Following the intense Amazon fire season of 2019 that made international headlines, here we report another major fire year in 2020. Using the novel data from our real-time Amazon Fires Monitoring app,* we documented over 2,500 major fires across the Amazon in 2020 (see Base Map). The vast majority (88%) of the major fires were […]
Here, we confirm the massive deforestation of primary forest (more than 2,000 hectares) in the Peruvian Amazon by the company United Cacao between 2013 and 2016. We present a series of recently obtained (and never before published) satellite images to emphasize the reality and importance of a deforestation case that is still being debated at […]
The Mennonites, a religious group often associated with organized agricultural activity, have started three new colonies in the Peruvian Amazon. We have documented the deforestation of 8,500 acres (3,440 hectares) in these three colonies over the past four years (updated October 2020). The deforestation started in 2017, but continues to be active in 2020 (with […]
The southern Peruvian Amazon (Madre de Dios region), is threatened by illegal mining, logging, and illegal deforestation. In response, an association of forest concessionaires (known as ACOMAT) is implementing a comprehensive monitoring system that links the use of technology (satellites and drones) with legal action. ACOMAT was formed in 2012 and now comprises 15 forestry concessions, […]
We have detected 120 major fires this year in the Bolivian Amazon, as of the first of October (see Base Map).* The majority of these fires (54%) occurred in savannas, located in the department of Beni. Another 38% of the major fires were located in forests, mostly in the dry forests of the Chiquitano. We […]
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. […]
