Agriculture-Related Threat: Mennonites

MAAP #206: Direct Link Emerges between Mennonites and Potential Large-scale Deforestation in Suriname

Posted on by Lauren deVilla

In the recent MAAP #203, we reported that the government of Suriname is preparing to clear large tracts of Amazon rainforest for agriculture.

Specifically, we estimated that a shocking 451,000 hectares (1.1 million acres) of primary forest were threatened in the proposed agricultural plots.

Intertwined with this issue are additional reports indicating that groups of Mennonites are in the process of relocating to Suriname from Bolivia. This raised alarms given the extensive large-scale agriculture deforestation caused by Mennonites in the Amazon regions of both Peru and Bolivia.

Here we report the first evidence directly linking the Mennonites with potential large-scale deforestation in Suriname.

As background, the agricultural real estate company Terra Invest is responsible for all aspects of the project to bring select Mennonites families to Suriname from Bolivia1. As detailed in the Bolivian news outlet Nomadas, the Suriname government would grant the agriculture land to Terra Invest, who would then transfer the land to societies formed by Mennonites in Suriname. 

Newly leaked government documents, from Suriname’s Ministry of Land and Forest Management dated to February 2023, provide the first available spatial data on the location of proposed lands to Terra Invest.

These lands are broken down into three separate areas, totaling 78,775 hectares.

The Base Map shows these Terra Invest request areas (purple) in relation to the previously published information on proposed agricultural plots to the Ministry of Agriculture and Foundations backed by private land developers.

Potential Primary Forest Loss

We performed an additional analysis looking at how much primary forest is contained and threatened in these proposed agriculture plots to Terra Invest. This analysis was based on data from the University of Maryland and Global Forest Watch.

In Figure 2, we show that the proposed Terra Invest plots threaten 76,932 hectares of primary forest. Note that 8,991 hectares of primary forest overlaps with Kaboeri Creek Nature Preserve.

We also that of the above total, 22,675 hectares of primary forest are in addition to what was previously calculated for the Ministry of Agriculture lands. Thus, we now estimate that 473,675 of primary forest are threatened across all three types of proposed agriculture plots (Terra Invest, Ministry of Agriculture, and Foundations).

Notes

  1. Bolivian mennonites bring the «hell» of deforestation to Suriname

Citation

Finer M, Goedschalk J, Arinez Z (2024). Direct Link Emerges between Mennonites and Potential Large-scale Deforestation in Suriname. MAAP: 206.

MAAP #203: Massive Planned Deforestation in Amazon of Suriname

Posted on by Lauren deVilla

In a recent article, the environmental science news platform Mongabay reported that, according to their review of official documents, the government of Suriname is preparing to clear large tracts of Amazon rainforest for agriculture.

Mongabay reported that a massive amount of land (365,704 hectares, or 903,674 acres) was being targeted for new agriculture plots being established for the Ministry of Agriculture (354,836 hectares) and private land developers (10,868 hectares).

This is additionally noteworthy because large-scale agriculture is not historically or currently a deforestation driver in Suriname, so these new plots would likely trigger unprecedented forest loss in one of the world’s few remaining countries dominated by primary rainforest.

Intertwined with this issue are additional reports indicating that groups of Mennonites are planning to relocate to Suriname. This news has also raised alarms given the extensive deforestation caused by Mennonites in the Amazon regions of both Peru (7,032 hectares) and Bolivia (210,980 hectares).

In their article, Mongabay gathered information from the government documents to create a map of the proposed agriculture plots. We then digitized this map, calibrated it with coordinates in the documents, and then conducted our own analysis.

The Base Map shows our digitized map of the agricultural plots, with the inclusion of protected areas and Indigenous & Tribal Peoples villages, all overlayed on top of a recent satellite image.

We estimate 467,000 hectares in the proposed new agricultural plots (456,238 ha for the Ministry of Agriculture and 10394 ha for Foundations backed by private land developers). Note this is substantially higher than the estimate reported by Mongabay. Additional analysis of the documents indicates that the actual total could rise to 560,000 hectares.

Potential Primary Forest Loss

We performed an additional analysis looking at how much primary forest is contained and threatened in these proposed agriculture plots. This analysis was based on data from the University of Maryland and Global Forest Watch.

In Figure 2, we estimate 451,000 hectares of threatened primary forest in the proposed agriculture plots (441,362 ha for the Ministry of Agriculture and 9,958 ha for Foundations backed by private land developers).

This would result in a shocking amount of primary forest loss for a country that has experienced an average annual deforestation of 6,560 hectares over the past 21 years (137,746 hectares in total since the year 2002).

Citation

Finer M, Goedschalk J, Arinez Z (2024) Massive Planned Deforestation in Amazon of Suriname. MAAP: 203.

MAAP #192: Confirming Deforestation by Mennonites in the Peruvian Amazon

Posted on by dcadmin
Example of recent 2023 deforestation of primary Amazon forest by Mennonite colony. Data: Planet (Skysat).

In a series of reports, we have documented the recent massive deforestation by Mennonite colonies in the Peruvian Amazon (see MAAP #188).

Here, we present additional evidence that Mennonites are currently clearing primary Amazon forests: very high-resolution satellite imagery (0.5 meters from Planet’s Skysat fleet).

Specifically, we compare a series of very high-resolution satellite images tasked over the same area on different dates across three different Mennonite colonies (Chipiar, Providencia, and Vanderland), located in the regions of Loreto and Ucayali (see Base Map in the Annex).

These images conclusively confirm that Mennonites are actively clearing primary forest across multiple sites in the Peruvian Amazon during recent weeks in 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base Map – Chipiar Mennonite Colony. Data: Planet (Skysat), ACA (MAAP)

Chipiar Colony

The following image serves as a base map of the recent deforestation in the Chipiar Mennonite colony, located on the border between Loreto and Ucayali.

Insets A-C correspond to the zooms below.

In each of these zooms, we compare very high-resolution images (0.5 meters) obtained in August 2022 (left panels) and July 2023 (right panels).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoom A. Chipiar Mennonite Colony. Data: Planet (Skysat)
Zoom B. Chipiar Mennonite Colony. Data: Planet (Skysat)
Zoom C. Chipiar Mennonite Colony. Data: Planet (Skysat)
Base Map – Providencia Mennonite Colony. Data: Planet (Skysat), ACA (MAAP)

Providencia Colony

The following image serves as a base map of the recent deforestation in the Providencia Mennonite colony, located in Loreto.

Insets A-C correspond to the zooms below.

In each of these zooms, we compare very high-resolution images (0.5 meters) obtained in September 2022 (left panels) and August 2023 (right panels).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoom A. Providencia Mennonite Colony. Data: Planet (Skysat)
Zoom B. Providencia Mennonite Colony. Data: Planet (Skysat)
Zoom C. Providencia Mennonite Colony. Data: Planet (Skysat)
Base Map – Vanderland Mennonite Colony. Data: Planet (Skysat), ACA (MAAP)

Vanderland Colony

The following image serves as a base map of the recent deforestation in the Vanderland Mennonite colony, also located in Loreto. Insets A-D correspond to the zooms below. In each of these zooms, we compare very high-resolution images (0.5 meters) obtained in July 2023 (left panels) and September 2023 (right panels).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoom A. Vanderland Mennonite Colony. Data: Planet (Skysat)
Zoom B. Vanderland Mennonite Colony. Data: Planet (Skysat)
Zoom C. Vanderland Mennonite Colony. Data: Planet (Skysat)
Zoom A. Vanderland Mennonite Colony. Data: Planet (Skysat)

Annex – Base Map of Mennonite Colonies in the Peruvian Amazon

Citation

Finer M, Ariñez A, Mamani N (2023) Confirming Deforestation by Mennonites in the Peruvian Amazon. MAAP: 192.

MAAP #188: Mennonite Colonies Continue Major Deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon

Posted on by dcadmin
Base Map. Mennonite Colonies in the Peruvian Amazon. Data: ACA/MAAP, SERNANP.

Starting in 2017, new Mennonite colonies began appearing in the Peruvian Amazon, coming from other parts of Latin America in search of new lands.

TheMennonites, a global religious group dating back to the 1600s, often require vast tracts of land to support their characteristic large-scale, industrialized agricultural activity.

In a series of reports, we have demonstrated that the Mennonites have become one of the major deforestation drivers in both the Peruvian and Bolivian Amazon.

Here, we update our findings for Peru for the most recent time period, January 2022 – August 2023.

Our objective is to provide detailed information on the magnitude of deforestation caused by the Menonites in Peru, and to identify the specific colonies where this forest loss is most active now.

Major Findings:

Our analysis has revealed that the Mennonites have now deforested over 7 thousand hectares (7,032 hectares, or 17,376 acres) in the five colonies established since 2017 (Vanderland, Osterreich, Providencia, Chipiar, and Masisea; see Base Map). In addition, we have documented an additional impact of more than 1,600 hectares of burned forests.

Of the total deforestation, more than a third (34.5%) has occurred in the most recent period, from January 2022 to the current date in August 2023 (2,426 hectares, or 5,995 acres).

Below, we detail the deforestation history in each colony, with an emphasis on the most recent loss.

In addition, there is mounting evidence that this massive deforestation is illegal, with numerous ongoing investigations by the Peruvian government (see the Legal Summary, below).

Deforestation in Mennonite Colonies (Peruvian Amazon)

Chipiar Colony

Figure 1. Deforestation in the Chipiar Mennonite colony. Data: ACA/MAAP, Planet.

This colony is located on both sides of the border between the departments of Ucayali and Loreto, originating in the district of Padre Marquez on the Loreto side.

It is the newest colony, where deforestation began in 2020. This deforestation escalated in 2021, peaked in 2022, and continues to expand in 2023.

In total, we document the deforestation of 2,221 hectares in the Chipiar colony since 2020 (see image below).

Much of this loss (76%) occurred in the most recent 2022 – 2023 period.

In addition, we estimate the additional degradation of 1,600 hectares by fires that have escaped from the Mennonite plantations into the surrounding forests.

 

Figure 2. Recent image of deforestation in the Chipiar Mennonite colony. Data: Planet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vanderland, Osterreich & Providencia Colonies

Figure 3. Deforestation in the Mennonite colonies of Tierra Blanca (Vanderland, Österreich and Providencia). Data: ACA/MAAP, Planet.

These three colonies are located near the town of Tierra Blanca, in the Loreto region.

In total, we have documented the deforestation of 3,881 hectares since 2017, with 32.5% occurring in the most recent 2022 – 2023 period (see image below).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Masisea Colony

This colony, located in the Ucayali region, was the first to be established in Peru and was occupied with colonists arriving from Bolivia.

In total, we document the deforestation of 929 hectares in the Masisea colony since 2017 (see image below). Deforestation was highest between 2017 and 2019, and just 6% occurred in the most recent 2022 – 2023 time period.

Figure 4. Recent image of deforestation in the Vanderland, Österreich and Providencia Mennonite colonies. Data: Planet.
Figure 5. Deforestation in the Masisea Mennonite colony. Data: ACA/MAAP, Planet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legal Summary

Figura 6. Imagen reciente de la deforestación en la colonia menonita Masisea. Datos: Planet.

The Specialized Environmental Prosecutor’s Office, known as FEMA (Fiscalia Especializada en Materia Ambiental), is conducting investigations against the Mennonite colonies in each of the three areas:

  • In Masisea, which is the most advanced case, the accusation is for illegal trafficking of timber forest products, crimes against forests in an aggravated form, alteration of the environment or landscape, and crimes against the forests of an indigenous community (tráfico ilegal de productos forestales maderables, delitos contra los bosques en forma agravada y alteración del ambiente o paisaje, y delitos contra los bosques de una comunidad nativa).
    j
  • In the colonies of Tierra Blanca, the accusations include crimes against forests or wooded areas and misuse of agricultural lands (delitos contra los bosques o formaciones boscosas y por utilización indebida de tierras agrícolas).
    j
  • In Chipiar, officially known as the Christian Agricultural Mennonite Colony Gnadenhoff Reinlaender Benboya, the accusation is crime against forests or forest formations in aggravated form (delito contra los bosques o formaciones boscosas en forma agravada).

The Public Prosecutor of the Ministry of the Environment has indicated that all deforestation has occurred without the proper authorization from the relevant state agencies. The regional governments of Ucayali and Loreto have confirmed this assertion, stating that there is no authorization for land use change.

In addition, the National Forest Service (SERFOR) has received five complaints against the Mennonite colonies in the three sectors (two for Masisea, two for Tierra Blanca, and one for Chipiar). These complaints have been forwarded to the respective regional governments and to FEMA in Loreto and Ucayali.

In general, the Mennonites have followed the same pattern in each area: First, there is an irregular purchase of land. Then, they proceed with land use change and deforestation without proper authorization.

In October 2022, the Ucayali Transitory Preparatory Investigation Court for Environmental Crimes (Juzgado de Investigación Preparatoria Transitorio de Delitos Ambientales de Ucayali) ruled in favor of the request of the Attorney General of the Ministry of the Environment, in relation to deforestation in the Chipiar colony. In July 2023, the Second Criminal Appeals Chamber of the Superior Court of Justice of Ucayali (Segunda Sala Penal de Apelaciones de la Corte Superior de Justicia de Ucayali) ratified the immediate suspension of predatory activities of clearing and logging by the colony. According to the judicial order, the members of this Mennonite colony will not be able to use vehicles, machinery or instruments that cause deforestation.

Sources:

Mongabay Latam

https://es.mongabay.com/2022/10/tiruntan-perdio-sus-bosques-tras-la-llegada-de-menonitas-en-peru/

https://es.mongabay.com/2022/02/menonitas-en-peru-tres-colonias-investigadas-por-la-deforestacion-de-casi-4-mil-hectareas-de-bosque-en-la-amazonia/

https://es.mongabay.com/2020/11/menonitas-peru-deforestacion-loreto/

https://es.mongabay.com/2021/04/menonitas-peru-historia-entrega-bosques-masisea/

Ojo Publico

https://ojo-publico.com/ambiente/territorio-amazonas/las-visitas-al-congreso-detras-del-proyecto-que-amenaza-los-bosques

Convoca

https://convoca.pe/investigacion/menonitas-el-grupo-que-convierte-la-fe-religiosa-en-deforestacion-en-la-amazonia-del

https://convoca.pe/investigacion/brechas-legales-permiten-que-los-menonitas-deforesten-la-amazonia-peruana

Actualidad Ambiental

https://www.actualidadambiental.pe/ordena-suspender-depredacion-de-bosques-a-colonia-menonita/

Acknowledgements

We thank colleagues at USAID in Peru and Conservación Amazónica-ACCA for helpful input and comments on this report, and R. McMullen for translation.

This report was prepared with the technical support of USAID through the Prevent Project. Prevent (Proyecto Prevenir in Spanish) works with the Government of Peru, civil society, and the private sector to prevent and combat environmental crimes for the conservation of the Peruvian Amazon, particularly in the regions of Loreto, Madre de Dios, and Ucayali.

Disclaimer: This publication is made possible by the generous support of the American people through USAID. The contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2023) Mennonite Colonies Continue Major Deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon. MAAP: 188.

MAAP #180: Mennonites & Soy Deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon

Posted on by dcadmin
Base Map. Soy deforestation by Mennonite colonies in the Bolivian Amazon.

We continue with the second part in our series on soy deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon.

In the first part, see MAAP #179, we documented the massive soy-driven deforestation of 904,518 hectares (2.2 million acres) between 2001 and 2021 in the Bolivian Amazon.

During this time period, a large number of farming-based Mennonite colonies have been established in the southern Bolivian Amazon, helping drive the increase in soybean expansion in the region.1,2

Here, we incorporate colony location data to estimate the role of Mennonite colonies in this soy deforestation.

In summary, we find that Mennonites have caused a third (33%) of the soy deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon over the past 5 years (see Base Map).

Overall, Mennonites caused nearly a quarter (23%) of the total soy deforestation over the past 20 years (210,980 hectares, or 521,344 acres).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mennonites & Soy Deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon

We estimate that Mennonite colonies have caused the deforestation of 210,980 hectares (521,344 acres) for soy expansion in the Bolivian Amazon between 2001 and 2021 (see Base Map). This accounts for 23% of the total soybean deforestation in Bolivia over the past 20 years.

This Mennonite-driven soy deforestation peaked in 2016 (31,728 hectares), following a previous peak in 2008 (see Graph 1). In general, note that Mennonite soy deforestation has been relatively high (>2,000 hectares) every year from 2001 to 2020.

Focusing on just the past five years (2017-21), Mennonites have cleared 33,234 hectares (82,123 acres). This represents an increase to 33% of the total soybean deforestation during this time period.

Graph 1. Soy deforestation caused by Mennonites in the Bolivian Amazon, 2001-2021.

Satellite Images of Mennonite Colonies in the Bolivian Amazon

We present a series of recent satellite images showing examples of Mennonite colonies in the Bolivian Amazon. See the Base Map above for the location of the three zooms (A-C). Note that they are made up of highly-organized and connected agricultural plots that have been created following deforestation events over the past 20 years.

Methodology

For this series of reports, we employed a three-part methodology.

First, we mapped out “soy planted area” for 2001 to 2021 based on the data from Song et al 2021. This data is available on the University of Maryland’s GLAD site “Commodity Crop Mapping and Monitoring in South America.”3

Second, on top of the soy planted area noted above, we mapped out forest loss for 2001 to 2021, also based on data from the University of Maryland.4 This served as our estimate of soy-driven deforestation.

Third, on top of the soy planted area noted above, we incorporated an additional dataset from a recent study on the expansion of Mennonite colonies in Latin America.1 Spatial data from this study available here. We then estimated forest loss for these select Mennonite soy areas.

References

1Yann le Polain de Waroux, Janice Neumann, Anna O’Driscoll & Kerstin Schreiber (2021) Pious pioneers: the expansion of Mennonite colonies in Latin America, Journal of Land Use Science, 16:1, 1-17, DOI: 10.1080/1747423X.2020.1855266

2Nobbs-Thiessen, B. (2020). Landscape of Migration. The University of North Carolina Press.

3Song, X.P., M.C. Hansen, P. Potopov, B. Adusei, J. Pickering, M. Adami, A. Lima, V. Zalles, S.V. Stehman, D.M. Di Bella, C.M. Cecilia, E.J. Copati, L.B. Fernandes, A. Hernandez-Serna, S.M. Jantz, A.H. Pickens, S. Turubanova, and A. Tyukavina. 2021. Massive soybean expansion in South America since 2000 and implications for conservation.

4Hansen, M. C., P. V. Potapov, R. Moore, M. Hancher, S. A. Turubanova, A. Tyukavina, D. Thau, S. V. Stehman, S. J. Goetz, T. R. Loveland, A. Kommareddy, A. Egorov, L. Chini, C. O. Justice, and J. R. G. Townshend. 2013. “High-Resolution Global Maps of 21st-Century Forest Cover Change.” Science 342 (15 November): 850–53. Data available from: earthenginepartners.appspot.com/science-2013-global-forest.

Acknowledgements

These reports are part of a series focused on the Bolivian Amazon through a strategic collaboration between the sister organizations Amazon Conservation in Bolivia (ACEAA) and Amazon Conservation in the U.S.

Citation 

Finer M, Ariñez A (2023) Mennonites & Soy Deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon. MAAP #179.

MAAP #179: Soy Deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon

Posted on by dcadmin
Base Map. Soy-driven deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon, 2001-2021. Click on map to enlarge.

It is generally known that commodities such as oil palm, soy, and cattle are major tropical deforestation drivers, but concise estimates are often difficult.

New satellite-based datasets are improving this situation. Notably, researchers recently published the first overview of soybean plantations for South America.1

Here, we use this data to estimate recent soy-driven deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon.

In the second part of this series, see MAAP #180, we incorporate additional data to estimate the role of Mennonite colonies in this soy deforestation.

In summary, we document the massive soy-driven deforestation of 904,518 hectares (2.2 million acres) between 2001 and 2021 in the Bolivian Amazon (see Base Map).

Of this total, Mennonites have caused 23% (210,980 hectares, or 521,344 acres).

 

 

 

 

 

Soy Deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon, 2001 – 2021

Soy has covered 2.1 million hectares of the southern Bolivian Amazon over the past 20 years, with current coverage around 1.2 million hectares.

We documented an extremely high level of soy-driven deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon: 904,518 hectares (2.2 million acres) between 2001 and 2021 (see Base Map above). This is a massive area, similar to the size of the U.S. state of Vermont.

This soy deforestation peaked in 2008 (92,000 hectares), but has been high (>18,000 hectares) every year between 2001 and 2019, meaning this is a long-running and persistent issue.

The vast majority of the total deforestation occurred in the Santa Cruz department, plus a small corner of adjacent Beni department.

Below, Figure 1 shows the overall massive soy deforestation over the past 20 years in the Bolivian Amazon, comparing 2001 (left panel) with 2021 (right panel).

Figure 1. Soy deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon, 2001 vs 2021.

Soy Deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon, 2017 – 2021

Of the total soy deforestation noted above, 11% (101,188 hectares, or 250,000 acres) occurred in just the past 5 years (2017-21).

Below, Figures 2-4 show examples of this recent soy deforestation, comparing 2017 (left panel) with 2021 (right panel). See the Base Map above for locations of insets A-C.

Figure 2. Soy deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon, 2017 vs 2021.
Figure 3. Soy deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon, 2017 vs 2021.
Figure 4. Soy deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon, 2017 vs 2021.

Methodology

For this series of reports, we employed a three-part methodology.

First, we mapped out “soy planted area” for 2001 to 2021 based on the data from Song et al 2021.1 This data is available on the University of Maryland’s GLAD site “Commodity Crop Mapping and Monitoring in South America.”

Second, on top of the soy planted area noted above, we mapped out forest loss for 2001 to 2021, also based on data from the University of Maryland.2 This served as our estimate of soy-driven deforestation.

Third, on top of the soy planted area noted above, we incorporated an additional dataset from a recent study on the expansion of Mennonite colonies in Latin America. 3 Spatial data from this study available here. We then estimated forest loss for these select Mennonite soy areas. See MAAP #180.

References

1Song, X.P., M.C. Hansen, P. Potopov, B. Adusei, J. Pickering, M. Adami, A. Lima, V. Zalles, S.V. Stehman, D.M. Di Bella, C.M. Cecilia, E.J. Copati, L.B. Fernandes, A. Hernandez-Serna, S.M. Jantz, A.H. Pickens, S. Turubanova, and A. Tyukavina. 2021. Massive soybean expansion in South America since 2000 and implications for conservation.

2Hansen, M. C., P. V. Potapov, R. Moore, M. Hancher, S. A. Turubanova, A. Tyukavina, D. Thau, S. V. Stehman, S. J. Goetz, T. R. Loveland, A. Kommareddy, A. Egorov, L. Chini, C. O. Justice, and J. R. G. Townshend. 2013. “High-Resolution Global Maps of 21st-Century Forest Cover Change.” Science 342 (15 November): 850–53. Data available from: earthenginepartners.appspot.com/science-2013-global-forest.

3Yann le Polain de Waroux, Janice Neumann, Anna O’Driscoll & Kerstin Schreiber (2021) Pious pioneers: the expansion of Mennonite colonies in Latin America, Journal of Land Use Science, 16:1, 1-17, DOI: 10.1080/1747423X.2020.1855266

Acknowledgements

These reports are part of a series focused on the Bolivian Amazon through a strategic collaboration between the sister organizations Amazon Conservation in Bolivia (ACEAA) and Amazon Conservation in the U.S.

Citation

Finer M, Ariñez A (2023) Soy Deforestation in the Bolivian Amazon. MAAP #179.

MAAP #166: Mennonites have deforested 4,800 hectares (11,900 acres) in the Peruvian Amazon

Posted on by dcadmin
Base Map. Mennonite colonies in the Peruvian Amazon. Data: ACA/MAAP.

Since 2017, the Mennonites have arrived in the Peruvian Amazon and created 5 new colonies.

Here, we show that these colonies have caused the deforestation of more than 4,800 hectares (11,860 acres) of tropical forest, including 650 hectares (1,600 acres) in 2022.

The Base Map shows the current situation regarding the Mennonites in Peru. Note that the 5 colonies are indicated in red.

The Padre Marquez colony, located on both sides of the border between the regions of Ucayali and Loreto, has caused the deforestation of 976 hectares (2,412 acres). It is the newest colony (and represents the most urgent current situation), created in 2021 and with a great expansion in the current year 2022.

The Vanderland, Osterreich and Belize colonies, located near the town of Tierra Blanca (Loreto region), have caused the deforestation of 2,884 hectares (7,126 acres) since 2017. These colonies are also expanding in 2022.

The Masisea colony, located south of the city of Pucallpa (Ucayali region), has caused the deforestation of 960 hectares (2,372 acres) since 2017.

In total, we have documented the deforestation of 4,819 hectares (11,908 acres) in the five new Mennonite colonies in the Peruvian Amazon.

Below, we detail the deforestation history in each colony since 2017, with an emphasis on the most recent loss in 2022.

Deforestation in Mennonite Colonies (Peruvian Amazon)

Padre Marquez Colony

This colony is located on both sides of the border between the departments of Ucayali and Loreto, and has received its name since it originated in the district of Padre Marquez (Loreto). It is the newest colony, created in 2021 with the deforestation of 466 hectares (1,150 acres). This colony had a large expansion in 2022 (perhaps forming a new colony?), with additional deforestation of 491 hectares (1,213 acres). In total, we documented the deforestation of 976 hectares (2,412 acres) in the Padre Marquez colony, between the two years 2021 and 2022 (see yellow and red, respectively, in the image below). It should be emphasized that we estimate the additional degradation of 1,600 hectares (3,954 acrres) by fires that have escaped from the Mennonite plantations into the surrounding forests.

Deforestation in the Padre Marquez Mennonite colony. Data: ACA/MAAP, Planet.
Recent image of deforestation in the Padre Marquez Mennonite colony. Data: Planet.

Vanderland & Osterreich Colonies

These two colonies are located near the town of Tierra Blanca, in the Loreto region. Deforestation was highest between the years 2017 and 2020, with the loss of 2,300 hectares (5,683 acres) (see yellow in the image, below). In 2022, we have detected the new deforestation of 71 hectares (175 acres) (see red).

Deforestation in the Vanderland & Osterreich Mennonite colonies. Data: ACA/MAAP, Planet.
Recent image of deforestation in the Vanderland & Osterreich Mennonite colonies. Data: Planet.

Belize Colony

This colony is also located near the town of Tierra Blanca (Loreto region) and also registered the highest deforestation between 2017 and 2020, with the loss of 438 hectares (1,082 acres). In 2022, we have detected a new deforestation of 74 hectares (182 acres). Note that this most recent 2022 deforestation is expanding deeper into the surrounding forest.

Deforestation in the Belize Mennonite colony. Data: ACA/MAAP, Planet.
Recent image of deforestation in the Belize Mennonite colony. Data: Planet.

Masisea Colony

Esta colonia se ubica en la región Ucayali, y es la única que se ubica al sur de la ciudad de Pucallpa. La deforestación fue más alta entre los años 2017 y 2019, con la pérdida de 944 hectáreas. Al este, hubo una expansión en el 2021 de 47 hectáreas adicionales. No hemos detectado expansión notable en el 2022.

This colony is located in the Ucayali region, and is the only one located south of the city of Pucallpa. Deforestation was highest between 2017 and 2019, with the loss of 944 hectares (2,332 acres). To the east, there was an expansion in 2021 of an additional 47 hectares (117 acres). We have not detected notable expansion in 2022.

Deforestation in the Masisea Mennonite colony. Data: ACA/MAAP, Planet.
Recent image of deforestation in the Masisea Mennonite colony. Data: Planet.

Citation

Finer M, Ariñez A (2022) Mennonites have deforested 4,800 hectares (11,900 acres) in the Peruvian Amazon. MAAP: 166.

MAAP #165: Confirming Deforestation by Mennonites in the Peruvian Amazon

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Recent deforestation in the Padre Marquez Mennonite colony. Data: Planet/Skysat, MAAP.

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 deforestation (see References).

Most recently, we detected that the Mennonites had resumed deforestation in the newest colony that we refer to as Padre Marquez (see Base Map in the Annex).

This new deforestation cleared over 90 hectares of primary forest between just August and early September 2022.

In response, we tasked very high-resolution satellite images (0.5 meters from Planet/Skysat) over the area.

Here, we present these images in comparison to previous Skysats obtained last year, thus providing additional evidence that Mennonites are indeed clearing primary forest.

 

 

 

Recent Mennonite Deforestation
Documented with Very High-Resolution Imagery

The following image serves as a base map of the recent deforestation in the Padre Marquez Mennonite colony. Insets A-F correspond to the zooms further below. In each of these zooms, we show very high-resolution images (0.5 meters) obtained in both November 2021 (left panels) and August 2022 (right panels). Thus, they serve as the latest evidence that the Mennonites are indeed clearing primary forest.

Base map of the recent deforestation in the Padre Marquez Mennonite colony. Insets A-F correspond to the zooms below. Data: Planet/Skysat, MAAP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annex – Base Map of Mennonite Colonies in Peruvian Amazon

Base Map. Mennonite Colonies in the Peruvian Amazon. Data: ACA/MAAP.

References

Collyns D (2022) The Mennonites being accused of deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon. Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/11/mennonites-peru-deforestation-permits

Collyns D (2022) Meet the Mennonites in Peru. CGTN America

Sierra Y (2022) Menonitas en Perú: tres colonias investigadas por la deforestación de casi 4 mil hectáreas de bosque en la Amazonía. Mongabay

Citation

Finer M, Ariñez A (2022) Confirming Deforestation by Mennonites in the Peruvian Amazon. MAAP: 165.

 

MAAP #153: Amazon Deforestation Hotspots 2021

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Amazon Base Map. Deforestation hotspots across the Amazon in 2021 (as of September 18). Data: UMD/GLAD, ACA/MAAP.

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 of the Amazon biome in 2021.
    k
  • This matches the previous two years, bringing the total deforestation to 6 million hectares (15 million acres) since 2019, roughly the size of the state of West Virginia.
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  • In 2021, most of the deforestation occurred in Brazil (70%), followed by Bolivia (14%), Peru (7%), and Colombia (6%).
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  • In Brazil, hotspots are concentrated along the major road networks. Many of these areas were also burned following the deforestation.
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  • In Bolivia, fires once again impacted several important ecosystems, including the Chiquitano dry forests.
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  • In Peru, deforestation continues to impact the central region, most notably from large-scale clearing for a new Mennonite colony.
    p
  • In Colombia, there continues to be an arc of deforestation impacting numerous protected areas and indigenous territories.

Below, we zoom in on the four countries with the highest deforestation (Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia), with additional maps and analysis.

Brazil Base Map. Deforestation hotspots in Brazilian Amazon. Data: UMD/GLAD, ACA/MAAP.

Brazilian Amazon

The Brazil Base Map shows the notable concentration of deforestation hotspots along the major roads (especially roads 163, 230, 319, and 364) in the states of Acre, Amazonas, Pará, and Rondônia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bolivia Base Map. Deforestation hotspots in Bolivian Amazon. Data: UMD/GLAD, ACA/MAAP.

Bolivian Amazon

The Bolivia Base Map shows the concentration of hotspots due to major fires in the Chiquitano dry forest biome, largely located in the department of Santa Cruz in the southeast section of the Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peru Base Map. Deforestation hotspots in the Peruvian Amazon. Data: UMD/GLAD, ACA/MAAP.

Peruvian Amazon

The Peru Base Map shows the concentration of deforestation in the central Amazon (Ucayali region).

We highlight the rapid deforestation (365 hectares) for a new Mennonite colony in 2021, near the town of Padre Marquez (see MAAP #149).

Also, note some additional hotspots in the south (Madre de Dios region), but these are largely from expanding agriculture instead of the historical driver of gold mining.

Indeed, gold mining deforestation has been greatly reduced due to government actions, but this illegal activity still threatens several key areas and indigenous territories (MAAP #130).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colombia Base Map. Deforestation hotspots in northwest Colombian Amazon. Data: UMD/GLAD, ACA/MAAP.

Colombian Amazon

As described in previous reports (see MAAP #120), the Colombia Base Map shows there continues to be an “arc of deforestation” in the northwest Colombian Amazon (Caqueta, Meta, and Guaviare departments).

This arc impacts numerous Protected Areas (particularly Tinigua and Chiribiquete National Parks) and Indigenous Reserves (particularly Yari-Yaguara II and Nukak Maku).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Notes and Methodology

The analysis was based on 10-meter resolution primary forest loss alerts (GLAD+) produced by the University of Maryland and also presented by Global Forest Watch. These alerts are derived from the Sentinel-2 satellite operated by the European Space Agency.

We emphasize that this data represents a preliminary estimate and more definitive annual data will come later in the year.

We also note that this data does include forest loss caused by natural forces and burned areas.

Our geographic range for the Amazon is a hybrid between both the biogeographic boundary (as defined by RAISG) and watershed boundary, designed for maximum inclusion.

To identify the deforestation hotspots, we conducted a kernel density estimate. This type of analysis calculates the magnitude per unit area of a particular phenomenon, in this case, forest cover loss. We conducted this analysis using the Kernel Density tool from the Spatial Analyst Tool Box of ArcGIS. We used 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.

For the Base Map, we used the following concentration percentages: Medium: 5-7%; High: 7-14%; Very High: >14%.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation) and ICFC (International Conservation Fund of Canada).

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N, Spore J (2022) Amazon Deforestation Hotspots 2021. MAAP: 153.

MAAP #149: Mennonite Colonies Continue Major Deforestation in Peruvian Amazon

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Recent deforestation associated with the newest Mennonite colony “Padre Marquez”. Data: Planet

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 show that in 2021 the Mennonites have established a fourth colony (over 400 hectares) and continued expansion of the first three colonies.

In total, we have now documented the deforestation of 3,968 hectares (9,805 acres) across four new colonies established in the Peruvian Amazon since 2017, making it the new leading cause of large-scale deforestation in Peru.

Moreover, there are strong indications that much of this deforestation is illegal (see MAAP #127).

Below, we present the following:

  • An updated Base Map showing the location of the four new Mennonite colonies in the Peruvian Amazon.
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  • A series of satellite images showing the most recent deforestation in the newest colony (referred to here as “Padre Marquez”).
Updated Base Map showing the location of the four major new Mennonite Colonies in the Peruvian Amazon. Data: MAAP.

Base Map

The Base Map shows the location of the four major Mennonite colonies in the Peruvian Amazon.

The newest colony is referred to here as “Padre Marquez,” named for a nearby town. Note that it is located about halfway between the other colonies (Tierra Blanca to the north and Masisea to the south.

Of the total deforestation (3,968 hectares):

  • 66% (2,628 ha) is in the Tierra Blanca colonies in Loreto;
  • 23% (918 ha) is in Masisea colony in Ucayali;
  • 11% (421) is in the new Padre Marquez colony along the Ucayali/Loreto border.
    k
  • 12% occurred in 2021 (495 ha). In addition to the establishment of Padre Marquez, we also detected expansion in the Tierra Blanca and Masisea colonies.

Deforestation 2021

The following image shows the large-scale deforestation of 366 hectares between January (left panel) and November (right panel) 2021 associated with the main section of the new Padre Marquez colony. The red arrows serve as reference points between the two panels. Click to enlarge.

Deforestation between January (left panel) and November 2021 (right panel), associated with the new Padre Marquez colony. Data: Planet, MAAP. Click to enlarge.

Satellite Images of Each Mennonite Colony

Tierra Blanca 1

The following image shows the deforestation of 2,200 hectares (5,436 acres) since 2017 in the Tierra Blanca 1 colony (Loreto region). In 2021, this deforestation mostly stopped (only 8 ha).

Tierra Blanca 2

The following image shows the additional deforestation of 428 hectares (1,058 acres) in the nearby Tierra Blanca s colony (Loreto region). In 2021, this deforestation also mostly stopped (15 ha).

Masisea

The following image shows the deforestation of 918 hectares (2,268 acres) in the Masisea colony (Ucayali region). In 2021, there was a major expansion to the east (with 47 ha of new deforestation).

Padre Marquez

The following image shows the deforestation of 421 hectares (1,040 acres) in the Padre Marquez colony (Ucayali region), all of which occured in 2021.

Very High-Resolution Images of Padre Marquez colony

Below, we present a series of very high resolution (0.5 meter) satellite images of the Padre Marquez colony, thanks to the company Planet and their Skysat fleet. The image allows enhanced visualization of some details of the deforested area, such as roads, buildings, and cleared land for likely agricultural activities. Click to enlarge.

 

Declaration from the Peruvian Ministry of Environment (MINAM):

La destrucción de cientos de hectáreas de bosques en Loreto y en Ucayali causada por las ocupaciones irregulares de colonias menonitas, ha sido priorizada por el MINAM a través de las siguientes acciones:

1. Denuncias penales por afectación de las formaciones boscosas, contra los dirigentes de las colonias menonitas.   Cuatro denuncias en Ucayali y una denuncia penal en Loreto.
2. Medidas cautelares, en el marco de las denuncias penales, para que la autoridad judicial disponga la suspensión de las acciones destructivas y predatorias del bosque.
3. Solicitudes a las entidades de control institucional para la supervisión sobre el ejercicio funcional de las autoridades regionales a cargo del otorgamiento de permisos que afectan el bosque.
4. Además, el MINAM ha venido ejecutando y coordinando diversas acciones con la finalidad que las entidades competentes investiguen, sancionen y paralicen las actividades irregulares de estas personas extranjeras que no solamente han ingresado sin las autorizaciones respectivas para ejecutar actividades económicas, sino que además están dañando ostensiblemente el patrimonio natural peruano.

Acknowledgements

We thank M.E. Gutierrez, E. Ortiz, S. Novoa, R. Catpo, D. Suarez and G. Palacios for helpful comments to earlier versions of this report.

This work was supported by the following major funders: Erol Foundation, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), and International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC).

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N, Spore J, Suarez D (2021)Mennonite Colonies Continue Major Deforestation in Peruvian Amazon. MAAP: 149.