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MAAP: Amazon Fire Tracker #2 – Brazil, June 8 2020

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As presented in MAAP #118, Amazon Conservation launched a real-time fire monitoring app that specializes in detection of elevated aerosol emissions from burning Amazon fires. As detailed below, the app detected the second major 2020 fire on June 8, 2020 in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Step 1. Detection of elevated emissions in the southeastern Brazilian Amazon (Mato Grosso).

 


Step 2. Zoom in on the emissions, adjust the transparency to see the underlying fire alerts that indicate the fire location.

 

Step 3. Zoom in again to see precisely the fire location and obtain coordinates.

Step 4. Check the satellite imagery archive in Planet Explorer. Here is a Landsat image (30 meter resolution) showing the fire burned around 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) of an area deforested in July 2018. Note that MAAP #113 made the important discovery that most of the 2019 Brazilian Amazon fires were burning recently deforested areas (and not uncontrolled forest fires).

 

Coordinates

lat: -12.57, lon: -54.06

References

Gorelick, N., Hancher, M., Dixon, M., Ilyushchenko, S., Thau, D., & Moore, R. (2017). Google Earth Engine: Planetary-scale geospatial analysis for everyone. Remote Sensing of Environment.”
https://earthengine.google.com/faq/

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the following major funders: USAID/NASA (SERVIR), Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI), Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD),  International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), Metabolic Studio, and Erol Foundation.

Citation

Finer M, Villa L (2020) Amazon 2020 Fire Tracker #2 – Brazil, June 8. MAAP.

MAAP #119: Predicting 2020 Brazilian Amazon Fires

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2019 Brazilian Amazon fire burning recently deforested area, not uncontrolled forest fire. Data: Planet; Analysis: MAAP.

The Brazilian Amazon fires made international headlines last year.

By analyzing an archive of satellite imagery (from Planet Explorer), we made the major discovery that many of the 2019 fires were actually burning recently deforested areas (MAAP #113). In fact, many of the fires were burning areas deforested earlier that same year of 2019.

Thus, we may predict 2020 fire locations based on identifying major deforestation events in the early months of this year.

Using a novel methodology*, we estimate the deforestation of over 150,000 hectares (373,240 acres) of primary forest in the Brazilian Amazon thus far in 2020 (through May 25). Thus, there is high potential for another intense fire season.

Below, we illustrate the process of predicting 2020 fires based on recent deforestation.

Note: In MAAP #118 we just reported that the first major fires of 2020 were in fact burning recently deforested areas (2018-19).

 

Predicting 2020 fires

In the Base Map, the yellow dots indicate the largest new deforestation events that we predict are likely 2020 fire locations. See below for satellite imagery examples (letters A-G). Two of the likely fire points are within protected areas (see Annex).

Base Map. Major 2020 deforestation events (yellow dots) as predictors of 2020 fire events. Data: Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, UMD/GLAD, RAISG, MAAP. Click to Enlarge.

Examples of Major 2020 Deforestation Events

Below is a series of images showing the major deforestation events of 2020 that we predict are likely upcoming fire locations (see letters A-G on the Base Map above for context). The red arrows point to the major deforestation events. Note that all of the deforestation areas are surrounded by primary forest that could be impacted if fires escape. Also note that several deforestation areas are quite large, over 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres).

Zoom A (Mato Grosso)

Zoom A shows the deforestation of 775 hectares (1,915 acres) between January (left panel) and May 2020 (right panel), in the state of Mato Grosso.

Zoom A. Click to enlarge.

Zoom B (Mato Grosso)

Zoom B shows the deforestation of 205 hectares (510 acres) between January (left panel) and May 2020 (right panel), in the state of Mato Grosso.

Zoom B. Click to enlarge.

Zoom C (Mato Grosso)

Zoom C shows the deforestation of 395 hectares (980 acres) between January (left panel) and May 2020 (right panel), in the state of Mato Grosso.

Zoom C. Click to enlarge.

Zoom D (Mato Grosso)

Zoom D shows the deforestation of 300 hectares (735 acres) between January (left panel) and May 2020 (right panel), in the state of Mato Grosso.

Zoom D. Click to enlarge.

Zoom E (Rondônia)

Zoom E shows the deforestation of 840 hectares (2,075 acres) between January (left panel) and April 2020 (right panel), in the state of Rondônia.

Zoom F (Amazonas)

Zoom F shows the deforestation of 2,395 hectares (5,920 acres) between January (left panel) and May 2020 (right panel), in the state of Amazonas.

Zoom F. Click to enlarge.

Zoom G (Pará)

Zoom G shows the deforestation of 5,990 hectares (14,800 acres) between January (left panel) and May 2020 (right panel), in the state of Pará.

Zoom G. Click to enlarge.

Coordinates

World Eckert IV (Decimal Degrees) (X,Y)

Zoom A: -54.862624, -11.971904
Zoom B: -55.087026, -11.836788
Zoom C: -56.999405, -11.979054
Zoom D: -57.128192, -11.896948
Zoom E: -62.658907, -8.477944
Zoom F: -58.892358, -6.567775
Zoom G: -54.948419, -7.853721

2020 Fire Forecast

The July – September 2020 forecast points to an active fire season in most of the western Amazon – much of central and southern Peru, northern Bolivia and the Brazilian states of Acre and Rondônia. This year’s forecast indicates an active fire season of similar magnitude to those of 2005 and 2010, when widespread fires were observed in the region.

To more information check:https://firecast.cast.uark.edu/

Annex – Likely 2020 fire locations in relation to Protected Areas and Indigenous Territories

 

Methodology

*We developed a novel methodology to estimate deforestation of primary forest in the Brazilian Amazon. For 2020 data, we merged confirmed GLAD alerts (University of Maryland) with select DETER alerts from the Brazilian space  agency (INPE). This methodology takes advantage of the higher resolution of the GLAD alerts (30 meters vs 64 meters from DETER), but also the national expertise of the Brazilian government.

For the DETER data, we used the three deforestation and mining categories (DESMATAMENTO CR, DESMATAMENTO Vegetal, and MINERACAO). We avoided overlapping areas with the GLAD alerts.

Finally, we filtered the data for only primary forest loss. For our estimate of primary forest loss, we intersected the forest cover loss data with the additional dataset “primary humid tropical forests” as of 2001 (Turubanova et al 2018). We also removed all previous forest loss data 2001-19.

Acknowledgements

We thank J. Beavers, S. Novoa, K. Fernandes, and G. Palacios for helpful comments to earlier versions of this report.

This work was supported by the following major funders: Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI), Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD),  International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), Metabolic Studio, and Erol Foundation.

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2020) Deforestation and Fires in the Brazilian Amazon – 2020. MAAP:

MAAP #118: Aplicativo de monitoramento de incêndios na Amazônia em tempo real

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Imagem 1. Primeiro grande incêndio na Amazônia em 2020, em Mato Grosso, Brasil. Dados: Planet.

A tempo para a próxima temporada de incêndios, estamos relançando uma versão aprimorada do nosso  aplicativo de monitoramento de incêndios em tempo real da Amazon , hospedado pelo Google Earth Engine.

Quando os incêndios queimam, eles emitem gases e aerossóis.* Um novo satélite (Sentinel-5P da Agência Espacial Europeia) detecta essas  emissões de aerossóis .*

O principal recurso do aplicativo é  a identificação fácil de usar e em tempo real de grandes incêndios  na Amazônia, com base nas emissões de aerossóis detectadas pelo Sentinel-5P.

O aplicativo também contém os comumente usados ​​“ alertas de incêndio ”, que são dados baseados em satélite de anomalias de temperatura.*
.
Assim, o usuário combina dados da atmosfera (aerossol) com dados do solo (temperatura) para  identificar a origem dos grandes incêndios .

Como os dados são atualizados diariamente e não são impactados por nuvens,  o monitoramento em tempo real  realmente é possível. Nossa meta é carregar a nova imagem de cada dia até a meia-noite.

Usando o aplicativo, identificamos recentemente o primeiro grande incêndio na Amazônia de 2020 em 28 de maio, no estado do Mato Grosso, no Brasil. Ele estava queimando uma área recentemente desmatada em julho de 2019.

Abaixo, fornecemos instruções sobre como usar o aplicativo, usando o incêndio de 28 de maio como exemplo.

 

Instruções e
como identificamos o primeiro grande incêndio na Amazônia brasileira em 2020

Etapa 1. Abra o aplicativo de monitoramento de incêndios em tempo real , hospedado pelo Google Earth Engine. Examine a Amazônia em busca de  emissões de aerossóis de grandes incêndios (indicados em amarelo, laranja e vermelho ). Neste caso, identificamos emissões elevadas no sudeste da Amazônia brasileira (em 28 de maio de 2020).


Etapa 2. Clique no menu “ Layers ” no canto superior direito para mais opções. Por exemplo, clicando em “ State/Department Boundaries ” vemos que as emissões estão vindo do Mato Grosso. Note que você também pode adicionar “ Protected Areas ” e verificar as datas das imagens e alertas.

Etapa 3. Aumente o zoom nas emissões de aerossóis.

Etapa 4. Ajuste (deslize para baixo) a transparência da camada de emissões para ver os alertas de incêndio subjacentes . Usamos os alertas para localizar a fonte das emissões (veja o círculo roxo). Obtenha as coordenadas dos alertas clicando no mapa e, em seguida, verificando a barra “Coordenadas” à esquerda (abaixo das Instruções).

Etapa 5. Entramos com as coordenadas no Planet Explorer e encontramos uma imagem de alta resolução para o mesmo dia (28 de maio), confirmando o primeiro grande incêndio na Amazônia de 2020. A área queimada foi de 357 hectares (882 acres).

Previsão dos incêndios na Amazônia brasileira em 2020

Usando o arquivo Planet, descobrimos que essa área exata foi desmatada entre julho e agosto de 2019 e depois queimada em maio de 2020. Isso se encaixa em nossa descoberta importante recente de que muitos incêndios na Amazônia brasileira estão, na verdade, queimando áreas recentemente desmatadas ( MAAP #113 ). Para mais informações sobre como prever incêndios futuros com base no desmatamento recente, consulte MAAP #119 .

Previsão de incêndios para 2020

A previsão de julho a setembro de 2020 aponta para uma temporada ativa de incêndios na maior parte da Amazônia ocidental – grande parte do centro e sul do Peru, norte da Bolívia e os estados brasileiros do Acre e Rondônia. A previsão deste ano indica uma temporada ativa de incêndios de magnitude semelhante às de 2005 e 2010, quando incêndios generalizados foram observados na região.

Para mais informações, consulte: https://firecast.cast.uark.edu/

*Notas

  • Definição de aerossol: Suspensão de partículas sólidas finas ou gotículas de líquido no ar ou outro gás.
  • Os altos valores nos índices de aerossol (AI) também podem ser devidos a outras razões, como emissões de cinzas vulcânicas ou poeira do deserto. Por isso, algumas áreas, como o Salar de Uyuni, no oeste da Bolívia, frequentemente apresentam tons alaranjados ou vermelhos.
  • A resolução espacial dos dados do aerossol é de 7,5 km²
  • Os alertas de incêndio são dados de satélite de anomalias de temperatura no solo com resolução de 375 m
  • Coordenadas do primeiro grande incêndio na Amazônia em 2020: 11,92° S, 54,06°
  • Aqui está o link para uma breve história sobre o segundo grande incêndio na Amazônia em 2020 , também no Mato Grosso, em 8 de junho. Ele queimou uma área desmatada em 2018. Coordenadas: 12,56° S, 54,03° W.

Referências

Gorelick, N., Hancher, M., Dixon, M., Ilyushchenko, S., Thau, D., & Moore, R. (2017). Google Earth Engine: Análise geoespacial em escala planetária para todos. Sensoriamento remoto do ambiente.”
https://earthengine.google.com/faq/

Agradecimentos

Agradecemos a E. Ortiz, S. Novoa, K. Fernandes, G. Palacios pelos comentários úteis às versões anteriores deste relatório.

Este trabalho foi apoiado pelos seguintes financiadores principais: USAID/NASA (SERVIR), Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI), Agência Norueguesa para Cooperação para o Desenvolvimento (NORAD), Fundo Internacional de Conservação do Canadá (ICFC), Metabolic Studio e Erol Foundation.

Citação

Finer M, Villa L, Mamani N (2020) Aplicativo de monitoramento de incêndios na Amazônia em tempo real. MAAP: #118.

MAAP #116: Amazon Gold Mining, Part 2: Brazil

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Base Map. Major gold mining deforestation zones across the Amazon. Data: MAAP.

We present the second part of our series on Amazon gold mining, with a focus on the Brazil*

Specifically, we focus on mining in indigenous territories in the Brazilian Amazon.

Extractive activities, such as gold mining, are constitutionally not permitted on indigenous lands, but the Bolsonaro administration is advancing a bill (PL 191) that would reverse this.

The Base Map indicates three Brazilian indigenous territories where we identified recent major gold mining deforestation:

  1. Munduruku (Pará)
  2. Kayapó (Pará)
  3. Yanomami (Roraima)

We documented the gold mining deforestation of 10,245 hectares (25,315 acres) across all three indigenous territories over the past three years (2017 – 2019). That is the equivalent of 14,000 soccer fields.

Below, see more detailed data, including a series of satellite GIFs of the recent gold mining deforestation in each territory.

*Part 1 looked at the Peruvian Amazon (see MAAP #115). For information on Suriname, see this report from Amazon Conservation Team. For all other countries see this resource from RAISG.

 

Graph 1. Gold mining deforestation in three indigenous territories in the Brazilian Amazon.

Mining Deforestation Increasing

In 2019, all three territories experienced an increase in gold mining deforestation.

In Munduruku Territory, we documented the loss of 3,456 hectares due to mining activity between 2017 and 2019. Note the major spike in 2019, where mining deforestation reached 2,000 hectares.

In Kayapó Territory, we documented the loss of 5,614 hectares between 2017 and 2019. Note that mining deforestation also reached 2,000 hectares in 2019.

In Yanomami Territory, we documented the loss of 1,174 hectares between 2017 and 2019. Note that mining deforestation reached 500 hectares in 2019.

Overall,  44% (4,500 hectares) of the gold mining deforestation occurred in 2019, indicating an increasing trend.

A. Munduruku (Pará)

The GIF below shows an example of gold mining deforestation in Munduruku Territory between 2017 and 2019.

Gold mining deforestation in Munduruku Territory between 2017 and 2019. Data: Planet, MAAP.

B. Kayapó (Pará)

The GIF below shows an example of gold mining deforestation in Kayapó Territory between 2017 and 2019.

Gold mining deforestation in Kayapó Territory between 2017 and 2019. Data: Planet, MAAP.

C. Yanomami (Roraima)

The GIF below shows an example of gold mining deforestation in Yanomami Territory between 2017 and 2019.

Gold mining deforestation in Yanomami Territory between 2017 and 2019. Data: Planet, MAAP.

Annex: Detailed Territory Maps

Below see detailed gold mining deforestation maps for all three Brazilian indigenous territories detailed in this report. Click each image to enlarge.

Gold mining deforestation in Munduruku Territory between 2017 and 2019. Data: MAAP. Click to enlarge.
Gold mining deforestation in Kayapó Territory between 2017 and 2019. Data: MAAP. Click to enlarge.
Gold mining deforestation in Yanomami Territory between 2017 and 2019. Data: MAAP. Click to enlarge.

Acknowledgements

We thank S. Novoa (ACCA), V. Guidotti de Faria (Imaflora), and G. Palacios for helpful comments to earlier versions of this report.

This work was supported by the following major funders: Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI), Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD),  International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), Metabolic Studio, and Erol Foundation.

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2020) Amazon Gold Mining, part 2: Brazil. MAAP: 116.

MAAP Synthesis: 2019 Amazon Deforestation Trends and Hotspots

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Base Map. Amazon Deforestation, 2001-2019. Data: UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, MAAP. Click to see image in high resolution.

MAAP, an initiative of Amazon Conservation, specializes in satellite-based, real-time deforestation monitoring of the Amazon. Our geographic focus covers five countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru (see Base Map).

We found that, since 2001, this vast area lost 65.8 million acres (26.6 million hectares) of primary forest, an area equivalent to the size of the United Kingdom (or the U.S. state of Colorado).

In 2019, we published 18 high-impact reports on the most urgent cases of deforestation. 2019 highlights include:

  • Fires in the Brazilian Amazon actually burned freshly deforested areas (MAAP #113);
  • Effective illegal gold mining crackdown in the Peruvian Amazon as a result of the government’s Operation Mercury (MAAP #104);
  • Illegal invasion of protected areas in the Colombian Amazon (MAAP #106);
  • Construction of oil-drilling platforms in the mega-diverse Yasuni National Park of the Ecuadorian Amazon (MAAP #114).

Here, in our annual Synthesis Report, we go beyond these emblematic cases and look at the bigger picture for 2019, describing the most important deforestation trends and hotspots across the Amazon.

*Note: to download a PDF, click the “Print” button below the title.

Synthesis Key Findings

Trends: We present a GIF comparing deforestation trends for each country since 2001. The preliminary 2019 estimates have several important headlines:
  • Possible major deforestation decrease in the Colombian Amazon following a dramatic increase over the previous three years;
  • Likely major deforestation increase in the Bolivian Amazon due to forest fires;
  • Downward deforestation trend continues in the Peruvian Amazon, but still historically high;
  • Deforestation of 2.4 million acres in the Brazilian Amazon, but the trend depends on the data source.
Hotspots: We present a Base Map highlighting the major deforestation hotspots in 2019. Results emphasize the deforestation and fires in the Brazilian Amazon, along with several key areas in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia.
.

Deforestation Trends 2001-2019

The following GIF shows deforestation trends for each country between 2001 and 2019 (see descriptive notes below). Click here for static versions of each graph.

Three important points about the data: First, as a baseline, we use annual forest loss from the University of Maryland to have a consistent source across all five countries (thus it may differ from official national data). Second, we applied a filter to only include loss of primary forest (see Methodology). Third, the 2019 data represents a preliminary estimate based on early warning alerts.

  1. Deforestation in the Ecuadorian Amazon is relatively low, reaching a maximum of 18,800 hectares (46,500 acres) in 2017. The estimate for 2019 is 11,400 hectares (28,000 acres).
    .
  2. In the Bolivian Amazon, deforestation decreased in 2018 to 58,000 hectares (143,000 acres) after a peak in 2016 of 122,000 hectares (302,000 acres). However, with the recent widespread forest fires, deforestation increased again in 2019, to 135,400 hectares (334,465 acres).
    .
  3. The Colombian Amazon experienced a deforestation boom starting in 2016 (coinciding with the FARC peace accords), reaching an historical high of 153,800 hectares (380,000 acres) in 2018. However, the deforestation estimate for 2019 is back to pre-boom levels at 53,800 hectares (133,000 acres).
    .
  4. Deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon declined in 2018 (compared to 2017) to 140,000 hectares (346,325 acres), but remained relatively high compared to historical data. The official deforestation data from the Peruvian government for 2018 is slightly higher at 154,700 hectares (382,272 acres), but also represents an important reduction compared to 2017. The deforestation estimate for 2019 indicates the continued downward trend to 134,600 hectares (332,670 acres).
    .
  5. Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is on another level compared to the other four countries. The 2019 deforestation estimate of 985,000 hectares (2.4 million acres) is consistent with the official data of the Brazilian government. The trend, however, is quite different; we show a decrease in deforestation compared to the previous three years, but the official data indicates an increase. To better understand the differences between data sources (including spatial resolution, inclusion of burned areas, and timeframe), consult this blog by Global Forest Watch.

Deforestation Hotspots 2019

Base Map. Deforestation Hotspots 2019. Data: MAAP, UMD/GLAD, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA. Click to see image in high resolution.

The Base Map shows the most intense deforestation hotspots during 2019.

Many of the major deforestation hotspots were in Brazil. The letters A indicate areas deforested between March and July, and then burned starting in August, covering over 735,000 acres in the states of Rondônia, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Acre, and Pará (MAAP #113). They also indicate areas where fire escaped into the surrounding primary forest, impacting an additional 395,000 acres. There is a concentration of these hotspots along the Trans-Amazonian Highway. The letter B indicates uncontrolled forest fires earlier in the year (March) in the state of Roraima (MAAP #109).

Bolivia also had an intense 2019 fire season. Letter C indicates the area where fires in Amazonian savanna ecosystems escaped to the surrounding forests.

In Colombia, the letter D indicates an area of high deforestation surrounding and within four protected areas: Tinigua, Chiribiquete, and Macarena National Parks, and the Nukak National Reserve (MAAP #106).

In Peru, there are several key areas to highlight. Letter E indicates a new Mennonite colony that has caused the deforestation of 2,500 acres in 2019, near the town of Tierra Blanca in the Loreto region (MAAP #112). Letter F indicates an area of high concentration of small-scale deforestation in the central Amazon (Ucayali and Huánuco regions), with cattle ranching as one of the main causes (MAAP #37). Letter G indicates an area of high concentration of deforestation along the Ene River (Junín and Ayacucho regions). In the south (Madre de Dios region), letter H indicates expanding agricultural activity around the town of Iberia (MAAP #98) and letter I indicates deforestation caused by a combination of gold mining and agricultural activity.

Methodology

As noted above, there are three important considerations about the data in our analysis: First, as a baseline, we use annual forest loss from the University of Maryland to have a consistent source across all five countries. Thus, the values may differ from official national data. Second, we applied a filter to only include loss of primary forest in order to better approximate the official methodology and data. Third, the 2019 data represents a preliminary estimate based on early warning alerts.

The baseline forest loss data presented in this report were generated by the Global Land Analysis and Discovery (GLAD) laboratory at the University of Maryland (Hansen et al 2013) and presented by Global Forest Watch. Our study area is strictly what is highlighted in the Base Map.

Specifically, for our estimate of forest cover loss, we multiplied the annual “forest cover loss” data by the density percentage of the “tree cover” from the year 2001 (values >30%).

For our estimate of primary forest loss, we intersected the forest cover loss data with the additional dataset “primary humid tropical forests” as of 2001 (Turubanova et al 2018). For more details on this part of the methodology, see the Technical Blog from Global Forest Watch (Goldman and Weisse 2019).

All data were processed under the geographical coordinate system WGS 1984. To calculate the areas in metric units the UTM (Universal Transversal Mercator) projection was used: Peru and Ecuador 18 South, Colombia 18 North, Western Brazil 19 South and Bolivia 20 South.

Lastly, 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 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: 10%-20%; High: 21%-35%; Very High: >35%.

References

Goldman L, Weisse M (2019) Explicación de la Actualización de Datos de 2018 de Global Forest Watch. https://blog.globalforestwatch.org/data-and-research/blog-tecnico-explicacion-de-la-actualizacion-de-datos-de-2018-de-global-forest-watch

Hansen, 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 on-line from: http://earthenginepartners.appspot.com/science-2013-global-forest.

Planet Team (2017). Planet Application Program Interface: In Space for Life on Earth. San Francisco, CA. https://api.planet.com

Turubanova S., Potapov P., Tyukavina, A., and Hansen M. (2018) Ongoing primary forest loss in Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia. Environmental Research Letters  https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aacd1c 

Acknowledgements

Agradecemos a S. Novoa (ACCA), R. Botero (FCDS), A. Condor (ACCA) y G. Palacios por sus útiles comentarios a este reporte.

Acknowledgements

We thank S. Novoa (ACCA), R. Botero (FCDS), A. Condor (ACCA), A. Folhadella (Amazon Conservation), M. Cohen, and G. Palacios for helpful comments to earlier versions of this report.

This work was supported by the following major funders: NASA/USAID (SERVIR), Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), Metabolic Studio, Erol Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI).

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2020) MAAP Synthesis: 2019 Amazon Deforestation Trends and Hotspots. MAAP Synthesis #4.

MAAP #113: Satellites Reveal what Fueled Brazilian Amazon Fires

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Base Map. Brazilian Amazon 2019. Data: UMD/GLAD, NASA (MODIS), DETER, Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA.

As part of our ongoing coverage, we present two key new findings about the Brazilian Amazon fires that captured the world’s attention in August (see our novel satellite-based methodology below).

First, we found that many of the fires, covering over 450,000 hectares, burned areas recently deforested since 2017 (orange in Base Map). That is a massive area equivalent to over a million acres (or 830,000 American football fields), mostly in the states Amazonas, Rondônia, and Pará.

Importantly, 65% (298,000 hectares) of this area was both deforested and burned this year, 2019.

Second, we found 160,400 hectares of primary forest burned in 2019 (purple in Base Map).* Most of these areas surround deforested lands in the states of Mato Grosso and Pará, and were likely pasture or agricultural fires that escaped into the forest.

As far as we know, these are the first precise estimates based on detailed analysis of satellite imagery. Other estimates based solely on fire alerts tend to greatly overestimate burned areas due to their large spatial resolution.

Below we present a series of satellite time-lapse videos showing examples of the different types of fires we documented.

Policy Implications

The policy implications of these findings are critically important: national and international focus needs to be on minimizing new deforestation, in addition to fire prevention and management.

That is, we need to recognize that many of the fires are in fact a lagging indicator of previous deforestation, thus to minimize fires we need to minimize deforestation.

For example, one of the leading deforestation drivers in the Brazilian Amazon is cattle ranching (1, 2, 3). What measures can be taken to prevent the further expansion of the ranching frontier?

Satellite Time-lapse Videos

Deforestation Followed by Fire

Video A shows the deforestation of 1,760 hectares (4,350 acres) in Mato Grosso state in 2019 (May to July), followed by fires in August. Planet link.

Video B shows the deforestation of 650 hectares (1,600 acres) in Rondônia state in 2019 (April to July), followed by fire in August. Planet link.

Deforestation Caused by Fire

Videos C-D show 2019 fires burning primary or secondary forest surrounding recently or previously cleared areas.

*Notes

In addition to the finding of 160,400 hectares of primary forest burned in 2019, we also found: 25,800 hectares of secondary forest burned in 2019;
35,640 hectares of primary forest burned in the northern state of Roraima in March 2019 (plus an additional 16,500 hectares of secondary forest.

Methodology

Deforestation Fires

We created two “hotspots” layers, one for deforestation and the other for fires, by conducting a kernel density analysis. This type of analysis calculates the magnitude per unit area of a particular phenomenon, in this case forest loss alerts (proxy for deforestation) and temperature anomaly alerts (proxy for fires)

Specifically, we used the following data three sets:

2019 GLAD alert forest loss data (30 meter resolution) from the University of Maryland and available on Global Forest Watch.

2017 and 2018 forest loss data (30 meter resolution) from the University of Maryland and available on Global Forest Watch (4).

NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) MODIS-based fire alert data (1 km resolution).

We conducted the analysis using the Kernel Density tool from Spatial Analyst Tool Box of ArcGIS, using 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: 10%-25%; High: 26%-50%; Very High: >50%. We then combined all three categories into one color (yellow for deforestation and red for fire). Orange indicates areas where both layers overlap. As background layer, we also included pre-2019 deforestation data from Brazil’s PRODES system.

We prioritized the orange overalp areas for further analysis. For the major orange areas in Rondônia, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Acre, and Pará, we conducted a visual analysis using the satellite company Planet’s online portal, which includes an extensive archive of Planet, RapidEye, Sentinel-2, and Landsat data. Using the archive, we identified areas that we visually confirmed a) were deforested in 2017-19 and b) were later burned in 2019 between July and September. We then used the area measure tool to estimate the size of these areas, which ranged from large plantations ( ~1,000 hectares) to many smaller areas scattered across the focal landscape.

Forest Fires:

To estimate forests burned in 2019 we combined analysis of several datasets. First, we started with 30 meter resolution ‘burn scar’ data produced by INPE (National Institute for Space Research) DETER alerts, updated through October 2019. In order to avoid overlapping areas, we eliminated alerts previously reported from 2016 to 2018, and alerts from other land use categories (selective logging, deforestation, degradation and mining, and other). Second, we eliminated previously reported 2001-18 forest loss from University of Maryland and INPE (PRODES). Third, to distinguish burning of primary and secondary forest, we incorporated primary forest data from the University of Maryland (5).

References

  1. Krauss C, Yaffe-Bellany D, Simões M (2019) Why Amazon Fires Keep Raging 10 Years After a Deal to End Them. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/10/world/americas/amazon-fires-brazil-cattle.html
  2. Kelly M, Cahlan S (2019) The Brazilian Amazon is still burning. Who is responsible? Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/07/brazilian-amazon-is-still-burning-who-is-responsible/#click=https://t.co/q2XkSQWQ77
  3. Al Jazeera (2019) See How Beef Is Destroying The Amazon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o2M_KL8X6g&feature=youtu.be
  4. Hansen, 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.
  5. Turubanova S., Potapov P., Tyukavina, A., and Hansen M. (2018) Ongoing primary forest loss in Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia. Environmental Research Letters https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aacd1c 

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the following major funders: MacArthur Foundation, International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Metabolic Studio, and Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI).

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2019) Satellites Reveal what Fueled Brazilian Amazon Fires. MAAP: 113.

MAAP #110: Major Finding – Many Brazilian Amazon Fires follow 2019 Deforestation

Posted on by dcadmin
2019 fire in the Brazilian Amazon (Rondônia) that followed 2019 deforestation. Data: Planet.

In MAAP #109 we reported a major finding critical to understanding this year’s fires in the Brazilian Amazon: many of the 2019 fires followed 2019 deforestation events.

Here, we present our more comprehensive estimate: 125,000 hectares (310,000 acres) deforested in 2019 and then later burned in 2019 (July-September). This is equivalent to 172,000 soccer fields.*

Thus, the issue is both deforestation AND fire; the fires are often a lagging indicator of recent agricultural deforestation.

This key finding flips the widely reported assumption that the fires are burning intact rainforests for crops and cattle.

Instead, we find it’s the other way around, the forests were cut and then burned, presumably to enrich the soils. It is “slash and burn” agriculture, not “burn and slash.”

The policy implications are important: national and international focus needs to be on minimizing new deforestation, in addition to fire prevention and management.

This breakthrough data is based on our analysis of an extensive satellite imagery archive, allowing us to visually confirm areas that were deforested in 2019 and later burned in 2019 (see Methodology).

Below we present a new series of 7 striking timelapse videos that vividly show examples of 2019 deforestation followed by fires (See Base Map below for exact zoom locations).

Timelapse Videos: 2019 Deforestation followed by Fires

Video 1 shows the deforestation of 845 hectares (2,090 acres) in Mato Grosso state in early 2019, followed by fires starting in July. Planet link.

 

Video 2 shows the deforestation of 910 hectares (2,250 acres) in Amazonas state in early 2019, followed by fires in August. Planet link.

 

Video 3 shows the deforestation of 650 hectares (1,600 acres) in Rondônia state in early 2019, followed by fire starting in X. Planet link.

 

Video 4 shows the deforestation of 1,760 hectares (4,350 acres) in Mato Grosso state in early 2019, followed by fires in August. Planet link.

 

Video 5 shows the deforestation of 350 hectares (865 acres) in Amazonas state in early 2019, followed by fires in August. Planet link.

 

Video 6 shows the deforestation of 4,275 hectares (10,550 acres) in Pará state in early 2019, followed by fires in August. Planet link.

 

Video 7 shows the large-scale deforestation of 1,450 hectares (3,600 acres) in Amazonas state between April and August, followed by fire in September. Note this is the same area shown as Zoom A in MAAP #109 for the scenario (Deforestation-No Fire) but it just now was burned. Planet link.

*Notes

It is important to emphasize that we documented this deforestation followed by fire in the moist Amazon rainforest areas of Amazonas (39,100 ha), Rondônia (21,100 ha), Pará (48,704), and Mato Grosso (16,420 ha) states.

In MAAP #109 we reported that another concerning source of many fires is the burning of savannah areas around the rainforest, for example in Mato Grosso.

We continue to monitor for the emergence of uncontained forest fires as the dry season continues.

Methodology

We prioritized areas highlighted in orange in the Base Map presented in MAAP #109. These orange areas indicate the overlap of 2019 forest loss alerts (GLAD alerts from the University of Maryland) and 2019 fire alerts (from NASA’s MODIS satellite sensor).

For the major orange areas in Rondônia, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Acre, and Pará, we conducted a visual analysis using the satellite company Planet’s online portal, which includes an extensive archive of Planet, RapidEye, Sentinel-2, and Landsat data. Using the archive, we identified areas that we visually confirmed a) were deforested in 2019 and b) were later burned in 2019 between July and September. We then used the area measure tool to estimate the size of these areas, which ranged from large plantations ( ~1,000 hectares) to many smaller areas scattered across the focal landscape.

The data is updated  through mid September 2019.

The Base Map in the Annex indicates the location of the areas featured in the timelapse zooms.

Annex: Base Map

The numbers (1-7) correspond to the location of the areas in the videos above.

Base Map. 2019 deforestation and fire hotspots in the Brazilian Amazon. Data: UMD/GLAD, NASA (MODIS), PRODES

Coordinates:
Video 1. Mato Grosso (11.64° S, 54.77° W)
Video 2. Amazonas (9.07° S, 67.54° W)
Video 3. Rondônia (8.61° S, 63.01° W)
Video 4. Mato Grosso (9.91° S, 60.33° W)
Video 5. Amazonas (6.60° S, 60.10° W)
Video 6. Pará (5.87° S, 53.55° W)
Video 7. Amazonas (8.94° S, 65.91° W)

Acknowledgements

We thank T. Souto (ACA) and A. Folhadella (ACA) for helpful comments to earlier versions of this report.

This work was supported by the following major funders: MacArthur Foundation, International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), Metabolic Studio, and Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI).

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2019) MAAP #110: Major Finding – Many Brazilian Amazon Fires follow 2019 Deforestation. MAAP: 110.

MAAP #109: Fires and Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, 2019

Posted on by dcadmin
Base Map. 2019 deforestation and fire hotspots in the Brazilian Amazon. Data: UMD/GLAD, NASA (MODIS), PRODES

The fires in the Brazilian Amazon have been the subject of intense global attention over the past month.

As part of our ongoing coverage, we go a step further and analyze the relationship between fire and deforestation in 2019.

First, we present the first known Base Map showing both 2019 deforestation and fire hotspots, and, importantly, the areas of overlap. The letters correspond to Zooms below.

Second, we present a series of 16 high-resolution timelapse videos (Zooms A-K), courtesy of the satellite company Planet. They show five scenarios that we have documented thus far in 2019:

  1. Deforestation (No Fire)
  2. Deforestation (Followed by Fire)
  3. Agriculture Fire
  4. Savanna Fire
  5. Forest Fire

The key finding is that Deforestation (Followed by Fire) is critically important to understandng this year’s fire season (see Zooms B-E).

We documented numerous cases of 2019 deforestation events followed by intense fires, covering at least 52,500 hectares (130,000 acres) and counting. That is equivalent to 72,000 soccer fields.

The other common scenario is Agriculture Fire in areas cleared prior to 2019, but close to surrounding forest (see Zooms F and G).

We are also now seeing more examples of Savanna Fire in grassland areas among the rainforest. These fires can be large — we show a 24,000 hectare burn (60,000 acres) in Kayapó indigenous territory (see Zoom H).

We did not observe major Forest Fires in the moist Brazilian Amazon during August, but we did document such fires in early March in Roraima state. As the dry season continues into September and October, however, forest fires become a greater risk.

1. Deforestation (No Fire)

Zoom A shows the large-scale deforestation of 1,450 hectares (3,600 acres) in Amazonas state between April and August 2019. The deforestation seems to be for agricultural purposes and shows no signs of fire.

Zoom A. Deforestation (no Fire). Data: Planet, ESA.

2. Deforestation (Followed by Fire)

The key finding of this analysis was the widespread scenario of major deforestation events followed by intense fires. This (and not Forest Fire) likely explains why many fires were quite smoky. Below we show four examples from the Amazonian states of Rondônia (Zooms B and C), Amazonas (Zoom D), and Pará (Zoom E). In these four examples, we directly measured 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) that were deforested and then burned in 2019.

Zoom B. Deforestation (Followed by Fire) in Rondônia. Data: Planet, ESA.

Zoom C. Deforestation (Followed by Fire) in Rondônia. Data: Planet, ESA.

Zoom D. Deforestation (Followed by Fire) in Amazonas. Data: Planet, ESA.

Zoom E. Deforestation (Followed by Fire) in Pará. Data: Planet, ESA.

3. Agriculture Fire

Zooms F and G show the other widespread scenario of fires clearing agriculture areas. In most cases, the fires seem contained to the agriculture area, but we have found examples of burning surrounding forest (but not turning into runaway forest fires). As the dry season continues, however, there is an elevated risk of agricultural fires escaping into the surrounding forest and causing larger fires.

Zoom F. Agriculture fire. Data: Planet, ESA.

Zoom G. Agriculture fire. Data: Planet, ESA.

4. Savanna Fire

We have recently been detecting fires burning through drier ecosystems, such as savannas, located in pockets among the moist rainforest. Zooms H and I show savanna fires in Kayapó and Munduruku indigenous territories, respectively. These savanna fires can burn large areas, for example more than 24,000 hectares (60,000 acres) in Kayapó territory , and 700 hectares  (1,700 acres) in Munduruku territory.

Zoom H. Savanna fire in Kayapó indigenous territory. Data: Planet, ESA.

Zoom I. Savanna fire in Munduruku indigenous territory. Data: Planet, ESA.

5. Forest Fire

During August we have not documented large forest fires in the moist forests of the western Brazilian Amazon, our main focal area. Forest fires may be more common in the eastern Brazilian Amazon, especially as we get deeper into the burning season. For example, Zoom J shows some recent fires in the ridges of Kayapó indigenous territory that have burned around 930 hectares (2,300 acres).

Zoom J. Forest fire in the ridges of Kayapó indigenous territory. Data: Planet, ESA.

It is important to note that we have not yet documented any large, runaway fires through the moist forests of the Brazilian Amazon that seem to be the media and public perception of the situation. The large fires we have seen are in the dry and scrub forests of the Brazilian and Bolivian Amazon (see MAAP #108). Interestingly however, there were major forest fires earlier in the year (early March) in northern Brazil (Roraima state). Zoom I shows an example of these fires near Yanomami indigenous territory.

Zoom K. Forest fire in early March 2019 in Roraima state. Data: Planet, ESA.

Methods

We created two “hotspots” layers, one for deforestation and the other for fires, by conducting a kernel density analysis. This type of analysis calculates the magnitude per unit area of a particular phenomenon, in this case forest loss alerts (proxy for deforestation) and temperature anomaly/fire alerts.

We used GLAD alert forest loss data (30 meter resolution) from the University of Maryland and available on Global Forest Watch. Data thru August 2019.

We used NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) MODIS-based fire alert data (1 km resolution). Data thru August 2019.

We conducted the analysis using the Kernel Density tool from Spatial Analyst Tool Box of ArcGIS, using 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: 10%-25%; High: 26%-50%; Very High: >50%. We then combined all three categories into one color (yellow for deforestation and red for fire). Orange indicates areas where both layers overlap. As background layer, we also included pre-2019 deforestation data from Brazil’s PRODES system.

Acknowledgements

We thank G. Hyman (SIG), A. Flores (NASA-SERVIR), and A. Folhadella (ACA) for helpful comments to earlier versions of this report.

This work was supported by the following major funders: MacArthur Foundation, International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), Metabolic Studio, and Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI).

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2019) Fires and Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, 2019. MAAP: 109.

 

MAAP #108: Understanding the Amazon Fires with Satellites, part 2

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Base Map. Updated Amazon fire hotspots map, August 20-26, 2019. Red, Orange, and Yellow indicate the highest concentrations of fire, as detected by NASA satellites that detect fires at 375 meter resolution. Data. VIIRS/NASA, MAAP.

Here we present an updated analysis on the Amazon fires, as part of our ongoing coverage and building off what we reported in MAAP #107.

First, we show an updated Base Map of the “fire hotspots” across the Amazon, based on very recent fire alerts (August 20-26). Hotspots (shown in red, orange, and yellow) indicate the highest concentrations of fire as detected by NASA satellites.

Our key findings include:

– The major fires do NOT appear to be in the northern and central Brazilian Amazon characterized by tall moist forest (Rondônia, Acre, Amazonas, Pará states),* but in the drier southern Amazon of Brazil and Bolivia characterized by dry forest and shrubland (Mato Grosso and Santa Cruz).

– The most intense fires are actually to the south of the Amazon, along the border of Bolivia and Paraguay, in areas characterized by drier ecosystems.

– Most of the fires in the Brazilian Amazon appear to be associated with agricultural lands. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary may be expanding plantations or escaping into forest, including indigenous territories and protected areas.

– The large number of agriculture-related fires in Brazil highlights a critical point: much of the eastern Amazon has been transformed into a massive agricultural landscape over the past several decades. The fires are a lagging indicator of massive previous deforestation.

– We continue to warn against using satellite-based fire detection data alone as a measure of impact to Amazonian forests. Many of the detected fires are in agricultural areas that were once forest, but don’t currently represent forest fires.

In conclusion, the classic image of wildfires scorching everything in their path are currently more accurate for the unique and biodiverse dry forests of the southern Amazon then the moist forests to the north. However, the numerous fires at the agriculture-moist forest boundary are both a threat and stark reminder of how much forest has been, and continues to be, lost by deforestation.

Next, we show a series of 11 satellite images that show what the fires look like in major hotspots and how they are impacting Amazonian forests. The location of each image corresponds to the letters (A-K) on the Base Map.

*If anyone has detailed information to the contrary, please send spatial coordinates to maap@amazonconservation.org

Zooms A, B: Chiquitano Dry Forest (Bolivia)

Some of the most intense fires are concentrated in the dry Chiquitano of southern Bolivia. The Chiquitano is part of the largest tropical dry forest in the world and is a unique, high biodiversity, and poorly explored Amazonian ecosystem. Zooms A-C illustrate fires in the Chiquitano between August 18-21 of this year, likely burning a mixture of dry forest, scrubland, and grassland.

Zoom A. Recent fires in the dry Chiquitano of southern Bolivia. Data: Planet.
Zoom B. Recent fires in the dry Chiquitano of southern Bolivia. Data: Planet.

Zoom D: Beni Grasslands (Bolivia)

Zoom D shows recent fires and burned areas in Bolivia’s Beni grasslands.

Zoom D. Recent fires and burned areas in Bolivia’s Beni grasslands. Data: ESA.

Zooms E,F,G,H: Brazilian Amazon (Amazonas, Rondônia, Pará, Mato Grosso)

Zoom E-H take us to moist forest forests of the Brazilian Amazon, where much of the media and social media attention has been focused. All fires we have seen in this area are in agricultural fields or at the agriculture-forest boundary. Note Zoom E is just outside a national park in Amazonas state; Zoom F shows fires at the agriculture-forest boundary in Rondônia state; Zoom G shows fires at the agriculture-forest boundary within a protected area in Pará state; and Zoom H shows fires at the agriculture-forest boundary in Mato Grosso state.

Zoom E. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary outside a national park in Amazonas state. Data: Planet.
Zoom F. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary in Rondônia state. Data: ESA.
Zoom G. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary within a protected area in Pará state.
Zoom H. Fires at the agriculture-forest boundary in Mato Grosso. Data: ESA.

Zooms I, J: Southern Mato Grosso (Brazil)

Zooms I and J shows fires in grassland/scrubland at the drier southern edge of the Amazon Basin. Note both of these fires are within Indigenous Territories.

Zoom I. Fires within an Indigenous Territory at the drier southern edge of the Amazon Basin. Data: Planet.
Zoom J. Fires within an Indigenous Territory at the drier southern edge of the Amazon Basin. Data: Planet.

Zooms C, K: Bolivia/Brazil/Paraguay Border

Zooms C and K show large fires burning in the drier ecosytems at the Bolivia-Brazil-Paraguay border. This area is outside the Amazon Basin, but we include it due it’s magnitude.

Zoom C. Recent fires in the dry Chiquitano of southern Bolivia. Data: Planet.
Zoom K. Large fires burning around the Gran Chaco Biosphere Reserve. Data: NASA/USGS.

Acknowledgements

We thank  J. Beavers (ACA), A. Folhadella (ACA), M. Silman (WFU), S. Novoa (ACCA), M. Terán (ACEAA), and D. Larrea (ACEAA) for helpful comments to earlier versions of this report.

This work was supported by the following major funders: MacArthur Foundation, International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), Metabolic Studio, and Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (WRI).

Citation

Finer M, Mamani N (2019) Seeing the Amazon Fires with Satellites. MAAP: 108.