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…
Amazon Fire Tracker 2021: August update
Following the intense Amazon fire seasons of both 2019 and 2020, we are closely tracking 2021 with our unique real-time Amazon fire monitoring app.* We have documented 246 major fires across the Amazon thus far this year, as of August…
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 #140: Detecting illegal gold mining in rivers with specialized satellites
Illegal gold mining is a widespread problem in the southern Peruvian Amazon (Madre de Dios region), where it has caused river contamination and the deforestation of more than 100,000 hectares. This activity has also emerged in the northern Peruvian Amazon…
MAAP #139: Using Satellites to Detect Illegal Logging in Peruvian Amazon
Illegal logging, in addition to larger-scale deforestation, is a major problem impacting the Peruvian Amazon. In 2019, a Global Witness report, based on official information from the Peruvian government, estimated that at least 60% of the inspected timber over the…
MAAP #137: New Illegal Gold Mining Hotspot in Peruvian Amazon – Pariamanu
In 2019, the Peruvian government launched Operation Mercury to confront the illegal gold mining crisis in the southern Amazonian area known as La Pampa (Madre de Dios region). As a result, deforestation decreased 90% in this critical area (MAAP# 130).…
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 #134: Agriculture and Deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon
For the first time, Peru has a detailed National Agricultural Area Map. This unique map, produced with high-resolution satellite imagery, was published by the Peruvian Ministry of Agrarian Development (MIDAGRI) in January.* This map reveals that the agricultural area at…
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…