon

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esira_recovery_o_v2_en
Image 45a. Data: ESRI, SERNANP

El Sira Communal Reserve, located in the central Peruvian Amazon (regions of Pasco, Huánuco and Ucayali), aims to protect the biological diversity of the El Sira Mountain Range in benefit of the native communities of the area (Ashaninka, Yanesha, and Shipibo-Conibo indigenous groups).

This report presents an initial threat assessment for this large national protected area, which covers more than 615,000 hectares (1.5 million acres).

We identified 3 threatened sectors of the Reserve, as indicated in Image 45a (see Insets A-C).

We found that the principal drivers of deforestation in these three sectors are agriculture & cattle pasture (Insets A and C) and illegal gold mining (Inset B).

It is important to note that the deforestation for agriculture & cattle pasture continues to rapidly increase – 1,600 hectares (3,950 acres) since 2013 – while the deforestation for gold mining has been limited due to regular interventions by the Peruvian government.

Below, we show high-resolution satellite images of the recent deforestation in all three threatened sectors. Click each image to enlarge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inset A: Increasing Deforestation in the Northern Sector

esira_recovery_a_v3_en
Image 45b. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, USGS/NASA, SERNANP

Image 45b illustrates the increasing deforestation in the northern sector of the El Sira Communal Reserve.

We documented the deforestation of 285 hectares (700 acres) within the Reserve thus far in 2016 (as of late August). Over 90% of this loss comes from small-scale deforestation events (less than 5 hectares).

We calculated an additional deforestation of 1,320 hectares (3,260 acres) within the Reserve between 2013 and 2015.

Thus, we documented a total deforestation of 1,600 hectares (3,950 acres) within the northern sector of the Reserve since 2013.

Based on the analysis of high-resolution imagery, we found that the principal driver of this deforestation was agriculture & cattle pasture.

Note that this sector is near the deforestation hotspot described in MAAP #37, where we determined that cattle pasture was the principal driver of deforestation.

Insets A1 – A3 indicate the location of the high-resolution zooms described below.

 

 

 

Images 45c-45d show examples of deforestation between September 2015 (left panel) and August/September 2016 (right panel). The red circles indicate newly deforested areas in 2016. The yellow circles indicate areas deforested in 2015 and subsequently converted to cattle pasture in 2016.

esira_recovery_a1_m_v1_en
Image 45c. Data: Digital Globe (Next View), Planet
esira_recovery_a2_m_v1_en
Image 45d. Data: Digital Globe (Next View), Planet


Image 45e shows examples of deforestation between September 2015 (left panel) and August/September 2016 (right panel). The yellow circles indicate areas deforested in 2015 and subsequently converted to cattle pasture in 2016. The blue circles indicate recently burned areas (note the smoke in the right) panel. This type of annual burning pattern is characteristic of cattle-grazing areas.

esira_recovery_a3_m_v1_en
Image 45e. Data: Digital Globe (Next View), Planet

Inset B: Illegal Gold Mining Activity

esira_recovery_b_v3_en
Image 45f. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, USGS/NASA, SERNANP

Illegal gold mining currently threatens the upper Negro River, located in the northwest sector of the Reserve (see Inset B of Image 45a).

During 2015 and 2016, the Peruvian government has carried out several interventions against this illegal mining.

Image 45f shows the recent deforestation along the upper Negro River. Insets B1-B3 indicate the areas detailed below in high resolution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images 45g-h show recently deforested areas (indicated by yellow circles) between 2015 (left panel) and 2016 (right panel). These areas have been the target of recent government interventions; note that within the red circles the mining machinery has been eliminated between August and September 2016.

esira_recovery_b1_a_m_v1_en
Image 45g. Data: Digital Globe (NextView)
esira_recovery_b2_a_m_v1_en
Image 45h. Data: Digital Globe (NextView)


Image 45i shows a mining area abandoned between 2015 and 2016.

esira_recovery_b3_a_m_v1_en
Image 45i. Data: Digital Globe (NextView)

New Deforestation Zones

Image 45j shows the recent deforestation of 8.6 hectares (21 acres) between August (left panel) and September (right panel) 2016, within the area indicated by Inset B4 in Image 45f.

esira_recovery_b4_m_v1_en
Image 45j. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)

Image 45k shows the recent deforestation of 12 hectares (30 acres) within a remote area located in the northeast sector of the Reserve (see Inset C in Image 45a for context).

esira_recovery_c_m_v1_en
Image 45j. Data: Planet

Citation

Novoa S, Finer M, Snelgrove C (2016) Threats to Peru’s El Sira Communal Reserve. MAAP: 45

MAAP #44: Potential Recuperation of Illegal Gold Mining area in Amarakaeri Communal Reserve

Posted on by dcadmin

In the previous MAAP #6, published in June 2015, we documented the deforestation of 11 hectares in the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve due to a recent illegal gold mining invasion. The Reserve, located in the Madre de Dios region of the southern Peruvian Amazon, is an important protected area that is co-managed by indigenous communities and Peru’s National Protected Areas Service (known as SERNANP). In the following weeks, the Peruvian government, led by SERNANP, cracked down on the illegal mining activities and effectively halted the deforestation within that part of the Reserve.

Here, we present high-resolution satellite images that show an initial vegetation regrowth in the invaded area. This finding may represent good news regarding the Amazon’s resilience to recover from destructive mining if it is stopped at an early stage. However, many questions and caveats remain regarding the nature of the regrowth and the long-term recovery potential of the degraded land, please see the Additional Information section below for more details.

Image 44a shows the base map of the area invaded by illegal gold mining in the southeast sector of Amarakaeri Communal Reserve. Insets A–D indicate the areas featured in the high-resolution zooms below.

Image 44a. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP
Image 44a. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP

High-Resolution Zooms

Images 44b-e show, in high-resolution, areas where we detected vegetation regrowth between September 2015 (left panel) and August 2016 (right panel) following the gold mining invasion.

Image 44b. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 44b. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 44c. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 44c. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 44d. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 44d. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 44e. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 44e. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)

Additional Information

The natural vegetation regrowth observed in the images is not totally unexpected considering the area’s high biological diversity, the presence of nearby primary forest, and the relatively small area invaded prior to the government intervention. However, it’s important to consider that the regrowth has occurred mainly on the mounds of soil that were left behind by the mining activity. The regrowth is not yet evident in the other mining areas where the soil alteration was more severe. Further investigation is needed to better understand the characteristics of the regrowth and explore the true restoration potential of the area. Extreme degradation and mercury contamination left behind by mining activities may prevent many species from returning, allowing only the establishment of a few hardy colonizing specialist species.

Citation

Novoa S, Finer M, Román F (2016) Regeneration of Vegetation in Zone Affected by Gold Mining in the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve. MAAP: 44.

MAAP #43: Early Warning Deforestation Alerts in the Peruvian Amazon, Part 2

Posted on by dcadmin

In the previous MAAP #40, we emphasized the power of combining early warning forest loss GLAD alerts with analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery as part of a comprehensive near real-time deforestation monitoring system for the Peruvian Amazon.

In the current MAAP, we present 3 new examples of this system across different regions of Peru. Click on the images below to enlarge.

Example 1: Illegal Gold Mining in buffer zone of Bahuaja Sonene National Park (Madre de Dios)
Example 2: Logging Road in buffer zone of Cordillera Azul National Park (Ucayali/Loreto)
Example 3: Deforestation in Permanent Production Forest (Ucayali)

Example 1: Illegal Gold Mining in buffer zone of Bahuaja Sonene National Park (Madre de Dios)

In the previous MAAP #5, we discussed illegal gold mining deforestation along the upper Malinowski River, located in the buffer zone of the Bahuaja Sonene National Park. As seen in Image 43a, the upper Malinowski is just upstream of the areas invaded by illegal gold mining in Tambopata National Reserve and its buffer zone (see MAAP #39 and #31, respectively). In MAAP #5, we documented the deforestation of more than 850 hectares between 2013 and 2015 along the upper Malinowski. Here, we show that gold mining deforestation continues in 2016, with an additional loss of 238 hectares (806 acres). Insets A-C correspond to the areas featured in the high-resolution zooms below.

Image 43a. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, NASA/USGS, SERNANP
Image 43a. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, NASA/USGS, SERNANP

The following Images 43b-d show, in high-resolution, the rapid expansion of gold mining deforestation between August/September 2015 (left panel) and July/August 2016 (right panel). The yellow circles indicate the main areas of deforestation between the images.

Imagen 43b. Datos: Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 43b. Data: Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)
Imagen 43c. Datos: Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 43c. Data: Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)
Imagen 43d. Datos: Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 43d. Data: Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)

Example 2: Logging Road in buffer zone of Cordillera Azul National Park (Ucayali/Loreto)

In the previous MAAP #18, we discussed the proliferation of logging roads in the central Peruvian Amazon in 2015. Here, we show the expansion of two of these logging roads in 2016. (see Image 43e). Red indicates construction during 2016 (47 km). Insets A1-A3 correspond to the areas featured in the high-resolution zooms below. Note that the northern road (Inset A3) is within the buffer zone of Cordillera Azul National Park. Evidence suggests that this road is not legal because it extends out of the permited area (see MAAP #18 for more details).

Imagen 43e. Datos: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, SERNANP
Image 43e. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, SERNANP

The following images show, in high-resolution, the rapid construction of these logging roads. Image 43f shows the construction of part of the southern road (Inset A1), and the deforestation for a nearby agricultural parcel, between April (left panel) and July (right panel) 2016. Image 43g shows the construction of 1.8 km in just three days along this same road (Inset A2) between July 21 (left panel) and July 24 (right panel) 2016.

Imagen 43f. Datos: Planet
Image 43f. Data: Planet
Imagen 43g. Datos: Planet
Image 43g. Data: Planet

Image 43h shows the construction of 13 km on the northern road between November 2015 (left panel) and July 2016 (right panel) within the buffer zone of the Cordillera Azul National Park.

Imagen 43h. Datos: Planet
Image 43h. Data: Planet

Example 3: Deforestation in Permanent Production Forest  (Ucayali)

Image 43i shows recent deforestation of 136 hectares (336 acres) in 2016 in southern Ucayali region within areas classified as Permanent Production Forest and Foresty Concession. These types of areas are generally zoned for sustainable forestry uses, not clear-cutting, thus we question the legality of the deforestation. Tables A-B correspond to the areas featured in the high-resolution zooms, below.

Imagen 43i. Datos: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, MINAGRI
Image 43i. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, MINAGRI

Image 43j shows deforestation within a section of Permanent Production Forest, and Image 43k shows deforestation within a section of Forestry Concession.

Imagen 43j. Datos: Planet
Image 43j. Data: Planet
Imagen 43k. Datos: Planet
Image 43k. Data: Planet

Citation

Finer M, Novoa S, Goldthwait E (2016) Early Warning Deforestation Alerts in the Peruvian Amazon, Part 2. MAAP: 43.