MAAP #165: Confirming Deforestation by Mennonites in the Peruvian Amazon
In a series of previous reports, we have documented the extensive recent deforestation from new Mennonite colonies arriving in the Peruvian Amazon (see MAAP #149). However, despite the extensive evidence provided by satellite images, the Mennonites have repeatedly denied this…
MAAP #160: Lasers Estimate Carbon in the Amazon – NASA’s GEDI Mission
NASA’s GEDI mission uses lasers to provide cutting-edge estimates of aboveground biomass and related carbon on a global scale. Launched in late 2018 and installed on the International Space Station, GEDI’s lasers return an estimate of aboveground biomass density at…
MAAP #158: Amazon Deforestation & Fire Hotspots 2021
We present a detailed look at the major 2021 Amazon forest loss hotspots, based on the final annual data produced by the University of Maryland. This dataset is unique in that distinguishes forest loss from fire, leaving the rest as…
MAAP #157: New and Proposed Roads Across the Western Amazon
Extensive deforestation, especially along the major road networks, has shockingly turned the eastern Brazilian Amazon into a net carbon source (see MAAP #144). Fortunately, the greater Amazon across all nine countries is still a net carbon sink, largely thanks to…
MAAP #154: Illegal Gold Mining in the Peruvian Amazon – 2022 update
Illegal gold mining reached crisis levels in the southern Peruvian Amazon in 2017 and 2018, clearing over 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) in the most critically impacted area, known as La Pampa (located in the buffer zone of Tambopata National Reserve,…
MAAP #153: Amazon Deforestation Hotspots 2021
We present a first look at the major 2021 Amazon deforestation hotspots.* The Amazon Base Map illustrates several key findings:p We estimate the loss of over 1.9 million hectares (4.8 million acres) of primary forest loss across the nine countries…
MAAP #149: Mennonite Colonies Continue Major Deforestation in Peruvian Amazon
The Mennonites, a religious group often associated with agricultural activity, have become one of the major deforestation drivers in the Peruvian Amazon. In October 2020, we reported the deforestation of over 3,400 hectares across three new colonies established. Here, we…
MAAP #148: Carbon loss & protection in the Peruvian Amazon
Tropical forests store massive amounts of carbon. However, when these forests are cleared (and often subsequently burned), the stored carbon is released into the atmosphere, further driving global climate change. The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical forest, with Peru…
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…