Tag: MAPS

MAAP #49: New Frontiers of Gold Mining in The Peruvian Amazon

Posted on by dcadmin

In a series of articles, we have previously detailed the progress of gold mining deforestation in the southern Peruvian Amazon (mainly in the Madre de Dios region).

In the current report, we show the new gold mining frontiers in northern and central Peru (Image 49a): two cases in the region of Amazonas and a case in the buffer zone of El Sira Communal Reserve, in the Huanuco region.

Imagen 49a. Peru’s gold mining frontiers.
Imagen 49a. Peru’s gold mining frontiers.

Deforestation in these cases is still in its early stages, so there is still time to avoid larger-scale damage, as in the case of Madre de Dios.

MAAP #48: Oil Palm Deforestation in The Central Peruvian Amazon

Posted on by dcadmin

In MAAP #26, we presented a 2015 Deforestation Hotspots map for the Peruvian Amazon, which showed that the highest concentration of deforestation is located in the central Amazon region.

Here, we zoom in on one of these hotspots, located in the northern Huanuco region along its border with San Martin (see Inset E of Image 48a).*

Image 48a. Data: UMD/GLAD
Image 48a. Data: UMD/GLAD

We found that the main deforestation driver in this hotspot was the establishment of small- and medium-scale oil palm plantations.**

*Note that we analyzed the hotspots in Insets A-D in MAAP #26 and MAAP #37.

** We defined small-scale as less than 5 hectares, medium-scale as 5-50 hectares, and large-scale as greater than 50 hectares

MAAP #47: Fires Degrade Southern Peruvian Amazon (Madre De Dios)

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The Peruvian Amazon is experiencing an intense 2016 fire season due to one of its driest periods in decades. In recent weeks, we have presented a series of articles showing the power of the new GLAD alerts in detecting deforestation in near real time. Here, we go a step further and also evaluate alerts to detect fires in near real time. These fire alerts are based on the moderate resolution (375 meters) VIIRS sensor that detects heat sources and highlights areas where the temperature is significantly above normal.

We compared, for the first time, these two types of alerts and found a correlation between fires and forest loss along a stretch of the Interoceanic Highway in the southern Peruvian Amazon (Madre de Dios region).

Image 47a shows the occurrence of fire alerts (left panel) in relation to deforestation alerts (right panel) during 2016 along the highway between the towns of Iberia and Iñapari. Insets A-E indicate the areas highlighted in the high-resolution zooms below, where approximately 600 hectares were affected by fires in 2016..

 

Image 47a. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, USGS/NASA, NASA/INPE
Image 47a. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, USGS/NASA, NASA/INPE

MAAP #46: Gold Mining Deforestation Within Tambopata National Reserve Exceeds 1100 Acres

Posted on by dcadmin

In previous articles, we documented the illegal gold mining invasion of Tambopata National Reserve (Madre de Dios region in the southern Peruvian Amazon) in November 2015 and the subsequent deforestation of 350 hectares as of July 2016. Here, we report that the mining deforestation in the Reserve now exceeds 450 hectares (1,110 acres) as of September 2016. Image 46a illustrates the extent of the invasion, with red indicating the most recent deforestation fronts. Insets A-D indicate the location of the high-resolution zooms below.

 

Image 46a. Data: Planet, SERNANP, MAAP
Image 46a. Data: Planet, SERNANP, MAAP

MAAP #45: Threats To El Sira Communal Reserve in Central Peruvian Amazon

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El Sira Communal Reserve, located in the central Peruvian Amazon (regions of Pasco, Huánuco and Ucayali), aims to protect the biological diversity of the El Sira Mountain Range in benefit of the native communities of the area (Ashaninka, Yanesha, and Shipibo-Conibo indigenous groups).

This report presents an initial threat assessment for this large national protected area, which covers more than 615,000 hectares (1.5 million acres).

Image 45a. Data: ESRI, SERNANP
Image 45a. Data: ESRI, SERNANP

We identified 3 threatened sectors of the Reserve, as indicated in Image 45a (see Insets A-C).

We found that the principal drivers of deforestation in these three sectors are agriculture & cattle pasture (Insets A and C) and illegal gold mining (Inset B).

It is important to note that the deforestation for agriculture & cattle pasture continues to rapidly increase – 1,600 hectares (3,950 acres) since 2013 – while the deforestation for gold mining has been limited due to regular interventions by the Peruvian government.

Below, we show high-resolution satellite images of the recent deforestation in all three threatened sectors. Click each image to enlarge.

MAAP# 44: Potential Recuperation of Illegal Gold Mining Area in Amarakaeri Communal Reserve

Posted on by dcadmin

In the previous MAAP #6, published in June 2015, we documented the deforestation of 11 hectares in the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve due to a recent illegal gold mining invasion. The Reserve, located in the Madre de Dios region of the southern Peruvian Amazon, is an important protected area that is co-managed by indigenous communities and Peru’s National Protected Areas Service (known as SERNANP). In the following weeks, the Peruvian government, led by SERNANP, cracked down on the illegal mining activities and effectively halted the deforestation within that part of the Reserve.

Here, we present high-resolution satellite images that show an initial vegetation regrowth in the invaded area. This finding may represent good news regarding the Amazon’s resilience to recover from destructive mining if it is stopped at an early stage. However, many questions and caveats remain regarding the nature of the regrowth and the long-term recovery potential of the degraded land, please see the Additional Information section below for more details.

Image 44a shows the base map of the area invaded by illegal gold mining in the southeast sector of Amarakaeri Communal Reserve. Insets A–D indicate the areas featured in the high-resolution zooms below.

 

Image 44a. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP
Image 44a. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), SERNANP

MAAP #43: Early Warning Deforestation Alerts in The Peruvian Amazon, Part 2

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In the previous MAAP #40, we emphasized the power of combining early warning forest loss GLAD alerts with analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery as part of a comprehensive near real-time deforestation monitoring system for the Peruvian Amazon.

In the current MAAP, we present 3 new examples of this system across different regions of Peru. Click on the images below to enlarge.

Example 1: Illegal Gold Mining in buffer zone of Bahuaja Sonene National Park (Madre de Dios)
Example 2: Logging Road in buffer zone of Cordillera Azul National Park (Ucayali/Loreto)
Example 3: Deforestation in Permanent Production Forest (Ucayali)

Example 1: Illegal Gold Mining in buffer zone of Bahuaja Sonene National Park (Madre de Dios)

In the previous MAAP #5, we discussed illegal gold mining deforestation along the upper Malinowski River, located in the buffer zone of the Bahuaja Sonene National Park. As seen in Image 43a, the upper Malinowski is just upstream of the areas invaded by illegal gold mining in Tambopata National Reserve and its buffer zone (see MAAP #39 and #31, respectively). In MAAP #5, we documented the deforestation of more than 850 hectares between 2013 and 2015 along the upper Malinowski. Here, we show that gold mining deforestation continues in 2016, with an additional loss of 238 hectares (806 acres). Insets A-C correspond to the areas featured in the high-resolution zooms below.

Image 43a. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, NASA/USGS, SERNANP
Image 43a. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, NASA/USGS, SERNANP

The following Images 43b-d show, in high-resolution, the rapid expansion of gold mining deforestation between August/September 2015 (left panel) and July/August 2016 (right panel). The yellow circles indicate the main areas of deforestation between the images.

Image 43b. Data: Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 43b. Data: Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 43c. Data: Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 43c. Data: Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 43d. Data: Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 43d. Data: Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)

Example 2: Logging Road in buffer zone of Cordillera Azul National Park (Ucayali/Loreto)

In the previous MAAP #18, we discussed the proliferation of logging roads in the central Peruvian Amazon in 2015. Here, we show the expansion of two of these logging roads in 2016. (see Image 43e). Red indicates construction during 2016 (47 km). Insets A1-A3 correspond to the areas featured in the high-resolution zooms below. Note that the northern road (Inset A3) is within the buffer zone of Cordillera Azul National Park. Evidence suggests that this road is not legal because it extends out of the permited area (see MAAP #18 for more details).

Image 43e. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, SERNANP
Image 43e. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, SERNANP

The following images show, in high-resolution, the rapid construction of these logging roads. Image 43f shows the construction of part of the southern road (Inset A1), and the deforestation for a nearby agricultural parcel, between April (left panel) and July (right panel) 2016. Image 43g shows the construction of 1.8 km in just three days along this same road (Inset A2) between July 21 (left panel) and July 24 (right panel) 2016.

Image 43f. Data: Planet
Image 43f. Data: Planet
Image 43g. Data: Planet
Image 43g. Data: Planet

Image 43h shows the construction of 13 km on the northern road between November 2015 (left panel) and July 2016 (right panel) within the buffer zone of the Cordillera Azul National Park.

Image 43h. Data: Planet
Image 43h. Data: Planet

Example 3: Deforestation in Permanent Production Forest  (Ucayali)

Image 43i shows recent deforestation of 136 hectares (336 acres) in 2016 in southern Ucayali region within areas classified as Permanent Production Forest and Foresty Concession. These types of areas are generally zoned for sustainable forestry uses, not clear-cutting, thus we question the legality of the deforestation. Tables A-B correspond to the areas featured in the high-resolution zooms, below.

Image 43i. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, MINAGRI
Image 43i. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, MINAGRI

Image 43j shows deforestation within a section of Permanent Production Forest, and Image 43k shows deforestation within a section of Forestry Concession.

Image 43j. Data: Planet
Image 43j. Data: Planet
Image 43k. Data: Planet
Image 43k. Data: Planet

Citation

Finer M, Novoa S, Goldthwait E (2016) Early Warning Deforestation Alerts in the Peruvian Amazon, Part 2. MAAP: 43.

MAAP #42: Papaya – New Deforestation Driver in Peruvian Amazon

Posted on by dcadmin

In the previous MAAP #26, we published a preliminary map of Deforestation Hotspots in the Peruvian Amazon for 2015. Subsequently in 2016, we have been compiling information to improve understanding on the potential causes (drivers) of deforestation in the identified hotspots. In this article, we focus on a medium-intensity hotspot located along the newly paved Interoceanic Highway in the eastern part of the Madre de Dios region (see Inset A in Image 42a).

Image 42a. Data. UMD/GLAD, MTC, MAAP
Image 42a. Data. UMD/GLAD, MTC, MAAP

The analysis in this article is based on field work carried out by the Peruvian Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with Terra-i. This team has verified the presence of papaya plantations in the area indicated by Inset A and shared their photos and coordinates with MAAP to allow us to search for and analyze relevant satellite imagery.

Synthesizing all of the available information, we found that the establishment of papaya plantations was an important deforestation driver in the area in 2015. Within the focal area (Inset A), we estimate the deforestation of 204 hectares (504 acres) for papaya plantations in 2015, a major increase relative to 2014 (see bar graph in Image 42a).

All of the papaya deforestation is small (< 5 hectares) or medium (5-50 hectares) scale. According to the analysis presented in MAAP #32, these two scales represented 99% of the deforestation events in Peru in 2015. Approximately 90% of the observed deforestation is within areas zoned for agricultural activity. Therefore, the legality of the deforestation in not known (i.e. if all the required permits were obtained).

Below, we show satellite images and field photos of 5 examples of the recent deforestation caused by papaya cultivation.

Example #1

Image 42b shows the deforestation of 12 hectares between September 2013 (left panel) and January 2016 (right panel). The red point indicates the same place in both images. Image 42c is a photo of the new papaya plantation in this area.

Image 42b. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), Planet Labs
Image 42b. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), Planet Labs
Image 42c. Photo: MINAM/DGOT, Terra-i
Image 42c. Photo: MINAM/DGOT, Terra-i

Example #2

Image 42d shows the deforestation of 5 hectares between September 2013 (left panel) and January 2016 (right panel). The red point indicates the same place in both images. Image 42e is a photo of the new papaya plantation in this area.

Image 42d. Digital Globe (Nextview), Planet Labs
Image 42d. Digital Globe (Nextview), Planet Labs
Image 42e. Photo: MINAM/DGOT, Terra-i
Image 42e. Photo: MINAM/DGOT, Terra-i

Example #3

Image 42f shows the deforestation of 5 hectares between September 2013 (left panel) and January 2016 (right panel). The red point indicates the same place in both images. Image 42g is a photo of the new papaya plantation in this area.

Image 42f. Digital Globe (Nextview), Planet Labs
Image 42f. Digital Globe (Nextview), Planet Labs
Image 42g. MINAM/DGOT, Terra-i
Image 42g. MINAM/DGOT, Terra-i

Example #4

Image 42h shows the deforestation of 12 hectares between September 2013 (left panel) and May 2016 (right panel). The red point indicates the same place in both images. Image 42i is a photo of the new papaya plantation in this area.

Image 42h. MINAM/DGOT, Terra-i
Image 42h. MINAM/DGOT, Terra-i
Image 42i. Photo: MINAM/DGOT, Terra-i
Image 42i. Photo: MINAM/DGOT, Terra-i

Example #5

Image 42j shows the deforestation of 9 hectares between April 2015 (left panel) and May 2016 (right panel). The yellow boxes indicate the same place in both images. Image 42k is a photo of the new papaya plantation in this area.

Image 42j. MINAM/DGOT, Terra-i
Image 42j. MINAM/DGOT, Terra-i
Image 42k. Photo: Farah Carrasco
Image 42k. Photo: Farah Carrasco

Citation

Finer M, Novoa S, Carrasco F (2016) Papaya – Potential New Driver of Deforestation in Madre de Dios. MAAP: 42.

MAAP #41: Confirming Large-Scale Oil Palm Deforestation in The Peruvian Amazon

Posted on by dcadmin

In the previous MAAP #4, we documented the deforestation of 6,464 hectares (15,970 acres) between 2011 and 2015 associated with a large-scale oil palm project in the central Peruvian Amazon (Ucayali region) operated by the company Plantaciones de Pucallpa. In addition, we found that the majority of this deforestation occurred in primary forests,1 although there was also clearing of secondary vegetation.

In December 2015, the Native Community of Santa Clara de Uchunya presented an official complaint to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) against Plantaciones de Pucallpa, a member of the roundtable. An important component of the complaint centers on the deforestation described above, however the company has repeatedly denied causing it.

To better understand the deforestation in question, we compare three high-resolution satellite images: 1) July 2010, the most recent high-resolution, color image prior to the start of large-scale deforestation in May 2012; 2) June 2012, a black and white image from the time period when large-scale deforestation began; 3) September 2015, color image showing the established oil palm plantation.

Image 41a shows a base map of the project area in July 2010 (left panel), June 2012 (center panel), and September 2015 (right panel). We indicate areas of primary forest and secondary vegetation,2 recently deforested areas, and oil palm plantation. The images show that large-scale deforestation had begun by June 2012, and by 2015 there was a complete transformation of primary forest and secondary vegetation to large-scale oil palm plantation. Insets A-F show the areas detailed in the zooms below. Click on images to enlarge.

Image 41a. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), MAAP
Image 41a. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview), MAAP

[separator] Zoom A: Primary Forest

Images 41b-i show the zooms of the areas (Insets A – D) in which installation of the oil palm plantation replaced primary forest. The images show primary forest in July 2010 (left panel) and June 2012 (center panel) replaced by oil palm plantation in September 2015 (right panel). Note that in Inset D (Images 41h-i), recently cleared trees can seen as the large-scale deforestation was just starting at that time3.

Image 41b. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41b. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41c. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41c. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)

Zoom B: Primary Forest

Image 41d. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41d. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41e. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41e. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)

Zoom C: Primary Forest

Image 41f. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41f. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41g. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41g. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)

Zoom D: Primary Forest

Image 41h. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41h. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41i. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41i. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)

Zoom E: Secondary Vegetation

Images 41j-m show the zooms of the areas (Insets E – F) in which the oil palm plantation replaced secondary vegetation. The images show secondary vegetation in July 2010 (left panel) and June 2012 (center panel) replaced by oil palm plantation in September 2015 (right panel).

Image 41j. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41j. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41k. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41k. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)

Zoom F: Secondary Vegetation

Image 41l. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41l. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41m. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 41m. Data: Digital Globe (Nextview)

Notes

1 We define primary forest as an area that, from the first available Landsat image (in this case 1990), was characterized by a forest cover of closed and dense canopy. This definition is consistent with the official definition of the new Forest Law: “Forest with original vegetation characterized by the abundance of mature trees with superior or dominant species canopy, which has evolved naturally.”

2 Primary and secondary forest classifications come from the analysis published in MAAP #4

3 Analysis of additional satellite imagery reveals that the large-scale clearing started between May and June 2012.

Citation

Finer M, Cruz C, Novoa S (2016) Confirming Deforestation for Oil Palm by the company Plantations of Pucallpa. MAAP: 41

MAAP #40: Early Warning Deforestation Alerts in The Peruvian Amazon

Posted on by dcadmin

GLAD alerts are a powerful new tool to monitor forest loss in the Peruvian Amazon in near real-time. This early warning system, created by the GLAD (Global Land Analysis and Discovery) laboratory at the University of Maryland and supported by Global Forest Watch, was launched in March 2016 as the first Landsat-based (30-meter resolution) forest loss alert system (previous systems were based on lower-resolution imagery). The alerts are updated weekly and can be accessed through Global Forest Watch (Image 40a, left panel) or GeoBosques (Image 40a, right panel), a web portal operated by the Peruvian Ministry of Environment.

Image 40a. Data: UMD/GLAD, WRI/GFW, PNCB/MINAM
Image 40a. Data: UMD/GLAD, WRI/GFW, PNCB/MINAM

In MAAP, we often combine these alerts with analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery (courtesy of the Planet Ambassador Program and Digital Globe NextView service) to better understand patterns and drivers of deforestation in near real-time. In this article, we highlight 3 examples of this type of innovative analysis from across the Peruvian Amazon:

Example 1: Logging Roads in central Peru (Ucayali)
Example 2: Invasion of Ecotourism Concessions in southern Peru (Madre de Dios)
Example 3: Buffer Zone of Cordillera Azul National Park (Loreto)

Example 1: Logging Roads in central Peru (Ucayali)

In the previous MAAP #18, we documented the proliferation of logging roads in the central Peruvian Amazon during 2015. In recent weeks, we have seen the start of rapid new logging road construction for 2016. Image 40b shows the linear forest loss associated with two new logging roads along the Tamaya river in the remote central Peruvian Amazon (Ucayali region). Red indicates the 2016 road construction (35.8 km). Insets A and B indicate the areas shown in the high-resolution zooms below.

Image 40b. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, MINAGRI
Image 40b. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, MINAGRI

The following images show, in high-resolution, the rapid construction of logging roads in 2016. Image 40c shows the construction of 16.1 km between March (left panel) and July (right panel) 2016 in the area indicated by Inset A. Image 40d shows the construction of 19.7 km between June (left panel) and July (right panel) 2016 in the area indicated by Inset B.

Image 40c. Data: Planet
Image 40c. Data: Planet
Image 40d. Data: Planet
Image 40d. Data: Planet

Example 2: Invasion of Ecotourism Concessions in southern Peru (Madre de Dios)

Image 40e shows the recent deforestation within two ecotourism concessions along the Las Piedras River in the Madre de Dios region. Red indicates the 2016 GLAD alerts (67.3 hectares). Note that the Las Piedras Amazon Center (LPAC) Ecotourism Concession represents an effective barrier against deforestation occurring in the surrounding concessions. According to local sources, the main drivers of deforestation in the area are related to the establishment of cacao plantations and cattle pasture (see s MAAP #23). Inset A indicates the areas shown in the high-resolution zoom below.

Image 40e. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, MINAGRI
Image 40e. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, MINAGRI

Image 40f shows high-resolution images of the area indicated by Inset A between April (left panel) and July (right panel) 2016. The yellow circles indicate areas of deforestation between these dates.

Image 40f. Data: Planet, DigitalGlobe (Nextview)
Image 40f. Data: Planet, DigitalGlobe (Nextview)

Example 3: Buffer Zone of Cordillera Azul National Park (Loreto)

Image 40g shows the recent deforestation within the western buffer zone of the Cordillera Azul National Park in the Loreto region. Red indicates the 2016 GLAD alerts (87.3 hectares). It is worth noting that this area is classified as Permanent Production Forest, not as an agricultural area.

Image 40g. Data: SERNANP, Landsat, UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA
Image 40g. Data: SERNANP, Landsat, UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA

Image 40h shows high-resolution images of the area indicated by Inset A between December 2015 (left panel), January 2016 (central panel), and July 2016 (right panel). The yellow circles indicate areas that were deforested between these dates. The driver of the deforestation appears to be the establishment of small-scale agricultural plantations.

Image 40h. Data: RapidEye/Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)
Image 40h. Data: RapidEye/Planet, Digital Globe (Nextview)

Citation

Finer M, Novoa S, Goldthwait E (2016) Early Alerts of Deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon. MAAP: 40.