Illegal logging in the Peruvian Amazon is mainly selective and, until now, difficult to detect through satellite information. In this report, we present the enormous potential of very high resolution satellite imagery (<70 cm) to identify illegal logging. The leading entities that offer this type of data are Planet (Skysat) and Maxar (Worldview). We emphasize […]
We have documented 1,650 major fires in the Brazilian Amazon this year, and well over half (60%) have occurred in September.* We have been detecting around 62 major fires a day during September, relative to 18 in August (and 2 in July). Moreover, we flag the major spike in Amazon forest fires, defined here as human-caused […]
Although August was severe, early September saw the Brazilian Amazon fires intensify even more. September shot up to an average of 53 major fires per day across the Brazilian Amazon, up from 18 in August (and 2 in July).* In addition, the surrounding Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetlands, is experiencing unprecedented fires. The Base […]
August 2020 just ended its run as a severe Amazon fire month. k Our novel Real-time Amazon Fire Monitoring app has detected 646 major fires in the Brazilian Amazon thus far in 2020.* k Of these, 88% (569 major fires) occurred in August,* and all were illegal, occuring after the burning moratoriums established in July. p Also in […]
We have entered the peak deforestation season in the Peruvian Amazon, so it is also a critical time for real-time monitoring (MAAP’s specialty). Here, we highlight the major deforestation events documented so far in 2020 (through August 23). The Base Map shows the current forest loss hotspots, indicated by the colors yellow, orange and red. […]
We have entered the peak deforestation season in the Peruvian Amazon, so it is also a critical time for real-time monitoring (MAAP’s specialty). Here, we highlight the major deforestation events documented so far in 2020 (through August 23). The Base Map shows the current forest loss hotspots, indicated by the colors yellow, orange and red. […]
The Brazilian Amazon just passed a grim milestone: Over 500 illegal major fires thus far in 2020. The other major headline is that, although most fires continue to burn recently deforested areas, we are now seeing an increase in forest fires. Our Real-time Amazon Fire Monitoring app has detected 504 major fires in the Brazilian […]
In the Peruvian Amazon, the widespread illegal logging is difficult to detect with satellites because it is selective for high-value species (not clearcutting). It is possible, however, to detect the associated logging roads. In this report, we present a novel technique to identify illegal logging: analyze new logging roads in relation to detailed land use […]
Our innovative new app for Real-time Amazon Fire Monitoring has now detected over 350 major fires in the Brazilian Amazon this season.* Specifically, we have detected 365 major fires as of August 17, since the first major fire detected on May 28. The fire season is accelerating, as 79% of the major fires have occured in August. Below, […]
Our innovative new app for Real-time Amazon Fire Monitoring has detected over 200 major fires in 2020. The app specializes in filtering out thousands of the traditional heat-based fire alerts to prioritize only those burning large amounts of biomass (defined here as a major fire).* Our key findings include: We have detected 227 major Amazon […]
