ADVERTISEMENT

Brazil keeps eye on Amazon deforestation with satellites

Satellites monitor Brazil's Amazon, enabling authorities to catch deforestation gangs in the act

For three decades, a group of researchers have been monitoring forest clearing, agriculture and land use thanks to satellites orbiting the Earth and beaming images to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

The center is located in Brazil's southeastern city of Sao Jose de Campos, far from the Amazon. But the thousands of satellite images sent to deforestation monitors give a pretty good idea of what’s going on in the forest on a daily basis.

"It's the only project in the world that does monitoring on this scale," program coordinator Claudio Almeida told AFP during a visit to the center, located near the mega-city of Sao Paulo.

"All of the European Union would fit into the Amazon with a bit left over. So monitoring this means you have to be on top of remote sensing technology," he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Born under dictatorship

The program is the government’s main way of tracking deforestation.

During Brazil's dictatorship, between 1964 and 1985, its military rulers commissioned a satellite study to track the spread of deforestation into the interior.

Amid mounting pressure from environment watchers, the government decided to track vegetation loss continuously from 1988.

ADVERTISEMENT

At first, a group of 50 specialists went over giant printed maps, marking the brown blocks in the green expanse on transparent paper. Back then, it took two years for a comprehensive study of one year’s deforestation.

These days, they get daily low-resolution images, and can alert environmental police a day after suspicious activity.

"This allows a dynamism, speed in the policing," Almeida said.

He added that it has become common for authorities to catch deforestation gangs in the act, soon after they started felling trees, thanks to satellite surveillance.

It was the INPE that in November warned that deforestation of the Amazon had reached a 10-year-high, at 7,900 square kilometres (3,000 square miles) -- or one million soccer fields -- over the previous year.

ADVERTISEMENT

"This is worrying because we're well over the target estimate for 2020. The government committed to bringing deforestation down to 3,500 square kilometers by 2020," Almeida said.

Domestic satellite

To boost monitoring capabilities, the INPE is working to launch its own, 100-percent domestically developed satellite, called Amazonia-1.

In the bowels of the space studies center engineers huddle around two satellites taking shape.

One is the Amazonia-1. A black shroud separates it from a bigger cousin: CBERS-4A, built jointly with Chinese scientists.

ADVERTISEMENT

The $300-million CBERS-4A -- standing for China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite -- is undergoing tests in the INPE’s cavernous lab ahead of its planned launch next year, following on from previous jointly built satellites.

The Amazonia-1, in comparison, is budgeted at $77 million, and is set to travel to space in 2020.

Almeida stressed that it was "very important for Brazil to master this technology."

But knowing about deforestation is one thing. Stopping it is another matter.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hopelessly understaffed and under-resourced environmental authorities struggle to effectively police crimes on the ground.

There are also political headwinds growing.

Even as Brazil boosts its hi-tech abilities to watch over the forest, its ultra-conservative president-elect Jair Bolsonaro has signalled he might relax environmental controls in favor of agricultural expansion when he takes power on January 1.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Lagos postpones eagerly anticipated Easter boat regatta indefinitely

Lagos postpones eagerly anticipated Easter boat regatta indefinitely

Third Mainland Bridge reopens in 1 week, formal ceremony later - Minister

Third Mainland Bridge reopens in 1 week, formal ceremony later - Minister

Sanwo-Olu opens 'Sunday market' on Good Friday for Easter shopping

Sanwo-Olu opens 'Sunday market' on Good Friday for Easter shopping

Wike thanks Tinubu for the opportunity to serve

Wike thanks Tinubu for the opportunity to serve

Barrister Bida pens special birthday prayer for President Tinubu, Nigerians

Barrister Bida pens special birthday prayer for President Tinubu, Nigerians

Tinubu’s aide distributes food items to 1,750 persons in FCT, Kwara

Tinubu’s aide distributes food items to 1,750 persons in FCT, Kwara

Court grants senator accused of forging NYSC certificate ₦50m bail

Court grants senator accused of forging NYSC certificate ₦50m bail

Delta monarch declared wanted by military surrenders to police

Delta monarch declared wanted by military surrenders to police

Renowned Canada-based Nigerian playwright, Oguntokun is dead

Renowned Canada-based Nigerian playwright, Oguntokun is dead

Pulse Sports

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT