MAAP #28: New Deforestation Hotspot along Interoceanic Highway in Southern Peruvian Amazon (Madre de Dios)

We have previously detailed the extensive illegal gold mining problem in the southern Peruvian Amazon (Madre de Dios region), but here in MAAP #28 we detail the emergence of another deforestation hotspot in the region. Image 28a shows the intensification of this hotspot, located along the newly paved Interoceanic highway around the town of Iberia (see Inset F), between 2012-14 (left panel) and 2015 (right panel). Note that the gold mining hotspot, indicated by Inset E, remained consistently high among the two time frames.

Image 28a. UMD/GLAD, PNCB/MINAM
Image 28a. UMD/GLAD, PNCB/MINAM

2015 Deforestation Hotspot Base Map

Image 28 b. UMD/GLAD
Image 28 b. UMD/GLAD

This analysis builds off the previous MAAP #26, where we presented an initial map of “Deforestation hotspots in the Peruvian Amazon in 2015,” based on an analysis of data from the new GLAD* alerts.

Image 28b shows an updated version of the 2015 Peruvian Amazon deforestation hotspots map. Inset F shows the new hotspot featured in this article (see details below).

Note about the Hotspots: Insets A and B indicate two hotspots in the Ucayali region – see MAAP #26 for more detail. Insets C and D indicate two hotspots in Huánuco that we are currently analyzing. Inset E indicates the illegal gold mining zone known as La Pampa, described in various MAAP articles (for example, see MAAP #12). Inset F shows the area of interest in this article.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Deforestation Front

Image 28c.
Image 28c. PNCB/MINAM, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, UMD/GLAD, MTC, MINAGRI

Image 28c shows detailed information about the deforestation surrounding the town of Iberia in northeast Madre de Dios (see Inset F in Image 28a for context).

Note the extensive deforestation in both 2014 and 2015 along both sides of the Interoceanic highway (1,830 hectares, or 4,522 acres).

Also note that much of the deforestation is an agglomeration of small-scale patches and occurs within forestry concessions (timber and rubber harvesting).

Insets F1 and F2 show the zooms described in greater detail below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoom F1

Image 28d compares two satellite images of the area indicated in Inset F1 (see Image 28c for context) between September 2013 (left panel) and January 2016 (right panel). Note the large increase in newly deforested areas for what appears to be small-scale agricultural inside a timber concession.

Image 28d. Data: USGS, Planet Labs
Image 28d. Data: NASA/USGS, Planet Labs, PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD

Zoom F2

Image 28e compares satellite images of the area indicated in Inset F2 (see Image 28c for context) between September 2013 (left panel) and December 2015 (right panel). Note the large increase in newly deforested areas for what appears to be small-scale agricultural within a rubber concession.

Image 28e. Data: USGS, PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD
Image 28e. Data: NASA/USGS.

References

* Produced by the University of Maryland, Google, and WRI’s Global Forest Watch. http://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/5/-9.31/-75.01/PER/grayscale/umd_as_it_happens

*Hansen, M.C., A. Krylov, A. Tyukavina, P.V. Potapov, S. Turubanova, B. Zutta, S. Ifo, B. Margono, F. Stolle, and R. Moore. Humid tropical forest disturbance alerts using Landsat data. Environ. Res. Lett. 11: 034008.

Citation

Finer M & Novoa S (2016) New Deforestation Hotspot in Madre de Dios, 2016. MAAP: 28.

 

MAAP #27: United Cacao Continues Deforestation of Primary Forest in Tamshiyacu (Loreto, Peru)

Deforestation continues to increase in the land owned and operated by United Cacao  near the town of Tamshiyacu in the northern Peruvian Amazon. Since 2013, we have documented the deforestation of 2,380 hectares (5,880 acres) related to this project, the vast majority at the expense of primary forest*. Of this total, 250 hectares were clear-cut after the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture ordered the “paralyzation” of the company’s agricultural activities in December 2014**. Here in MAAP #27, we present evidence that indicates the deforestation related to this project will continue to expand in the coming months.

Image 27a. Data: USGS.
Image 27a. Data: USGS.

Image 27a shows a series of satellite images (Landsat) that shows the advance of deforestation in in the northern part of the United Cacao project. The left panel shows this area contained a remnant of primary forest (see dark green color in Inset A) in July 2014. The central panel shows that, by September 2015, a new access road network was constructed in the southern part of this area (see pink color, which indicates recently deforested areas). Finally, the right panel shows that in February 2016 (the most recent image), the southern part of that same area is now deforested, while a new access road network has been constructed to the north. Thus, if this pattern continues (access roads followed by large-scale deforestation), we predict that deforestation will soon occur in this northern area.

High-Resolution View

Image 27b shows, in high-resolution, the deforestation of primary forest between June (left panel) and November (right panel) of 2015 in the northern part of the United Cacao project described above (see red box in both images). The image also shows the area of primary forest that is now threatened with additional deforesation (see yellow box in both images).

Image 27b. Data: WorldView-3 from Digital Globe (NextView).
Image 27b. Data: WorldView-3 from Digital Globe (NextView).
Data: PNCB/MINAM, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, Hansen et al 2016 (ERL)***
Data: PNCB/MINAM, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, Hansen et al 2016 (ERL)***

Deforestation Trend

The graph to the right shows the trend of accumulated deforestation in the United Cacao project area between 2012 and February 2016. The company began operations in early 2013, the same year as the large increase in deforestation. Also note that deforestation increased in 2015 despite the Ministry of Agriculture’s “paralyzation” order in late 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GLAD weekly alerts

It is worth emphasizing how quickly and precisely the new GLAD weekly alert system picked up the new access road construction in 2016 (see Image 27c). Also, click here to see this view on Global Forest Watch.

Image 27c. Data: UMD/GLAD, GFW, UrtheCast
Image 27c. Data: UMD/GLAD, GFW, UrtheCast

Notes

*According to the Supreme Decree (No. 018-2015-MINAGRI) approving the Regulations for Forest Management under the framework of the new 2011 Forestry Act (No. 29763), the official definition of primary forest in Peru is: “Forest with original vegetation characterized by an abundance of mature trees with species of superior or dominant canopy, which has evolved naturally.” Using methods of remote sensing, our interpretation of that definition are areas that from the earliest available image (in this case, from 1985) are characterized by dense closed-canopy coverage and experienced no major clearing events. See MAAP #9 and MAAP #2 for more details.

** Resolución de Dirección General N° 462-2014-MINAGRI-DVDIAR-DGAAAA recent press release from the organization Environmental Investigation Agency reports that the order is still in effect (http://eia-global.org/blog/united-cacao-linked-companies-ordered-to-stop-operations-by-peruvian-author).

***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.  Environ. Res. Lett. 11: 034008. Accessed through Global Forest Watch: www.globalforestwatch.org

Citation

Finer M, Novoa S (2016) United Cacao Continues Deforestation of Primary Forest in Tamshiyacu (Loreto, Peru). MAAP: #27.

 

MAAP #26: Deforestation Hotspots in the Peruvian Amazon, 2015

Thanks to the newly launched GLAD alerts (developed by the University of Maryland and Google1, and presented by Global Forest Watch), we now have weekly access to high-resolution forest loss data across Peru. Here in MAAP #26, we analyze the first batch of this data to better understand deforestation patterns in the Peruvian Amazon in 2015. In the coming weeks and months, we will use this map as a base for investigating major hotspots of forest loss in the country.

Kernell_2015a_v1_en
Image 26a. Kernel density map for forest loss in the Peruvian Amazon in 2015. Data: Hansen et al 2016 (ERL).

According to the GLAD alert data, total estimated forest loss in Peru in 2015 was 158,658 hectares (392,050 acres). If confirmed, that represents the second highest total on record, behind only 2014 (177,500 hectares).

To better understand where the GLAD alert data was concentrated in 2015, we conducted kernel density estimation, a type of analysis that calculates the magnitude per unit area of a particular phenomenon (in this case, forest loss). Image 26a shows the kernel density map for forest loss in the Peruvian Amazon in 2015. It reveals that recent deforestation was concentrated in a number of hotspots in the departments of Huánuco, Madre de Dios, and Ucayali.

Note that in MAAP #25, we conducted this same type of analysis for 2012 – 2014 forest loss data. Thus, with this latest analysis we can see how deforestation trends shifted in 2015.

Insets A and B highlight an area in central Peru (department of Ucayali) where deforestation intensified in 2015. See below for high-resolution images showing the deforestation in these areas. In the coming weeks and months, we will be publishing additional articles highlighting other key 2015 deforestation hotspots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inset A

MAAP_Coronel_Portillo_29a_v1_en
Image 26b. 2000-15 deforestation for area in Inset A. Data: Hansen et al 2016 (ERL), PNCB/MINAM, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, USGS (Landsat 8)

Image 26b shows detailed deforestation information for the area indicated in Inset A (from Image 26a). Note the extensive 2015 deforestation just to the west of two large-scale oil palm plantations (201 hectares, see pink areas).

Further below, Image 26c shows a high-resolution satellite image of the area in Inset A1 before (left panel) and after (right panel) the recent deforestation events.

 

MAAP_Coronel_Portillo_29b_v1_m_en
Image 26c. High-resolution view of area in Inset A1 before (left panel) and after (right panel) recent deforestation events. Data: WorldView-2 de Digital Globe (NextView).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inset B

MAAP_Coronel_Portillo_29d_v1_en
Image 26d. 2000-15 deforestation for area in Inset B from Image Xa. Data: Hansen et al 2016 (ERL), PNCB/MINAM, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, USGS (Landsat 8)

Image 26d shows detailed deforestation information for the area indicated in Inset B (from Image 26a). Note the extensive 2015 deforestation along the Aguaytia River (164 hectares, see pink areas). Recent deforestation (2012-14) appears to be associated with agricultural and logging activities.

Further below, Image 26e shows a high-resolution satellite image of the area in Inset B1 before (left panel) and after (right panel) the recent deforestation events.

MAAP_Coronel_Portillo_29c_v1_m_en
Image 26e. High-resolution view of area in Inset B1 before (left panel) and after (right panel) recent deforestation events. Data: WorldView-2 de Digital Globe (NextView).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methodology

We conducted this analysis using the Kernel Density  tool from Spatial Analyst Tool Box of ArcGis 10.1 software. Our goal was to emphasize local concentrations of deforestation in the raw data while still representing overarching patterns of deforestation between 2012 and 2014. We accomplished this 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.

Reference

1 Hansen, M.C., A. Krylov, A. Tyukavina, P.V. Potapov, S. Turubanova, B. Zutta, S. Ifo, B. Margono, F. Stolle, and R. Moore. Humid tropical forest disturbance alerts using Landsat data. Environmental Research Letters, in press. Accessed through Global Forest Watch on March 2, 2016. www.globalforestwatch.org

Citation

Finer M, Novoa S, Snelgrove C (2015) 2015 Deforestation Hotspots in the Peruvian Amazon. MAAP: 26.