MAAP Colombia: Chiribiquete – Deforestation Hotspots in the Colombian Amazon, part 3

MAAP #86: Deforestation Hotspots in the Colombian Amazon, part 3: Chiribiquete-Macarena

We present our third report* in a series investigating deforestation hotspots in the Colombian Amazon. Here, we focus on the “Chiribiquete-Macarena” hotspot, located between the Chiribiquete and La Macarena National Parks.

The Colombian government is finalizing plans to expand the boundaries of Chiribiquete National Park, an important step for conservation. However, we show (with high-resolution images) that deforestation is surging in the area and rapidly expanding towards these new boundaries. In fact, in 2018, deforestation has entered the newly expanded park.

MAAP #86: Deforestation Hotspots in the Colombian Amazon, part 3: Chiribiquete-Macarena

https://www.maaproject.org/chiribiquete/

 

*The first report focused on the “Caguan” hotspot in the department of Caquetá. The second report focused on the “La Paya” hotspot in the department of Putumayo.

Science Magazine_Combating Deforestation: From Satellite to Intervention

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Science Magazine: Combating deforestation: From satellite to intervention
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*Note: The article can only be viewed for free via this author page.

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A new policy article entitled “Combating deforestation: From satellite to intervention” was just published in Science, one of the leading journals in the world.

The authors include members of Amazon Conservation, World Resources Institute (Global Forest Watch), and Planet.

We first describe how rapidly improving satellite technology has created an unprecedented moment for near real-time monitoring.

We then outline a five-step protocol for near real-time tropical deforestation monitoring, with the goal of bridging the gap between technology and policy.

Satellite image of expanding gold mining deforestation in Peru. Image: Planet.

MAAP #85: Illegal Logging in the Peruvian Amazon, and how Satellites can help address it

Example of new logging road in the Peruvian Amazon. Data: Planet

We propose a new tool to address illegal logging in the Peruvian Amazon: using cutting-edge satellites to monitor logging road construction in near real-time.

Illegal logging in the Amazon is difficult to detect because it is selective logging of individual valuable trees, not large clear-cuts.

However, a new generation of satellites can quickly detect new logging roads, which in turn may indicate the leading edge of illegal logging.

Here, we analyzed satellite imagery to identify all new logging roads built in the Peruvian Amazon over the past three years (2015-17).

We then show how it is possible to track logging road construction in near-real time, using three satellite-based systems: GLAD alerts, Sentinel-1 (radar satellites), and Planet (optical satellites).

 

 

 

 

 


The Technology

GLAD alerts. Source: GFW

GLAD alerts quickly detect areas of recent forest loss (based on 30 meter resolution Landsat imagery) and highlight those pixels. For example, the image on the right shows GLAD alerts for a recent logging road. The satellites described below can then zoom in on these highlighted areas and continue the monitoring in near real-time.

The European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 satellites freely offer a new image every 12 days no matter the weather conditions, as radar technology allows it to penetrate clouds (see MAAP #79).

The company Planet has a fleet of 175+ mini satellites, lined up like pearls in a necklace, that are able to capture a high-resolution optical image almost daily, though clouds remain an issue (see MAAP #59).

 

 

 

 

Key Findings

Base Map. Logging roads in the Peruvian Amazon. Data: MAAP, SERNANP, IBC. Click to enlarge.

The Base Map illustrates the location of all logging roads built in the Peruvian Amazon since 2001.

We estimate the construction of 1,365 miles (2,200 km) of logging roads during the last three years (2015-17). We indicate these roads in red.

Note that the roads are concentrated in three zones:

  • Southern Loreto, between Cordillera Azul and Sierra del Divisor National Parks;
  • Southern Ucayali; and
  • Northeast Madre de Dios.

Another important finding is the potential rapid speed of logging road construction: up to 1.5 miles (2.5 km) per week.

Next, we focus on two emblematic logging roads (near Sierra del Divisor and Cordillera Azul National Parks, respectively) to demonstrate the feasibility of near real-time monitoring based on Sentinel-1 and Planet satellites.

 

 

 

 

 

A. Logging Road near Sierra del Divisor

Image A1 is a GIF that shows a series of radar images (Sentinel-1) of the construction of a logging road between 2015 and 2017 just north of Sierra del Divisor National Park. The length of the road is 43 miles (69 km). Image A2 is a Planet image showing the status of the road as of the end of 2017.

Image A1. Construction of logging road near Sierra del Divisor. Data: ESA
Image A2. Logging road near Sierra del Divisor. Data: Planet

B. Logging Road near Cordillera Azul

Image B1 is a GIF that shows a series of radar images (Sentinel-1) of the construction of a logging road between 2015 and 2017 east of Cordillera Azu National Park. The length of the road is 33 miles (53 km). Image B2 is a Planet image showing the status of the road as of the end of 2017.

Image B1. Construction of logging road near Cordillera Azul. Data: ESA
Image B2. Logging road near Cordillera Azul. Data: Planet

Notes

Not all illegal logging requires roads, but logging roads may indicate some of the most organized, financed, and large-scale operations.

Coordinates

Zona A: -6.966982,-74.6521
Zona B: -7.650428,-75.552979

Citation

Villa L, Finer M (2018) Illegal Logging in the Peruvian Amazon, and how Satellites can help. MAAP: 85.