MAAP #151: Illegal Mining in the Ecuadorian Amazon
In this report, we report on illegal gold mining activity in the Ecuadorian Amazon, building off our previous reports on Peru (MAAP #130) and Brazil (MAAP #116). The Base Map shows the two new cases presented below: Yutzupino (Napo province)…
MAAP #150: New Oil Platforms Deeper into Yasuni National Park (Ecuador), towards Uncontacted Indigenous Zone
Yasuni National Park, located in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon, is one of the most biodiverse places in the world thanks to its unique location at the intersection of the Amazon, Andes Mountains, and the equator (see Base Map).…
MAAP #147: Amazon Deforestation Hotspots 2021 (1st Look)
We present a first look at the major deforestation hotspots across all nine countries of the Amazon in 2021 (as of September 18).* The Base Map illustrates several key findings thus far in 2021:p We estimate the loss of over…
MAAP #144: The Amazon & Climate Change: Carbon Sink vs Carbon Source
A pair of recent scientific studies revealed that parts of the Amazon now emit more carbon into the atmosphere than they absorb (Gatti et al 2021, Harris et al 2021). Here, we dig deeper and highlight the key finding: the…
MAAP #141: Protected Areas & Indigenous Territories Effective Against Deforestation in the Western Amazon
As deforestation continues to threaten primary forest across the Amazon, key land use designations are one of the best hopes for the long-term conservation of critical remaining intact forests. Here, we evaluate the impact of two of the most important…
MAAP #136: Amazon Deforestation 2020 (Final)
*To download the report, click “Print” instead of “Download PDF” at the top of the page. In January, we presented the first look at 2020 Amazon deforestation based on early warning alert data (MAAP #132). Here, we update this analysis…
MAAP #132: Amazon Deforestation Hotspots 2020
We present a first look at the major hotspots of primary forest loss across the Amazon in 2020 (see Base Map).* There are several major headlines: We estimate over 2 million hectares (5 million acres) of primary forest loss across…
MAAP #131: Power of Free High-resolution Satellite Imagery from Norway Agreement
This report demonstrates the powerful application of freely available, high-resolution satellite imagery recently made possible thanks to an agreement between the Government of Norway and several satellite companies.* This unprecedented agreement will bring commercial satellite technology, previously out of reach…
MAAP #122: Amazon Deforestation 2019
Newly released data for 2019 reveals the loss of over 1.7 million hectares (4.3 million acres) of primary Amazon forest in our 5 country study area (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru).* That is twice the size of Yellowstone National…
MAAP #117: New Oil Road Deeper into Yasuni National Park (Ecuador), Towards Uncontacted Indigenous Reserve
YasunĂ National Park, located in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon, is one of the most biodiverse spots in the world and overlaps ancestral Waorani territory. In the recent MAAP #114, we showed the construction of four new oil drilling…