Users In Action

Hear stories from the forest defenders working in the field.

Users In Action | Global Forest Watch Blog

indigenous peoples

indigenous peoples | Global Forest Watch Blog

Peru

Peru | Global Forest Watch Blog

Isabela Barriga

Inge Snip

A decade ago, the launch of Global Forest Watch (GFW) ushered in a new era of accountability and transparency around monitoring and protecting the world’s forests. To celebrate 10 years of impact, our Voices of Global Forest Watch series will highlight successes of GFW users, partners and community members throughout the year. We invite you to read, watch and share the stories of exceptional leaders in forest monitoring who have played a pivotal role in protecting forests everywhere.



<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/81QXh8wJwno?si=qw9WDO8r0RXmgfy0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







“[Indigenous Communities] say they once hunted the animals, the fish; now they say they hunt deforestation through integrated deforestation alerts.” – Wendy Pineda, General Project Manager for Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) in Peru. 







This sentiment captures the essence of how Indigenous Peoples in the Peruvian Amazon are using advanced tools to fight deforestation.



RFUS, a partner with Global Forest Watch since 2016, has been pivotal in training and building the capacity of forest monitors, particularly in Peru’s Loreto region. Their work supports Indigenous Peoples in defending their rights and territories, and their collaboration with GFW has led to significant strides in forest conservation in the region. For example, a 2021 study looking at results from two years of monitoring found that communities using GFW data and tools were able to reduce deforestation in their territories by <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2015171118" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">52% within the first year alone.</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1365" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17848" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Since 2016, Rainforest Foundation US has been using Global Forest Watch tools with significant results in the fight against deforestation in Indigenous peoples’ territories.</figcaption></figure>



Wendy Pineda, a specialist in geospatial technology and engineering and project management techniques, has been instrumental in creating participatory tools and training methodologies for these communities.



Wendy supports RFUS’s activities such as a training in 2017 for community monitors on how to use the Forest Watcher app for monitoring and verifying deforestation in the Ucayali region. This pilot led to scaling of programs from Ucayali to Loreto, which were the activities evaluated in the 2021 study.



Together with Peru’s National Protected Area Service (SERNANP), RFUS and local communities were able to use GLAD alerts to identify and halt illegal logging operations and coca cultivation in the buffer zone of the Sierra Divisor National Park. RFUS later extended field training using GLAD alerts and Forest Watcher to Loreto. In both Ucayali and Loreto, the field data collected through the community monitoring served as the basis for prosecution of those implicated in illegal deforestation by Peruvian government agencies.



RFUS currently works with approximately 200 Indigenous men and women using tools like GFW to improve monitoring of their territories and prevent the loss of forests and critical resources. This has led some communities to develop their own land management plans. RFUS has also made efforts to increase women’s access to technology by implementing a gender and social inclusion program, enabling more women to become monitors and trainers.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1086" height="724" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mirian-Sanchez-San-Jose-de-Pacache-community-Peru.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17849" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mirian-Sanchez-San-Jose-de-Pacache-community-Peru.jpg 1086w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mirian-Sanchez-San-Jose-de-Pacache-community-Peru-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mirian-Sanchez-San-Jose-de-Pacache-community-Peru-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Forest monitor Mirian Sánchez trains women from the San José de Pacache community, Peru, in using technology for forest protection.</figcaption></figure>



Some communities’ demonstrated capacity to manage their territory has led to their inclusion in Peru’s <a href="https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minam/noticias/23055-comunidades-indigenas-usan-herramientas-tecnologicas-para-el-control-de-las-actividades-ilegales-que-impactan-en-el-bosque" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Conditional Payment for Ecosystem Services program</a>, providing financial support for ongoing monitoring efforts.



Wendy underscores the importance democratizing technology has played: “Now that [GFW has] been able to democratize information — satellite images, data — this information can be [used] by any Indigenous man or woman.” This shift enables Indigenous communities to independently manage their territories and understand their forests’ contributions to climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.



This has been a <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help/forest-watcher/webinars/beyond-satellite-monitoring-impacts-on-the-lives-of-indigenous-communities-in-the-peruvian-amazon/">game-changer</a> for helping more community members become expert technology users. “There are many iconic cases of Indigenous Peoples’ success using GFW tools,” said Wendy. For example, installing technology information hubs that provide access to early deforestation and wildfire alerts, helping communities produce research to support legal and judicial claims.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1365" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17850" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Rainforest Foundation US Peru team, led by Wendy Pineda, arriving at a partner Indigenous community in the Alto Napo region of the Peruvian Amazon.</figcaption></figure>



However, forest monitoring does not come without risks and challenges. While the rise in data information available to Indigenous Peoples strengthens their ability to secure their rights, the increased visibility also exposes environmental advocates. “In that sense, we need to start thinking about how these technologies can also protect environmental defenders,” said Wendy.



RFUS continues to expand their reach. They are now working with 59 Indigenous communities across the Napo, Lower Amazon and Ucayali River Basins to create new satellite information hubs. RFUS also continues to strengthen existing forest monitoring systems, improving access to satellite information, internet and necessary equipment. These hubs enhance Indigenous trainers’ capacities to train forest patrollers and replicate trainings across other communities.



Reflecting on the impact of RFUS’s work, Wendy emphasized the importance of continued support and technological advancements: “Our efforts show that when Indigenous communities are equipped with the right tools, they become formidable defenders of their forests.” As RFUS and its partners push forward, they remain dedicated to empowering more communities and ensuring that the voices and expertise of Indigenous Peoples are at the forefront of forest conservation efforts.



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Voices of Global Forest Watch: Wendy Pineda, Rainforest Foundation US

A decade ago, the launch of Global Forest Watch (GFW) ushered in a new era of accountability and transparency around monitoring and protecting the world’s forests. To celebrate 10 years of impact, our Voices of Global Forest Watch series will highlight successes of GFW users, partners and community members throughout the year. We invite you to read, watch and share the stories of exceptional leaders in forest monitoring who have played a pivotal role in protecting forests everywhere.



<iframe width="560" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/81QXh8wJwno?si=qw9WDO8r0RXmgfy0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







"[Indigenous Communities] say they once hunted the animals, the fish; now they say they hunt deforestation through integrated deforestation alerts." – Wendy Pineda, General Project Manager for Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) in Peru. 







This sentiment captures the essence of how Indigenous Peoples in the Peruvian Amazon are using advanced tools to fight deforestation.



RFUS, a partner with Global Forest Watch since 2016, has been pivotal in training and building the capacity of forest monitors, particularly in Peru's Loreto region. Their work supports Indigenous Peoples in defending their rights and territories, and their collaboration with GFW has led to significant strides in forest conservation in the region. For example, a 2021 study looking at results from two years of monitoring found that communities using GFW data and tools were able to reduce deforestation in their territories by <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2015171118" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">52% within the first year alone.</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17848"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Since 2016, Rainforest Foundation US has been using Global Forest Watch tools with significant results in the fight against deforestation in Indigenous peoples' territories.</figcaption></figure>



Wendy Pineda, a specialist in geospatial technology and engineering and project management techniques, has been instrumental in creating participatory tools and training methodologies for these communities.



Wendy supports RFUS’s activities such as a training in 2017 for community monitors on how to use the Forest Watcher app for monitoring and verifying deforestation in the Ucayali region. This pilot led to scaling of programs from Ucayali to Loreto, which were the activities evaluated in the 2021 study.



Together with Peru's National Protected Area Service (SERNANP), RFUS and local communities were able to use GLAD alerts to identify and halt illegal logging operations and coca cultivation in the buffer zone of the Sierra Divisor National Park. RFUS later extended field training using GLAD alerts and Forest Watcher to Loreto. In both Ucayali and Loreto, the field data collected through the community monitoring served as the basis for prosecution of those implicated in illegal deforestation by Peruvian government agencies.



RFUS currently works with approximately 200 Indigenous men and women using tools like GFW to improve monitoring of their territories and prevent the loss of forests and critical resources. This has led some communities to develop their own land management plans. RFUS has also made efforts to increase women’s access to technology by implementing a gender and social inclusion program, enabling more women to become monitors and trainers.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mirian-Sanchez-San-Jose-de-Pacache-community-Peru.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17849"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Forest monitor Mirian Sánchez trains women from the San José de Pacache community, Peru, in using technology for forest protection.</figcaption></figure>



Some communities' demonstrated capacity to manage their territory has led to their inclusion in Peru's <a href="https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minam/noticias/23055-comunidades-indigenas-usan-herramientas-tecnologicas-para-el-control-de-las-actividades-ilegales-que-impactan-en-el-bosque" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Conditional Payment for Ecosystem Services program</a>, providing financial support for ongoing monitoring efforts.



Wendy underscores the importance democratizing technology has played: "Now that [GFW has] been able to democratize information — satellite images, data — this information can be [used] by any Indigenous man or woman." This shift enables Indigenous communities to independently manage their territories and understand their forests' contributions to climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.



This has been a <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help/forest-watcher/webinars/beyond-satellite-monitoring-impacts-on-the-lives-of-indigenous-communities-in-the-peruvian-amazon/">game-changer</a> for helping more community members become expert technology users. "There are many iconic cases of Indigenous Peoples’ success using GFW tools,” said Wendy. For example, installing technology information hubs that provide access to early deforestation and wildfire alerts, helping communities produce research to support legal and judicial claims.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17850"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Rainforest Foundation US Peru team, led by Wendy Pineda, arriving at a partner Indigenous community in the Alto Napo region of the Peruvian Amazon.</figcaption></figure>



However, forest monitoring does not come without risks and challenges. While the rise in data information available to Indigenous Peoples strengthens their ability to secure their rights, the increased visibility also exposes environmental advocates. “In that sense, we need to start thinking about how these technologies can also protect environmental defenders,” said Wendy.



RFUS continues to expand their reach. They are now working with 59 Indigenous communities across the Napo, Lower Amazon and Ucayali River Basins to create new satellite information hubs. RFUS also continues to strengthen existing forest monitoring systems, improving access to satellite information, internet and necessary equipment. These hubs enhance Indigenous trainers' capacities to train forest patrollers and replicate trainings across other communities.



Reflecting on the impact of RFUS’s work, Wendy emphasized the importance of continued support and technological advancements: "Our efforts show that when Indigenous communities are equipped with the right tools, they become formidable defenders of their forests." As RFUS and its partners push forward, they remain dedicated to empowering more communities and ensuring that the voices and expertise of Indigenous Peoples are at the forefront of forest conservation efforts.



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Hace una década, el lanzamiento de Global Forest Watch (GFW) marcó un hito de responsabilidad y transparencia en el monitoreo y protección de nuestros bosques a nivel mundial. Para celebrar estos 10 años de impacto, nuestra serie "Voces de Global Forest Watch" destacará los logros de quienes han sido parte de esta gran iniciativa. Te invitamos a leer, ver y compartir las historias de líderes excepcionales que han jugado un rol fundamental en la protección de nuestros bosques.&nbsp;



<iframe width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/81QXh8wJwno?si=qw9WDO8r0RXmgfy0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







"[Las comunidades indígenas] dicen que antes cazaban animales y peces, ahora dicen que “cazan” la deforestación a través de alertas integradas de deforestación." - Wendy Pineda, Gerente General de Proyectos de Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) en Perú. 



Este sentimiento capta la esencia de cómo los pueblos indígenas de la Amazonía peruana están utilizando tecnología de punta para defender su territorio.&nbsp;



RFUS, socio de Global Forest Watch desde 2016, ha sido fundamental en la capacitación de monitores forestales, particularmente en la región peruana de Loreto.&nbsp;Su trabajo apoya a los pueblos indígenas en la defensa de sus derechos y territorios, y su alianza con GFW ha generado resultados sorprendentes&nbsp;en la conservación de los bosques en la región. Por ejemplo, un estudio de 2021&nbsp;reveló que las comunidades que utilizaron las herramientas de GFW lograron reducir la deforestación en un&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2015171118" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">un 52% en el primer año.</a>&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17848"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Desdeel 2016, Rainforest Foundation US utiliza herramientas de Global Forest Watch con resultados significativos en la lucha contra la deforestación en los territorios de los pueblos indígenas.</figcaption></figure>



Wendy Pineda, especialista en tecnología geoespacial, técnicas de ingeniería y gestión de proyectos, ha sido fundamental en la creación de metodologías participativas de capacitación&nbsp;para estas comunidades. Gracias a su trabajo, monitores comunitarios han aprendido a usar la aplicación Forest Watcher para identificar y verificar la deforestación, cuyos resultados positivos iniciales como piloto en Ucayali impulsaron la expansión del proyecto a Loreto, como se detalla en el estudio de 2021. &nbsp;



Junto con el Servicio Nacional de Áreas Protegidas del Perú (SERNANP), la RFUS y las comunidades locales&nbsp;utilizaron las alertas GLAD para detectar y detener la tala ilegal y el cultivo de coca en la zona de amortiguamiento&nbsp;el Parque Nacional Sierra Divisor. Posteriormente, RFUS extendió el entrenamiento de campo utilizando alertas GLAD y Forest Watcher a Loreto. Los datos recopilados en Ucayali en Loreto por el monitoreo comunitario sirvieron de base para procesar a los responsables antes las agencias gubernamentales peruanas.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Actualmente, RFUS trabaja con cerca de 200 hombres y mujeres indígenas que utilizan GFW para monitorear sus territorios y prevenir la pérdida de bosques&nbsp;y recursos críticos.&nbsp;Muchas comunidades ahora cuentan con sus propios planes de manejo&nbsp;territorial.&nbsp;Además, RFUS ha promovido la participación de las mujeres&nbsp;en la tecnología mediante la implementación de un programa de género e inclusión social, lo que permite que más mujeres se conviertan en monitores y capacitadoras.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mirian-Sanchez-San-Jose-de-Pacache-community-Peru.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17849"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">La monitora forestal Mirian Sánchez capacita a mujeres de la comunidad San José de Pacache, Perú, en el uso de tecnología para la protección del bosque.</figcaption></figure>



El éxito de estas comunidades para gestionar su territorio les ha permitido acceder a programas como el <a href="https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minam/noticias/23055-comunidades-indigenas-usan-herramientas-tecnologicas-para-el-control-de-las-actividades-ilegales-que-impactan-en-el-bosque" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pago Condicional por Servicios Ecosistémicos de Perú</a>, lo que les brinda un apoyo económico adicional para continuar con sus esfuerzos de monitoreo.&nbsp;



Wendy destaca la importancia que ha tenido la democratización de la tecnología: "Ahora que [GFW] ha sido capaz de democratizar la información (imágenes satelitales, datos), esta información puede ser [utilizada] por cualquier hombre o mujer indígena". Este cambio permite a las comunidades indígenas gestionar de forma independiente sus territorios y comprender mejor el valor de sus bosques en la lucha contra el cambio climático y la conservación de la biodiversidad.&nbsp;



Con este <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help/forest-watcher/webinars/beyond-satellite-monitoring-impacts-on-the-lives-of-indigenous-communities-in-the-peruvian-amazon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">punto de inflexión</a>&nbsp;más miembros de las comunidades se han convertido en expertos en tecnología. "Hay muchos casos icónicos de éxito de los pueblos indígenas utilizando las herramientas de GFW", dijo Wendy. Por ejemplo, la instalación de centros de información tecnológica que brindan acceso a alertas tempranas de deforestación e incendios forestales, ayudando a las comunidades a&nbsp;respaldar reclamos legales y judiciales con investigaciones sólidas.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17850"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">El equipo de Rainforest Foundation US Perú, dirigido por Wendy Pineda, llega a una comunidad indígena asociada en la región del Alto Napo de la Amazonía peruana.</figcaption></figure>



Sin embargo, el monitoreo forestal también presenta riesgos y desafíos. Si bien la tecnología brinda más herramientas e información para garantizar sus derechos, esta visibilidad también expone a los defensores ambientales a mayores riesgos. "En ese sentido, tenemos que empezar a pensar en cómo estas tecnologías también pueden proteger a los defensores del medio ambiente", dijo Wendy.&nbsp;



RFUS sigue ampliando su alcance y actualmente trabaja con 59 comunidades en las cuencas de los ríos Napo, Bajo Amazonas y Ucayali para establecer nuevos centros de información satelital. Asimismo, la organización continúa fortaleciendo los sistemas de monitoreo forestal existentes, mejorando el acceso a información satelital, internet y equipos especializados. Estos centros permiten que los instructores indígenas desarrollen sus capacidades para capacitar a los guardianes forestales y replicar estas capacitaciones en otras comunidades.&nbsp;



Al reflexionar sobre los logros de RFUS, Wendy destaca la importancia de un apoyo constante y de la innovación tecnológica. "Nuestros esfuerzos muestran que cuando las comunidades indígenas están equipadas con las herramientas adecuadas, se convierten en formidables defensoras de sus bosques", afirma. Orientados hacia nuevos logros, RFUS&nbsp;y sus aliados seguirán trabajando para empoderar a más comunidades y garantizar que las voces y conocimientos de los pueblos indígenas estén a la vanguardia en la conservación forestal.&nbsp;



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Voces de Global Forest Watch: Wendy Pineda, Rainforest Foundation US 

As part of our Voices of Global Forest Watch series, learn about Wendy Pineda's work in Peru with Rainforest Foundation US

Voices of GFW: Wendy Pineda, Rainforest Foundation US

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Geneviève Ndjiki, Action for Sustainable Development

Data is Helping Protect Threatened Forests and Biodiversity in Cameroon’s Mengamé Gorilla Sanctuary

<iframe width="450" height="500" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wwsny843ruo?si=5LLawBa7ww7lCvfF" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







Cameroon has very rich biological diversity, housed within several ecosystems that are representative of the ecosystems of Africa — the reason Cameroon is often described as “Africa in miniature.” The nation's biological diversity underpins its economy and has scientific and medicinal importance for Cameroon’s people.



In order to meet its commitments to protect the environment after the <a href="https://www.un.org/en/conferences/environment/rio1992" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development</a>, and consequently its commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity, objective 11 of Cameroon’s <a href="https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/cm/cm-nbsap-v2-en.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan</a> calls for at least 30% of the national territory to be designated as protected areas, which aim to protect nature and biodiversity from human activities and pressures.



To this end, several protected areas (national parks, reserves, etc.) were established, including the Mengamé Gorilla Sanctuary. This sanctuary faces several threats including the loss of forest cover, which leads to fragmentation of the habitat found there.



Our organization, Action for Sustainable Development, works to respond to the increasing threat of deforestation in Mengamé. In 2023, we received a Global Forest Watch (GFW) Small Grants Fund (SGF) grant to help us monitor forests in the sanctuary. We found that forest loss over the last three years is increasing, and that a new management plan for the sanctuary based on better data is needed to protect the sanctuary’s forests and the biodiversity that depends on them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Mengamé Gorilla Sanctuary</h2>



The Mengamé Gorilla Sanctuary (MGS) belongs to the Tri-national Dja-Odzala-Minkébé (TRIDOM) complex, a cross-border area encompassing 10% of the Congo Basin’s rainforests and 11 protected areas across Cameroon, Congo and Gabon. TRIDOM is a key area for the conservation of the biodiversity of the Congo Basin, including iconic large mammals such as elephants, chimpanzees and gorillas. The MGS is located in the equatorial forest zone in the southern part of Cameroon on the border with Gabon. It covers 26,780 hectares and straddles the districts of Mvangan in Mvila subdivision and Oveng district in Dja-et Lobo subdivision. The MGS is home to a diversity of wildlife including primates like the Western Lowland Gorilla, which is critically endangered due to human activities that have intensified over the years, such as deforestation leading to loss of habitat as well as poaching.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mengame-2048x1448.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17782"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The area occupied by the MGS in the two districts (Mvangan and Oveng). Both these districts have several small villages surrounding the sanctuary.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Satellite data reveals increasing loss of the sanctuary's forest cover</h2>



Action for Sustainable Development (ASD), a Cameroonian civil society organization, has been able to use the tools available from GFW to conduct satellite monitoring of forest cover change in protected areas. As part of our SGF project “Participatory monitoring of forest cover in and around the MGS,” we used GFW’s near-real-time integrated deforestation alerts to identify areas of forest loss, and supported park agents and others in the community to use GFW tools to investigate the alerts.



We analyzed alerts for two time periods over three years (2021-2023) and found that for the first period, from January 1, 2021 to July 20, 2022, more than 937 deforestation alerts were recorded totaling eight hectares of forest loss. The map below shows the distribution of these alerts in the two districts (896 alerts in the part of the sanctuary located in the Mvangan district and 41 alerts in the part of the sanctuary located in the Oveng district).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mengame-final1-2048x1448.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17784"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Map showing deforestation alerts in the MGS between January 1, 2021 and July 20, 2022.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MGS-field-deployment-ASD.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17751"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Field deployment of a mixed team (ecoguards and community) to identify the causes of deforestation alerts. Credit: ASD</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MGS-field-deployment-2-ASD.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17752"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Field deployment of a mixed team (ecoguards and ASD) to identify the causes of deforestation alerts. Credit: ASD</figcaption></figure>



Likewise, for the second period between July 21, 2022 and December 31, 2023, more than 1,436 deforestation alerts were recorded, including 1,292 in the part of the sanctuary located in the Mvangan district and 144 in the part of the sanctuary located in the Oveng district. The total of these deforestation alerts represents a loss of 17 hectares of forest.



The Mengamé gorilla sanctuary has therefore already lost nearly 25 hectares of forest in just three years from 2021 to 2023. These findings indicate that, over time, anthropogenic activity is increasing in the sanctuary. Investigations carried out to determine the main causes of this loss of forest cover showed that this has been caused by the establishment or extension of agricultural plots (cocoa and banana plantations). This pressure is growing due to the increase in the price of cocoa on the international market — and cocoa is the main cash crop in this area. If nothing is done, the sanctuary will be severely depleted and degraded the next several years.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mengame-final2-2048x1448.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17785"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Deforestation alerts in the Mengamé gorilla sanctuary between July 21, 2022 and December 31, 2023.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">To protect the sanctuary, a new management plan is needed</h2>



To understand the motivations or reasons that lead local communities to set up their cocoa plantations and others in the sanctuary, our team conducted a survey as part of our project.



Two major reasons were mentioned by local communities to justify their actions:



The first reason is the lack of collaboration between local communities and conservation services. Indeed, 38% of the population thinks that they are not involved in the management of the sanctuary. There is almost no conservation activity within the sanctuary or ecotourism, appearing to local communities to have been abandoned for several years. Thus, they thought that the sanctuary was no longer a priority for the State. Our project has since succeeded in bringing together local communities, the conservation service and civil society organizations as part of a more participatory monitoring of the sanctuary.



The second reason is the fact that the space dedicated to the communities' rural activities is becoming insufficient. 22% of local communities believe that the area dedicated to their activities is becoming insufficient given the rapid population growth. Yet despite these changes, the development and management plan for the sanctuary, which should be renewed every five years to better take into account the realities of all stakeholders, has not been updated since 2007. This plan provides information about the sanctuary based on uses, priorities, threats and more, but not only is it out of date, it is also based partially on data from the neighboring Kom National Park as there is insufficient data on the sanctuary itself. Furthermore, the demarcation of the boundaries of the sanctuary had not been effective in all the riverside villages, and currently the boundaries that had been demarcated are no longer visible.



Therefore, development of a new management plan for the sanctuary is needed. This plan should:



<ul>
<li>Take into account the increase in population and suggest effective ways for the development of alternative income-generating activities for local communities</li>



<li>Place emphasis on promoting ecotourism by developing infrastructure for this purpose</li>



<li>Involve local communities in the participatory management of the sanctuary</li>



<li>Provide updated data on biodiversity (fauna and flora species present and their densities, etc.)</li>



<li>Place emphasis on transboundary management of the sanctuary</li>
</ul>



The MGS’s forests and the valuable biodiversity that depends on them can still be protected if the sanctuary implements a plan and manages the sanctuary based on recent, accurate data. The data collected by ASD using GFW tools is an important part of this and can help us preserve Mengamé Gorilla Sanctuary for years to come.







Learn more about ASD: Visit <a href="https://www.asd.contact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">their website</a> and follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ASDCameroun" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/asdcameroun" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter/X</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/action-for-sustainable-development-asd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>.&nbsp;



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<iframe width="450" height="500" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wwsny843ruo?si=5LLawBa7ww7lCvfF" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







Le Cameroun possède une diversité biologique très riche, hébergée dans plusieurs écosystèmes représentatifs des écosystèmes africains – raison pour laquelle le Cameroun est souvent décrit comme « l’Afrique en miniature ». La diversité biologique du pays soutient son économie et revêt une importance scientifique et médicinale pour la population camerounaise.



Afin de respecter ses engagements en matière de protection de l’environnement après la <a href="mailto:https://www.un.org/fr/conferences/environment/rio1992" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Conférence des Nations Unies sur l’environnement et le développement en 1992</a>, et par conséquent son engagement envers la Convention sur la diversité biologique, l’objectif 11 de la <a href="https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/cm/cm-nbsap-v2-en.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stratégie nationale et du plan d’action pour la biodiversité</a> du Cameroun prévoit qu’au moins 30% du territoire national soient désignés comme aires protégées, destinées à protéger la nature et la biodiversité des activités et pressions humaines.



À cet effet, plusieurs aires protégées (parcs nationaux, réserves, etc.) ont été créées, parmi lesquels le Sanctuaire à gorilles de Mengamé. Ce sanctuaire fait face à plusieurs menaces dont la perte du couvert forestier, qui entraîne une fragmentation de l’habitat qui s’y trouve.



Notre organisation, Action for Sustainable Development, s’efforce de répondre à la menace croissante de déforestation à Mengamé. En 2023, nous avons reçu une subvention du Fonds de petites subventions (SGF) de Global Forest Watch (GFW) pour nous aider à surveiller les forêts du sanctuaire. Nous avons constaté que la perte de forêt au cours des trois dernières années est en augmentation et qu’un nouveau plan de gestion du sanctuaire basé sur de meilleures données est nécessaire pour protéger les forêts du sanctuaire et la biodiversité qui en dépend.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Le sanctuaire à gorilles de Mengamé </h2>



Le Sanctuaire à Gorilles de Mengamé (SGM) fait partie du complexe trinational Dja-Odzala-Minkébé (TRIDOM), une zone transfrontalière englobant 10 % des forêts tropicales du bassin du Congo et 11 aires protégées au Cameroun, au Congo et au Gabon. Le TRIDOM est une zone clé pour la conservation de la biodiversité du bassin du Congo, notamment des grands mammifères emblématiques tels que les éléphants, les chimpanzés et les gorilles. Le SGM est situé dans la zone de forêt équatoriale dans la partie Sud du Cameroun à la frontière avec le Gabon. Il couvre 26 780 ha et chevauche les districts de Mvangan dans l'arrondissement de la Mvila et le district d'Oveng dans l'arrondissement du Dja-et Lobo. Le SGM abrite une faune diversifiée, notamment des primates comme le gorille des plaines de l'Ouest, qui est en danger critique d'extinction en raison des activités humaines qui se sont intensifiées au fil des ans, telles que la déforestation entraînant la perte de l’habitat, ainsi que le braconnage.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mengame-2048x1448.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17782"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">La zone occupée par le SGM dans les deux districts (Mvangan et Oveng). Ces deux districts comptent plusieurs petits villages entourant le sanctuaire.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Les données satellitaires révèlent une perte croissante du couvert forestier du sanctuaire</h2>



Action for Sustainable Development (ASD), une organisation de la société civile camerounaise, a pu utiliser les outils mis à disposition par GFW pour effectuer un suivi satellitaire de l’évolution du couvert forestier dans les aires protégées. Dans le cadre de notre projet SGF « Suivi participatif du couvert forestier dans et autour du SGM », nous avons utilisé les alertes de déforestation intégrées en temps quasi réel de GFW pour identifier les zones de perte de forêt, et avons aidé les écogardes du parc et d’autres membres de la communauté à utiliser les outils du GFW pour enquêter sur les alertes.



Nous avons analysé les alertes sur deux périodes pendant trois ans (2021-2023) et constaté que pour la première période, du 1er janvier 2021 au 20 juillet 2022, plus de 937 alertes de déforestation ont été enregistrées totalisant huit hectares de perte du couvert forestier. La carte ci-dessous montre la répartition de ces alertes dans les deux districts (896 alertes dans la partie du sanctuaire située dans le district de Mvangan et 41 alertes dans la partie du sanctuaire située dans le district d'Oveng).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mengame-final1-2048x1448.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17784"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Carte montrant les alertes de déforestation dans le SGM entre le 1er janvier 2021 et le 20 juillet 2022.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MGS-field-deployment-ASD.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17751"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Déploiement sur le terrain d'une équipe mixte (écogardes et communauté) pour identifier les causes des alertes de déforestation.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MGS-field-deployment-2-ASD.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17752"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Déploiement sur le terrain d'une équipe mixte (écogardes et ASD) pour identifier les causes des alertes de déforestation.</figcaption></figure>



De même, pour la deuxième période entre le 21 juillet 2022 et le 31 décembre 2023, plus de 1 436 alertes de déforestation ont été enregistrées, dont 1 292 dans la partie du sanctuaire située dans le district de Mvangan et 144 dans la partie du sanctuaire située dans le district d’Oveng. Le total de ces alertes de déforestation représente une perte de 17 hectares de forêt.



Le sanctuaire à gorilles de Mengamé a donc déjà perdu près de 25 hectares de forêt en seulement trois ans, de 2021 à 2023. Ces résultats indiquent qu’au fil du temps, l’activité anthropique augmente dans le sanctuaire. Les investigations menées pour déterminer les principales causes de cette perte du couvert forestier ont montré que celle-ci est due à l’implantation ou à l’extension des parcelles agricoles (cacaoyères et bananeraies). Cette pression s’accroît en raison de l’augmentation du prix du cacao sur le marché international – et le cacao est la principale culture de rente dans cette zone. Si rien n’est fait, le sanctuaire sera gravement appauvri et dégradé dans les prochaines années.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mengame-final2-2048x1448.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17785"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alertes de déforestation dans le sanctuaire à gorilles de Mengamé entre le 21 juillet 2022 et le 31 décembre 2023.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pour protéger le sanctuaire, un nouveau plan d’aménagement est nécessaire</h2>



Pour comprendre les motivations ou les raisons qui poussent les communautés locales à installer leurs plantations de cacao et d'autres dans le sanctuaire, notre équipe a mené une enquête dans le cadre de notre projet.



Deux raisons majeures ont été évoquées par les communautés locales pour justifier leurs actions :



La première raison est le manque de collaboration entre les communautés locales et les services de la conservation. En effet, 38% de la population pense ne pas être impliquée dans la gestion du sanctuaire. Il n’y a quasiment aucune activité de conservation au sein du sanctuaire ni d’écotourisme, ce qui donne aux communautés locales l’impression d’être abandonnées depuis plusieurs années. Ainsi, elles pensaient que le sanctuaire n’était plus une priorité pour l’État. Notre projet a ainsi réussi à réunir les communautés locales, le service de la conservation et les organisations de la société civile dans le cadre d’un suivi plus participatif du sanctuaire.



La deuxième raison est le fait que l’espace dédié aux activités rurales des communautés devient insuffisant. 22 % des communautés locales estiment que la surface dédiée à leurs activités devient insuffisante compte tenu de la croissance rapide de la population. Pourtant, malgré ces changements, le plan d’aménagement et de gestion du sanctuaire, qui devrait être renouvelé tous les 5 ans pour mieux prendre en compte les réalités de toutes les parties prenantes, n’a pas été mis à jour depuis 2007. Ce plan fournit des informations sur le sanctuaire en fonction des usages, des priorités, des menaces, etc., non seulement il est obsolète, mais il se base également en partie sur les données du parc national voisin de Kom, car il n’existe pas suffisamment de données sur le sanctuaire lui-même. De plus, la délimitation des limites du sanctuaire n’a pas été effective dans tous les villages riverains, et actuellement les limites qui avaient été matérialisées ne sont plus visibles.



Il est donc nécessaire d'élaborer un nouveau plan de gestion pour le sanctuaire. Ce plan devrait :



<ul>
<li>Prendre en compte l’augmentation de la population et proposer des moyens efficaces pour le développement d’activités alternatives génératrices de revenus pour les communautés locales</li>



<li>Mettre l’accent sur la promotion de l’écotourisme en développant des infrastructures à cet effet</li>



<li>Impliquer les communautés locales dans la gestion participative du sanctuaire</li>



<li>Fournir des données actualisées sur la biodiversité (espèces de faune et de flore présentes et leurs densités, etc.)</li>



<li>Mettre l’accent sur la gestion transfrontalière du sanctuaire</li>
</ul>



Les forêts du SGM et la précieuse biodiversité qui en dépend peuvent encore être protégées si le sanctuaire met en œuvre un plan et gère le sanctuaire sur la base de données récentes et précises. Les données collectées par ASD à l’aide des outils du GFW constituent une partie importante de cette démarche et peuvent nous aider à préserver le sanctuaire à gorilles de Mengamé pour les années à venir.







Apprenez-en davantage sur ASD : <a href="https://www.asd.contact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Visitez leur site Web</a> et suivez-les sur <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ASDCameroun" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/asdcameroun" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter/X</a> et <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/action-for-sustainable-development-asd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>.



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Les données aident à protéger les forêts menacées et la biodiversité dans le sanctuaire à gorilles de Mengamé au Cameroun

Action for Sustainable Development is using GFW tools to respond to increasing deforestation in Cameroon's Mengamé Gorilla Sanctuary.

Data is Helping Protect Cameroon’s Mengamé Gorilla Sanctuary

Small grants fund

Small grants fund | Global Forest Watch Blog

Stephanie Borcea

Small Grants, Big Impact: Meet the 2024 Recipients Driving Change with Global Forest Watch

Learn about 11 organizations in 10 countries who will tailor GFW tools and data to confront deforestation within their forests.

Meet the 2024 GFW Small Grants Fund Recipients | GFW Blog

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amazon | Global Forest Watch Blog

Indigenous Peoples &amp; Local Communities

Indigenous Peoples &amp; Local Communities | Global Forest Watch Blog

Nancy Sanchez

Ruth Nogueron

Withman A. Sánchez Hidalgo

“Just for monitoring, just for surveillance, our leaders have been killed,” recounts Ranin Koshi (in Shipibo meaning Strong Man, Hunter), the leader of <a href="https://www.orau.org.pe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Organización Regional de AIDESEP-Ucayali (ORAU)</a> in Peru. The Indigenous communities ORAU represents have long recognized their territory in the Peruvian Amazon as the very essence of life. It’s the foundation of their culture, history and survival.



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<aside id="textbox">About ORAU
ORAU is a nonprofit civil association founded in 1999 with the purpose of representing and promoting the economic, social, political and cultural development of 13 Indigenous federations representing 20 Indigenous ethnic groups including: Amahuaca, Asháninka, Ashéninka Cashibo-Kakataibo, Cocama – Cocamilla, Shipibo – Conibo, Culina, Isconahua, Machiguenga, Mashco – Piro, Mastanahua, Murunahua, Nahua, Sharanahua, Cashinahua, Yaminahua, Yanesha, Yine, Awajun, and Chitonahua, whose ancestral territories are mostly located in the Ucayali department but also in part of the Loreto region (Ucayali province) and Huanuco department (Puerto Inca province) of Peru. ORAU is the regional office of AIDESEP (Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana), the governing organization representing Indigenous Peoples of the Peruvian Amazon.
 </aside>



Yet, this deep bond with the land is under constant threat from illegal logging, deforestation, illicit crops, and other forms of intrusion. In 2001, Peru’s primary forest covered 69.1 million hectares, making up 54% of the country’s total land area. By 2023, the country experienced a 4% reduction of these forests.



Forest monitoring in communal territories has been going on for many years and has been embraced strongly, becoming a core part of the culture of Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon. Despite the threats, these communities were able to <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2015171118" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">decrease deforestation</a> in their areas by more than 50% in just a year when using satellite data from Global Forest Watch (GFW) in their monitoring.



But more tools are needed to both protect forests and keep communities safe — in-person monitoring has led to dangerous confrontations and, tragically, the loss of leaders who dared to defend their sovereignty over their lands.



Now, Indigenous leaders in Peru are working collaboratively to develop new resources using MapBuilder, a tool that is helping them to control the data and narrative around deforestation in their territories and the threats they face to better work together, target solutions, and guard and defend their territories against latent threats to ancestral forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A history of forest monitoring using satellite data</h2>



With support from Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) since 2016, and organizations like ORAU, Indigenous communities in the Ucayali and Loreto regions have moved beyond traditional methods of territory monitoring, developing the technical capacity to collect and manage satellite data and analyses themselves. Gone are the days of relying solely on physical patrols and the unaided eye; now, satellite imagery and near real-time data paint a territory-wide picture of their land’s condition.



“Technology allows us to reaffirm and guarantee our rights, especially with regards to the territory, for our future generations,” says Ranin Koshi.



In 2022, ORAU created its Satellite Information Center, “Imenko Tsiroti,” to address deforestation and threats in communal areas with the support of RFUS and to meet the needs of Indigenous peoples for mapping and satellite information for monitoring, surveillance and land management. This center processes data collected by forest monitors, along with relevant GFW data on forest loss in their territories, to address the challenge of monitoring community forests in near real-time to prevent and reduce deforestation.



Since last year, ORAU has been promoting the creation of its Regional Indigenous Environmental Crime Monitoring Network, with the Imenko Tsiroti Center as its base and main hub. With the support of &nbsp;<a href="https://www.usaid.gov/peru/documents/proyecto-prevenir" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USAID’s PREVENIR project</a>, it seeks to reduce the incidence of deforestation and crimes faced by Indigenous communities, as well as carry out strategic patrols and minimize the exposure of Indigenous vigilantes, monitors and/or leaders through the analysis of satellite data and technological tools.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A collaborative approach to visualizing data with MapBuilder</h2>



To help further advance Indigenous communities’ capacity, Peru’s Indigenous organizations identified MapBuilder as an ideal tool for Indigenous leaders to help visualize the data the communities are gathering from their territories about the threats they face and share it in dynamic format in their discussions and negotiations with external actors (such as government agencies, UN bodies and donors) without having to print and carry large maps. <a href="https://mapbuilder.wri.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MapBuilder</a> is a tool developed by WRI’s Data Lab that allows users to create interactive maps combining curated, timely, trusted global data — including data from GFW — with the user’s local data.



At two RFUS-organized Tech Camps in 2023 — a reciprocal educational experience designed to train participants in using satellite data and tools, and also to understand the communities’ needs and collaborate on what needs data and tools can address — the GFW team trained technical staff from the Indigenous organizations to customize MapBuilder to create their own online geospatial portals.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1151" height="729" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1_2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-workshop-in-Iquitos-Peru.-Credit-RFUS.jpg" alt="2023 Tech Camp organized by RFUS – workshop in Iquitos, Peru" class="wp-image-17509" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1_2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-workshop-in-Iquitos-Peru.-Credit-RFUS.jpg 1151w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1_2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-workshop-in-Iquitos-Peru.-Credit-RFUS-1024x649.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1_2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-workshop-in-Iquitos-Peru.-Credit-RFUS-768x486.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1151px) 100vw, 1151px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1155" height="770" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2_2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-workshop-in-Iquitos-Peru.-Credit-RFUS.jpg" alt="2023 Tech Camp organized by RFUS – workshop in Iquitos, Peru." class="wp-image-17510" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2_2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-workshop-in-Iquitos-Peru.-Credit-RFUS.jpg 1155w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2_2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-workshop-in-Iquitos-Peru.-Credit-RFUS-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2_2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-workshop-in-Iquitos-Peru.-Credit-RFUS-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1155px) 100vw, 1155px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">2023 Tech Camp organized by RFUS – workshop in Iquitos, Peru. Credit: RFUS.</figcaption></figure>



GFW also trained the organizations to create ESRI StoryMaps, which are useful to highlight specific issues such as video testimonials, photo galleries and narrative maps.



A main outcome of the Tech Camps was the creation of the ORAU geospatial portal using MapBuilder. This was possible due to the partnership between GFW, RFUS, the Indigenous organizations and the GIS mapping software company ESRI, participating as equal contributors in a process focused on shared learning and mutual benefit. Each contributor plays an important role in this process: GFW provides tailored monitoring data, the MapBuilder template, and training; RFUS convenes and facilitates the space for collaboration through the Tech Camps and offers crucial technical support on-site; and ORAU, through its Imenko Tsiroti Satellite Information Center, provides the data for the geospatial portal and functions as the data hub to collect field data generated by Indigenous communities as they patrol their territories informed by GFW deforestation alerts. This collaboration has been significantly advanced by the software licenses donations from ESRI, enhancing the project’s capacity for developing and maintaining tools like MapBuilder.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1095" height="730" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-Indigenous-groups-demonstrate-their-maps-in-Pucallpa-Peru.-Credit-RFUS.jpg" alt="2023 Tech Camp organized by RFUS – Indigenous groups demonstrate their maps in Pucallpa, Peru. Credit: RFUS." class="wp-image-17511" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-Indigenous-groups-demonstrate-their-maps-in-Pucallpa-Peru.-Credit-RFUS.jpg 1095w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-Indigenous-groups-demonstrate-their-maps-in-Pucallpa-Peru.-Credit-RFUS-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-Indigenous-groups-demonstrate-their-maps-in-Pucallpa-Peru.-Credit-RFUS-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1095px) 100vw, 1095px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">2023 Tech Camp organized by RFUS – Indigenous groups demonstrate their maps in Pucallpa, Peru. Credit: RFUS.</figcaption></figure>



This collective endeavor, centered around joint exploration and development, leverages technology to directly integrate Indigenous partners’ knowledge and needs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Telling the story of forest threats</h2>



Why, though, is visualizing information on a map so transformative? The answer lies in the map’s ability to contextualize data, creating a compelling narrative about the areas and communities it represents. A map tells a visual story, highlighting trends and priorities through the data it cross-references. For Indigenous communities, this means having the ability to prioritize resources and efforts based on timely, evidence-based data. For example, <a href="https://my.gfw-mapbuilder.org/v1.latest/?appid=867894697a6a4bc68c18a2c4b95ae464">maps</a> can leverage data from GFW on deforestation alerts and incorporate local insights on illegal activities, which in turn can help identify which community would benefit most from training monitors to detect illegal logging.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://my.gfw-mapbuilder.org/v1.latest/?appid=867894697a6a4bc68c18a2c4b95ae464"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1860" height="1096" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ORAU-mapbuilder-map.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17530" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ORAU-mapbuilder-map.png 1860w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ORAU-mapbuilder-map-1024x603.png 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ORAU-mapbuilder-map-768x453.png 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ORAU-mapbuilder-map-1536x905.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1860px) 100vw, 1860px" /></a></figure>



Through the use of MapBuilder, Indigenous leaders are creating online geospatial portals and StoryMaps, making the reality of their territories visible to the world. It offers an unfiltered, bottom-up perspective on the threats these communities face and their efforts to counteract them.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1898" height="2048" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/24.05.28_MapBuilder-Peru_Insights_EN-1898x2048.png" alt="How indigenous organizations in the Peruvian Amazon monitor their territories" class="wp-image-17512" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/24.05.28_MapBuilder-Peru_Insights_EN-1898x2048.png 1898w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/24.05.28_MapBuilder-Peru_Insights_EN-949x1024.png 949w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/24.05.28_MapBuilder-Peru_Insights_EN-768x829.png 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/24.05.28_MapBuilder-Peru_Insights_EN-1423x1536.png 1423w" sizes="(max-width: 1898px) 100vw, 1898px" /></figure>



With tools like MapBuilder, the Indigenous communities and organizations that represent them control the narrative based on the data they are collecting and releasing to the public.



This shift towards digital storytelling and monitoring represents a significant milestone in forest protection. “There is deforestation; I can only say it. But now, I can demonstrate it physically with the ease of technology,” Ranin Koshi says, adding that this transition from manual to digital is revolutionary for the communities and their leadership. MapBuilder provides them with undeniable evidence of the challenges they face, transforming abstract threats into tangible realities that can be addressed and acted upon.



But that’s not all. With over 33 leaders assassinated in a decade, starting with Edwin Chota in 2014 and Quinto Inuma in 2023, by adding the location of the threats to Indigenous environmental defenders, the maps show the convergence of the threats with the deforestation drivers based on the evidence collected during the patrols.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Scaling collaboration to protect Indigenous-held forests</h2>



By integrating GFW data with communities’ field data into interactive applications, organizations like ORAU are fostering trust and enhancing collaborative efforts among community members and external stakeholders. The geospatial portals, developed using the MapBuilder template within ArcGIS Online, facilitate the seamless sharing of crucial environmental data, tailored to each organization’s specific needs and contexts.



Peru is just the starting point, signaling the potential for expansion within the Amazon Basin. Other Indigenous and local communities have begun to adopt monitoring technologies. For example, the <a href="https://sarayaku.org/guardianes-selva/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sarayaku </a>People in Ecuador use monitoring technology to support the implementation of their territory management plan, and <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/grants-and-fellowships/projects/?country=COL&projectId=99" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COCOMASUR</a> protects the territory of 33 Afro-descendant communities in Colombia. At the regional level, the AIDESEP-COICA Early Warning and Rapid Response Alert System (<a href="https://aidesep.org.pe/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Infografia-Sistema-de-Alerta-Temprana-de-COICA.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SAT/RR-COICA</a>) seeks to combine monitoring technology with a platform and protocols to respond to threats to Indigenous territories and peoples.&nbsp;&nbsp;



ORAU’s MapBuilder-based geoportal is more than just a mapping tool; it’s a testament to the power of collaboration between technology experts and Indigenous organizations and communities. The use of MapBuilder in Peru by Indigenous organizations can pave the way for its adoption elsewhere, and shows how technology, when shaped by the very people it aims to serve, can become a powerful tool in the preservation of resources.



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Indigenous Communities in the Peruvian Amazon Protect their Forest Heritage with MapBuilder 

“Just for monitoring, just for surveillance, our leaders have been killed,” recounts Ranin Koshi (in Shipibo meaning Strong Man, Hunter), the leader of <a href="https://www.orau.org.pe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Organización Regional de AIDESEP-Ucayali (ORAU)</a> in Peru. The Indigenous communities ORAU represents have long recognized their territory in the Peruvian Amazon as the very essence of life. It's the foundation of their culture, history and survival.



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<aside id="textbox">About ORAU
ORAU is a nonprofit civil association founded in 1999 with the purpose of representing and promoting the economic, social, political and cultural development of 13 Indigenous federations representing 20 Indigenous ethnic groups including: Amahuaca, Asháninka, Ashéninka Cashibo-Kakataibo, Cocama - Cocamilla, Shipibo - Conibo, Culina, Isconahua, Machiguenga, Mashco - Piro, Mastanahua, Murunahua, Nahua, Sharanahua, Cashinahua, Yaminahua, Yanesha, Yine, Awajun, and Chitonahua, whose ancestral territories are mostly located in the Ucayali department but also in part of the Loreto region (Ucayali province) and Huanuco department (Puerto Inca province) of Peru. ORAU is the regional office of AIDESEP (Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana), the governing organization representing Indigenous Peoples of the Peruvian Amazon.
 </aside>



Yet, this deep bond with the land is under constant threat from illegal logging, deforestation, illicit crops, and other forms of intrusion. In 2001, Peru’s primary forest covered 69.1 million hectares, making up 54% of the country’s total land area. By 2023, the country experienced a 4% reduction of these forests.



Forest monitoring in communal territories has been going on for many years and has been embraced strongly, becoming a core part of the culture of Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon. Despite the threats, these communities were able to <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2015171118" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">decrease deforestation</a> in their areas by more than 50% in just a year when using satellite data from Global Forest Watch (GFW) in their monitoring.



But more tools are needed to both protect forests and keep communities safe — in-person monitoring has led to dangerous confrontations and, tragically, the loss of leaders who dared to defend their sovereignty over their lands.



Now, Indigenous leaders in Peru are working collaboratively to develop new resources using MapBuilder, a tool that is helping them to control the data and narrative around deforestation in their territories and the threats they face to better work together, target solutions, and guard and defend their territories against latent threats to ancestral forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A history of forest monitoring using satellite data</h2>



With support from Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) since 2016, and organizations like ORAU, Indigenous communities in the Ucayali and Loreto regions have moved beyond traditional methods of territory monitoring, developing the technical capacity to collect and manage satellite data and analyses themselves. Gone are the days of relying solely on physical patrols and the unaided eye; now, satellite imagery and near real-time data paint a territory-wide picture of their land's condition.



“Technology allows us to reaffirm and guarantee our rights, especially with regards to the territory, for our future generations,” says Ranin Koshi.



In 2022, ORAU created its Satellite Information Center, “Imenko Tsiroti," to address deforestation and threats in communal areas with the support of RFUS and to meet the needs of Indigenous peoples for mapping and satellite information for monitoring, surveillance and land management. This center processes data collected by forest monitors, along with relevant GFW data on forest loss in their territories, to address the challenge of monitoring community forests in near real-time to prevent and reduce deforestation.



Since last year, ORAU has been promoting the creation of its Regional Indigenous Environmental Crime Monitoring Network, with the Imenko Tsiroti Center as its base and main hub. With the support of &nbsp;<a href="https://www.usaid.gov/peru/documents/proyecto-prevenir" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USAID's PREVENIR project</a>, it seeks to reduce the incidence of deforestation and crimes faced by Indigenous communities, as well as carry out strategic patrols and minimize the exposure of Indigenous vigilantes, monitors and/or leaders through the analysis of satellite data and technological tools.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A collaborative approach to visualizing data with MapBuilder</h2>



To help further advance Indigenous communities’ capacity, Peru's Indigenous organizations identified MapBuilder as an ideal tool for Indigenous leaders to help visualize the data the communities are gathering from their territories about the threats they face and share it in dynamic format in their discussions and negotiations with external actors (such as government agencies, UN bodies and donors) without having to print and carry large maps. <a href="https://mapbuilder.wri.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MapBuilder</a> is a tool developed by WRI’s Data Lab that allows users to create interactive maps combining curated, timely, trusted global data — including data from GFW — with the user’s local data.



At two RFUS-organized Tech Camps in 2023 — a reciprocal educational experience designed to train participants in using satellite data and tools, and also to understand the communities’ needs and collaborate on what needs data and tools can address — the GFW team trained technical staff from the Indigenous organizations to customize MapBuilder to create their own online geospatial portals.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1_2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-workshop-in-Iquitos-Peru.-Credit-RFUS.jpg" alt="2023 Tech Camp organized by RFUS – workshop in Iquitos, Peru" class="wp-image-17509"/></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2_2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-workshop-in-Iquitos-Peru.-Credit-RFUS.jpg" alt="2023 Tech Camp organized by RFUS – workshop in Iquitos, Peru." class="wp-image-17510"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">2023 Tech Camp organized by RFUS – workshop in Iquitos, Peru. Credit: RFUS.</figcaption></figure>



GFW also trained the organizations to create ESRI StoryMaps, which are useful to highlight specific issues such as video testimonials, photo galleries and narrative maps.



A main outcome of the Tech Camps was the creation of the ORAU geospatial portal using MapBuilder. This was possible due to the partnership between GFW, RFUS, the Indigenous organizations and the GIS mapping software company ESRI, participating as equal contributors in a process focused on shared learning and mutual benefit. Each contributor plays an important role in this process: GFW provides tailored monitoring data, the MapBuilder template, and training; RFUS convenes and facilitates the space for collaboration through the Tech Camps and offers crucial technical support on-site; and ORAU, through its Imenko Tsiroti Satellite Information Center, provides the data for the geospatial portal and functions as the data hub to collect field data generated by Indigenous communities as they patrol their territories informed by GFW deforestation alerts. This collaboration has been significantly advanced by the software licenses donations from ESRI, enhancing the project's capacity for developing and maintaining tools like MapBuilder.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-Indigenous-groups-demonstrate-their-maps-in-Pucallpa-Peru.-Credit-RFUS.jpg" alt="2023 Tech Camp organized by RFUS – Indigenous groups demonstrate their maps in Pucallpa, Peru. Credit: RFUS." class="wp-image-17511"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">2023 Tech Camp organized by RFUS – Indigenous groups demonstrate their maps in Pucallpa, Peru. Credit: RFUS.</figcaption></figure>



This collective endeavor, centered around joint exploration and development, leverages technology to directly integrate Indigenous partners' knowledge and needs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Telling the story of forest threats</h2>



Why, though, is visualizing information on a map so transformative? The answer lies in the map's ability to contextualize data, creating a compelling narrative about the areas and communities it represents. A map tells a visual story, highlighting trends and priorities through the data it cross-references. For Indigenous communities, this means having the ability to prioritize resources and efforts based on timely, evidence-based data. For example, <a href="https://my.gfw-mapbuilder.org/v1.latest/?appid=867894697a6a4bc68c18a2c4b95ae464">maps</a> can leverage data from GFW on deforestation alerts and incorporate local insights on illegal activities, which in turn can help identify which community would benefit most from training monitors to detect illegal logging.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://my.gfw-mapbuilder.org/v1.latest/?appid=867894697a6a4bc68c18a2c4b95ae464"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ORAU-mapbuilder-map.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17530"/></a></figure>



Through the use of MapBuilder, Indigenous leaders are creating online geospatial portals and StoryMaps, making the reality of their territories visible to the world. It offers an unfiltered, bottom-up perspective on the threats these communities face and their efforts to counteract them.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/24.05.28_MapBuilder-Peru_Insights_EN-1898x2048.png" alt="How indigenous organizations in the Peruvian Amazon monitor their territories" class="wp-image-17512"/></figure>



With tools like MapBuilder, the Indigenous communities and organizations that represent them control the narrative based on the data they are collecting and releasing to the public.



This shift towards digital storytelling and monitoring represents a significant milestone in forest protection. “There is deforestation; I can only say it. But now, I can demonstrate it physically with the ease of technology,” Ranin Koshi says, adding that this transition from manual to digital is revolutionary for the communities and their leadership. MapBuilder provides them with undeniable evidence of the challenges they face, transforming abstract threats into tangible realities that can be addressed and acted upon.



But that’s not all. With over 33 leaders assassinated in a decade, starting with Edwin Chota in 2014 and Quinto Inuma in 2023, by adding the location of the threats to Indigenous environmental defenders, the maps show the convergence of the threats with the deforestation drivers based on the evidence collected during the patrols.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Scaling collaboration to protect Indigenous-held forests</h2>



By integrating GFW data with communities’ field data into interactive applications, organizations like ORAU are fostering trust and enhancing collaborative efforts among community members and external stakeholders. The geospatial portals, developed using the MapBuilder template within ArcGIS Online, facilitate the seamless sharing of crucial environmental data, tailored to each organization's specific needs and contexts.



Peru is just the starting point, signaling the potential for expansion within the Amazon Basin. Other Indigenous and local communities have begun to adopt monitoring technologies. For example, the <a href="https://sarayaku.org/guardianes-selva/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sarayaku </a>People in Ecuador use monitoring technology to support the implementation of their territory management plan, and <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/grants-and-fellowships/projects/?country=COL&amp;projectId=99" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COCOMASUR</a> protects the territory of 33 Afro-descendant communities in Colombia. At the regional level, the AIDESEP-COICA Early Warning and Rapid Response Alert System (<a href="https://aidesep.org.pe/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Infografia-Sistema-de-Alerta-Temprana-de-COICA.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SAT/RR-COICA</a>) seeks to combine monitoring technology with a platform and protocols to respond to threats to Indigenous territories and peoples.&nbsp;&nbsp;



ORAU’s MapBuilder-based geoportal is more than just a mapping tool; it's a testament to the power of collaboration between technology experts and Indigenous organizations and communities. The use of MapBuilder in Peru by Indigenous organizations can pave the way for its adoption elsewhere, and shows how technology, when shaped by the very people it aims to serve, can become a powerful tool in the preservation of resources.



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"Solo por monitorear, solo por vigilar, han asesinado a nuestros líderes", relata Ranin Koshi (en Shipibo, Hombre Fuerte, Cazador), líder de la Organización Regional de AIDESEP-Ucayali (ORAU) en Perú. Las comunidades indígenas que representa la ORAU reconocen desde hace mucho tiempo su territorio en la Amazonía peruana como la esencia misma de la vida. Es la base de su cultura, historia y supervivencia.



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<aside id="textbox">Acerca de la ORAU
La ORAU es una asociación civil sin fines de lucro fundada en 1999 con el propósito de representar y promover el desarrollo económico, social, político y cultural de 20 pueblos indígenas y 13 bases federativas, como: Amahuaca, Asháninka, Ashéninka Cashibo-Kakataibo, Cocama - Cocamilla, Shipibo – Conibo, Culina, Isconahua, Machiguenga, Mashco – Piro, Mastanahua, Murunahua, Nahua, Sharanahua, Cashinahua, Yaminahua, Yanesha, Yine, Awajun, Chitonahua, cuyos territorios ancestrales se encuentran mayoritariamente en el departamento Ucayali, parte de la región Loreto (provincia de Ucayali) y departamento Huánuco (provincia Puerto Inca). La ORAU es la oficina regional de la AIDESEP (Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana), la organización vocera de los pueblos indígenas de la Amazonía del Perú.
 </aside>



Sin embargo, este profundo vínculo con la tierra está constantemente amenazado por la tala ilegal, la deforestación, cultivos ilícitos y otras formas de intrusión. En 2001, los bosques primarios de Perú cubrían 69,1 millones de hectáreas, lo que representaba el 54% de la superficie total del país. Para 2023, el país experimentaba una reducción del 4% de estos bosques.



El monitoreo forestal en los territorios comunales se lleva realizando desde hace muchos años y se está convirtiendo en un elemento central del patrimonio de las comunidades indígenas de la Amazonía peruana. A pesar de las amenazas, estas comunidades <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2015171118">lograron reducir la deforestación</a> en sus áreas en más del 50% en solo un año al utilizar datos satelitales de Global Forest Watch (GFW) en su monitoreo.



Pero se necesitan más herramientas para proteger los bosques y mantener seguras a las comunidades: el monitoreo en persona ha provocado enfrentamientos peligrosos y, trágicamente, la pérdida de líderes que se atrevieron a defender la soberanía sobre sus tierras.



Ahora, los líderes indígenas de Perú están trabajando en colaboración para desarrollar nuevos recursos utilizando MapBuilder, una herramienta que les está ayudando a controlar los datos y la narrativa en torno a la deforestación en sus territorios y las amenazas que enfrentan para trabajar mejor juntos y encontrar soluciones que les permitan monitorear, vigilar y defender sus territorios frente a amenazas latentes en los bosques ancestrales.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Una historia de monitoreo forestal utilizando datos satelitales</h2>



Con el apoyo de organizaciones como RFUS desde 2016, y organizaciones como la ORAU, las comunidades indígenas en las regiones de Ucayali y Loreto han ido más allá de los métodos tradicionales de monitoreo territorial, desarrollando la capacidad técnica para recolectar y administrar datos por sí mismas. Atrás quedaron los días de depender únicamente de las patrullas físicas y a simple vista; ahora, las imágenes satelitales y los datos casi en tiempo real brindan una imagen completa del estado de sus territorios.



“La tecnología nos permite reafirmar y garantizar nuestros derechos, especialmente en lo que respecta al territorio, para nuestras generaciones futuras”, dice Ranin Koshi.



En 2022, la ORAU creó su Centro de Información Satelital “Imenko Tsiroti” (CISIT) para abordar la deforestación y las amenazas en territorios comunales con el apoyo de la RFUS y atender la demanda de información cartográfica y satelital de los pueblos indígenas con información para monitoreo, vigilancia y gestión de territorio. Dicho centro procesa datos con información de Global Forest Watch con la gran tarea de monitorear los bosques comunales utilizando tecnología que brinda información en tiempo casi real para prevenir y reducir la deforestación.



Desde el año pasado, la ORAU impulsa la creación de su Red de Monitoreo Regional Indígena de Delitos Ambientales con el CISIT como base y eje principal. Con la asistencia del Proyecto <a href="https://www.usaid.gov/peru/documents/proyecto-prevenir">PREVENIR de USAID</a>, se busca reducir la incidencia de la deforestación y los delitos que afrontan las comunidades nativas, así como la realización de patrullajes estratégicos y minimizar la exposición de los vigilantes, monitores y/o líderes indígenas mediante el análisis de datos satelitales y herramientas tecnológicas.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Un enfoque colaborativo para visualizar datos con MapBuilder</h2>



Para ayudar a avanzar aún más la capacidad de las comunidades indígenas, las organizaciones indígenas identificaron a MapBuilder como una herramienta para que los líderes indígenas ayuden a visualizar los datos geográficos sobre sus territorios y las amenazas que enfrentan en sus discusiones y negociaciones con actores externos (como agencias gubernamentales, organismos de la ONU, donantes y organizaciones de la sociedad civil). <a href="https://mapbuilder.wri.org/">MapBuilder</a> es una herramienta desarrollada por el Data Lab de WRI que permite a los usuarios crear mapas interactivos que combinan datos globales oportunos y confiables, incluidos los datos de GFW, con los datos locales del usuario.



En dos campamentos tecnológicos (Tech Camps) organizados por RFUS en 2023 - una experiencia educativa recíproca diseñada para capacitar a los participantes en el uso de datos y herramientas satelitales, y también para comprender las necesidades de las comunidades y colaborar en qué necesidades pueden abordar los datos y las herramientas - el equipo de GFW capacitó al personal técnico de las organizaciones indígenas para crear sus propios portales geoespaciales en línea.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1_2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-workshop-in-Iquitos-Peru.-Credit-RFUS.jpg" alt="2023 Tech Camp organized by RFUS – workshop in Iquitos, Peru" class="wp-image-17509"/></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2_2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-workshop-in-Iquitos-Peru.-Credit-RFUS.jpg" alt="2023 Tech Camp organized by RFUS – workshop in Iquitos, Peru." class="wp-image-17510"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Campamento Tecnológico 2023 organizado por RFUS - taller en Iquitos, Perú. Crédito: RFUS.</figcaption></figure>



GFW también capacitó a las organizaciones para crear ESRI StoryMaps, que son útiles para resaltar materiales multimedia como testimonios en video, galerías de fotos y mapas narrativos.



Un resultado principal de los Tech Camps fue la creación del portal geoespacial la ORAU utilizando MapBuilder. Esto fue posible gracias a la alianza entre GFW, RFUS, la organización indígena y la donación de software de mapeo y sistemas geoespaciales de ESRI, participando como contribuyentes iguales en un proceso enfocado en el aprendizaje compartido y el beneficio mutuo. Cada colaborador juega un papel importante en este proceso:



GFW y WRI proporcionan datos de monitoreo personalizados, la plantilla MapBuilder y capacitación; RFUS convoca y facilita el espacio de colaboración a través de los Tech Camps además de ofrecer apoyo técnico crucial en campo; y la ORAU, a través del CISIT, proporciona los datos para el portal geoespacial y funciona como el centro de datos para recopilar datos de campo generados por las comunidades indígenas mientras patrullan sus territorios informados por las alertas de deforestación de GFW. Esta colaboración ha avanzado significativamente debido a&nbsp; las donaciones de licencias de software de ESRI, mejorando la capacidad del proyecto para desarrollar y mantener herramientas como MapBuilder.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2023-Tech-Camp-organized-by-RFUS-–-Indigenous-groups-demonstrate-their-maps-in-Pucallpa-Peru.-Credit-RFUS.jpg" alt="2023 Tech Camp organized by RFUS – Indigenous groups demonstrate their maps in Pucallpa, Peru. Credit: RFUS." class="wp-image-17511"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Campamento Tecnológico 2023 organizado por RFUS - Grupos indígenas muestran sus mapas en Pucallpa, Perú. Crédito: RFUS.</figcaption></figure>



Este esfuerzo colectivo, centrado en la exploración y el desarrollo conjuntos, aprovecha la tecnología para integrar directamente el conocimiento y las necesidades de los socios indígenas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Contando la historia de las amenazas forestales</h2>



¿Por qué, entonces, visualizar información en un mapa es tan transformador? La respuesta radica en la capacidad del mapa para contextualizar los datos, creando una narrativa convincente sobre las áreas y comunidades que representa. Un mapa cuenta una historia visual, destacando tendencias y prioridades a través de los datos que hace referencia cruzada. Para las comunidades indígenas, esto significa tener la capacidad de priorizar recursos y esfuerzos en función de datos oportunos y basados ​​en evidencia. Por ejemplo, <a href="https://my.gfw-mapbuilder.org/v1.latest/?appid=867894697a6a4bc68c18a2c4b95ae464">los mapas</a> pueden aprovechar datos de GFW sobre alertas de deforestación e incorporar información local sobre actividades ilegales, lo que a su vez puede ayudar a identificar qué comunidad se beneficiaría más de la capacitación de monitores para detectar la tala ilegal.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://my.gfw-mapbuilder.org/v1.latest/?appid=867894697a6a4bc68c18a2c4b95ae464"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ORAU-mapbuilder-map-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17533"/></a></figure>



Mediante el uso de MapBuilder, los líderes indígenas están creando portales geoespaciales y StoryMaps en línea, haciendo visible la realidad de sus territorios para el mundo. Ofrece una perspectiva sin filtros y de abajo hacia arriba sobre las amenazas que enfrentan estas comunidades y sus esfuerzos para contrarrestarlas.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/24.05.28_MapBuilder-Peru_Insights_ES-1898x2048.png" alt="Cómo las organizaciones indígenas en la Amazonía peruana monitorean y mapean sus territorios" class="wp-image-17527"/></figure>



Con herramientas como MapBuilder, las comunidades indígenas y las organizaciones que las representan controlan la narrativa en función de los datos que recopilan y publican al público.



Este cambio hacia la narración y el monitoreo digitales representa un hito significativo en la protección de sus bosques ancestrales. “Hay deforestación; solo puedo decirlo. Pero ahora, puedo demostrarlo físicamente con la facilidad de la tecnología”, dice Ranin Koshi, y agrega que esta transición de manual a digital es revolucionaria para las comunidades y su liderazgo. MapBuilder les proporciona evidencia innegable de los desafíos que enfrentan, transformando las amenazas abstractas en realidades tangibles que pueden abordarse y sobre las que se puede actuar.



Pero eso no es todo. Con más de 33 líderes asesinados en una década, desde Edwin Chota en 2014 hasta Quinto Inuma en 2023, al agregar la ubicación de las amenazas a los defensores indígenas del medio ambiente, los mapas muestran la convergencia de las amenazas con los factores de deforestación según la evidencia recopilada durante los patrullajes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Escalando la colaboración para proteger los bosques de las comunidades indígenas</h2>



Al integrar los datos de GFW con los datos de campo obtenidos por las comunidades en aplicaciones interactivas, organizaciones como la ORAU fomentan la confianza y fortalecen los esfuerzos de colaboración entre los miembros de la comunidad y las partes interesadas externas. Los portales geoespaciales, desarrollados utilizando la plantilla MapBuilder dentro de ArcGIS Online, facilitan el intercambio fluido de datos ambientales cruciales, adaptados a las necesidades y contextos específicos de cada organización.



Perú es solo el punto de partida, lo que indica el potencial de expansión dentro de la cuenca del Amazonas. Otras comunidades indígenas y locales han comenzado a adoptar tecnologías de monitoreo. Por ejemplo, el Pueblo Sarayaku en Ecuador utiliza tecnología de monitoreo para apoyar la implementación de su plan de manejo territorial, y COCOMASUR protege el territorio de 33 comunidades afrodescendientes en Colombia. A nivel regional, el Sistema de Alerta Temprana y Respuesta Rápida AIDESEP-COICA (SAT/RR-COICA) busca combinar la tecnología de monitoreo con una plataforma y protocolos para responder a las amenazas a los territorios y pueblos indígenas.



El geoportal de la ORAU basado en MapBuilder es más que una simple herramienta de mapeo; es un testimonio del poder de la colaboración entre expertos en tecnología y organizaciones y comunidades indígenas. El uso de MapBuilder en Perú por organizaciones indígenas puede abrir el camino para su adopción en otros lugares, y muestra cómo la tecnología, cuando la moldean las mismas personas a las que pretende servir, puede convertirse en una herramienta poderosa para la preservación de los recursos.



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Las comunidades indígenas de la Amazonía peruana protegen su patrimonio forestal con MapBuilder

Indigenous leaders in Peru are using MapBuilder to manage deforestation data in their territories and defend their ancestral forests.

Indigenous Communities in Peru Protect their Forests with MapBuilder

Brazil

Brazil | Global Forest Watch Blog

A decade ago, the launch of Global Forest Watch (GFW) ushered in a new era of accountability and transparency around monitoring and protecting the world’s forests. To celebrate 10 years of impact, our Voices of Global Forest Watch series will highlight successes of GFW users, partners and community members throughout the year. We invite you to read, watch and share the stories of exceptional leaders in forest monitoring who have played a pivotal role in protecting forests everywhere.



<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IipacbHyMGU?si=O7qrSPWsK16t1gcT" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







“Forest, for me, is life. Forest is water, it’s land, it’s people.” – Vinicius Silgueiro, Territorial Intelligence Coordinator, Instituto Centro de Vida



Vinicius Silgueiro’s story begins with a deep-seated connection to the Brazilian Amazon, inspiring his efforts to protect it through his work at the <a href="https://www.icv.org.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instituto Centro de Vida (ICV)</a>, a nonprofit organization that focuses on sustainable land use and preserving natural resources in the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil, which is known for its rich biodiversity.



“I was born and grew up in an environment with a diversity of vegetation between the Cerrado and the Pantanal biomes, and then I lived in the Amazon. Having a forest is having life,” said Vinicius, who has been working at ICV since he was an intern 14 years ago.



ICV uses GFW’s extensive satellite imagery and deforestation alert capabilities in its environmental protection work.



As a <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/grants-and-fellowships/projects/">Small Grants Fund (SGF)</a> recipient from 2020-2022, ICV helped expand GFW’s use within the Mato Grosso Public Prosecutor’s Office to hold landholders accountable for environmental crimes. ICV trained the prosecutor’s technicians on how to use GFW tools and data to fight illegal deforestation and fires, and helped develop a methodology and process for prosecutors and technical staff to identify and act on illegal deforestation alerts.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1536" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2018_Oficina_mapeamento_castanhais_2-2048x1536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17484" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2018_Oficina_mapeamento_castanhais_2-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2018_Oficina_mapeamento_castanhais_2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2018_Oficina_mapeamento_castanhais_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2018_Oficina_mapeamento_castanhais_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: ICV</figcaption></figure>



ICV also developed a series of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw4SshvYITQ&list=PLH0XsN2wGrLATqJesckApo9S9OHd-1r94">tutorial videos</a> to help prosecutors, technicians, consultants, researchers, academics and others monitor changes in land cover caused by fires and deforestation using GFW.



“We have noticed an increase in environmental inspection efforts both by the public prosecutor’s office and the State Secretariat of the Environment to carry out field inspections and investigate environmental damages and infractions,” said Vinicius.



ICV’s work set a precedent for integrating remote sensing technology in environmental conservation efforts across Mato Grosso. Vinicius believes that involving communities such as Indigenous Peoples in these efforts is crucial for sustainability.



“An essential part of this work is people’s sense of ability [to use forest monitoring tools],” said Vinicius, explaining how ICV has fostered a community-based approach to environmental monitoring, equipping individuals with the tools to gather and report data on forest crimes. “We have more than 40 Indigenous Peoples in [Mato Grosso] today who have the potential to use monitoring tools to monitor their territories and protect them directly.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1371" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2015_mapeamento_participativo_babacuais_2-2048x1371.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17486" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2015_mapeamento_participativo_babacuais_2-2048x1371.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2015_mapeamento_participativo_babacuais_2-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2015_mapeamento_participativo_babacuais_2-768x514.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2015_mapeamento_participativo_babacuais_2-1536x1028.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: ICV</figcaption></figure>



These activities have enabled prosecutors, technicians and the State Secretariat for the Environment to assemble detailed evidence, including geotagged photos and GPS coordinates of illegal activities, which are instrumental in pinpointing and addressing deforestation hotspots. The data collected has significantly enhanced legal enforcement and conservation efforts.



Since 2020, ICV has expanded its use of GFW tools beyond the Amazon to monitor other critical biomes. A <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/environmental-conservation/article/abs/public-prosecutors-offices-experience-using-global-forest-watch-to-monitor-and-deter-deforestation-in-the-cerrado/767687C40EF80993741FB500D52196DB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recently published scientific article</a> addresses the experience and results with the use of GFW by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Mato Grosso to monitor and deter deforestation in the Cerrado biome.



“Biomes such as the Pantanal and the Cerrado do not often have as much visibility as the Amazon, but they are very important to climate and hydrological balance, and house enormous biodiversity,” said Vinicius, explaining that Mato Grosso includes areas of three of Brazil’s six biomes. “A state with all this natural wealth, with a diversity of Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities, as well as a leader in agricultural and livestock productivity, presents itself as an excellent laboratory for finding the sustainability solutions our planet needs.”



<a href="https://www.icv.org.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more about Instituto Centro de Vida here.</a>



You can also follow Instituto Centro de Vida’s work to protect and restore forest landscapes on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/InstitutoCentrodeVida/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/instituto-centro-de-vida/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/institutocentrodevida/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/icvcentrodevida" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter (X)</a>.



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Voices of Global Forest Watch: Vinicius Silgueiro, Instituto Centro de Vida

A decade ago, the launch of Global Forest Watch (GFW) ushered in a new era of accountability and transparency around monitoring and protecting the world’s forests. To celebrate 10 years of impact, our Voices of Global Forest Watch series will highlight successes of GFW users, partners and community members throughout the year. We invite you to read, watch and share the stories of exceptional leaders in forest monitoring who have played a pivotal role in protecting forests everywhere.



<iframe width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IipacbHyMGU?si=O7qrSPWsK16t1gcT" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







“Forest, for me, is life. Forest is water, it's land, it's people.” - Vinicius Silgueiro, Territorial Intelligence Coordinator, Instituto Centro de Vida



Vinicius Silgueiro's story begins with a deep-seated connection to the Brazilian Amazon, inspiring his efforts to protect it through his work at the <a href="https://www.icv.org.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instituto Centro de Vida (ICV)</a>, a nonprofit organization that focuses on sustainable land use and preserving natural resources in the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil, which is known for its rich biodiversity.



“I was born and grew up in an environment with a diversity of vegetation between the Cerrado and the Pantanal biomes, and then I lived in the Amazon. Having a forest is having life,” said Vinicius, who has been working at ICV since he was an intern 14 years ago.



ICV uses GFW’s extensive satellite imagery and deforestation alert capabilities in its environmental protection work.



As a <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/grants-and-fellowships/projects/">Small Grants Fund (SGF)</a> recipient from 2020-2022, ICV helped expand GFW’s use within the Mato Grosso Public Prosecutor’s Office to hold landholders accountable for environmental crimes. ICV trained the prosecutor’s technicians on how to use GFW tools and data to fight illegal deforestation and fires, and helped develop a methodology and process for prosecutors and technical staff to identify and act on illegal deforestation alerts.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2018_Oficina_mapeamento_castanhais_2-2048x1536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17484"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: ICV</figcaption></figure>



ICV also developed a series of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw4SshvYITQ&amp;list=PLH0XsN2wGrLATqJesckApo9S9OHd-1r94">tutorial videos</a> to help prosecutors, technicians, consultants, researchers, academics and others monitor changes in land cover caused by fires and deforestation using GFW.



“We have noticed an increase in environmental inspection efforts both by the public prosecutor’s office and the State Secretariat of the Environment to carry out field inspections and investigate environmental damages and infractions,” said Vinicius.



ICV’s work set a precedent for integrating remote sensing technology in environmental conservation efforts across Mato Grosso. Vinicius believes that involving communities such as Indigenous Peoples in these efforts is crucial for sustainability.



"An essential part of this work is people’s sense of ability [to use forest monitoring tools]," said Vinicius, explaining how ICV has fostered a community-based approach to environmental monitoring, equipping individuals with the tools to gather and report data on forest crimes. “We have more than 40 Indigenous Peoples in [Mato Grosso] today who have the potential to use monitoring tools to monitor their territories and protect them directly.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2015_mapeamento_participativo_babacuais_2-2048x1371.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17486"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: ICV</figcaption></figure>



These activities have enabled prosecutors, technicians and the State Secretariat for the Environment to assemble detailed evidence, including geotagged photos and GPS coordinates of illegal activities, which are instrumental in pinpointing and addressing deforestation hotspots. The data collected has significantly enhanced legal enforcement and conservation efforts.



Since 2020, ICV has expanded its use of GFW tools beyond the Amazon to monitor other critical biomes. A <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/environmental-conservation/article/abs/public-prosecutors-offices-experience-using-global-forest-watch-to-monitor-and-deter-deforestation-in-the-cerrado/767687C40EF80993741FB500D52196DB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recently published scientific article</a> addresses the experience and results with the use of GFW by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Mato Grosso to monitor and deter deforestation in the Cerrado biome.



“Biomes such as the Pantanal and the Cerrado do not often have as much visibility as the Amazon, but they are very important to climate and hydrological balance, and house enormous biodiversity,” said Vinicius, explaining that Mato Grosso includes areas of three of Brazil’s six biomes. “A state with all this natural wealth, with a diversity of Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities, as well as a leader in agricultural and livestock productivity, presents itself as an excellent laboratory for finding the sustainability solutions our planet needs.”



<a href="https://www.icv.org.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more about Instituto Centro de Vida here.</a>



You can also follow Instituto Centro de Vida’s work to protect and restore forest landscapes on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/InstitutoCentrodeVida/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/instituto-centro-de-vida/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/institutocentrodevida/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/icvcentrodevida" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter (X)</a>.



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Há uma década, o lançamento do Global Forest Watch (GFW) inaugurou uma nova era de responsabilização e transparência sobre o monitoramento e proteção das florestas globais. Para celebrar esses 10 anos de impacto, nossa série Voices of Global Forest Watch destacará os casos de sucessos dos usuários, parceiros e membros da comunidade do GFW ao longo do ano. Nós convidamos você a ler, ver e compartilhar as histórias de líderes excepcionais no monitoramento que desempenharam um papel fundamental na proteção das florestas em todo o mundo.



<iframe width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IipacbHyMGU?si=O7qrSPWsK16t1gcT" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







“Floresta, para mim, é vida. Floresta é água, é terra, são as pessoas.” - Vinicius Silgueiro, Coordenador de Inteligência Territorial, Instituto Centro de Vida



A história de Vinicius Silgueiro começa com uma conexão profunda com a Amazônia brasileira, inspirando seus esforços para protegê-la por meio de seu trabalho no <a href="https://www.icv.org.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instituto Centro de Vida (ICV)</a>, uma organização sem fins lucrativos que se concentra no uso sustentável da terra e na preservação dos recursos naturais no estado de Mato Grosso, que é conhecido por sua rica biodiversidade.



“Nasci e cresci em um ambiente com uma diversidade de vegetação entre os biomas Cerrado e Pantanal, e depois vim morar na Amazônia. Ter floresta é ter vida”, disse Vinicius, que trabalha no ICV desde que era estagiário, há 14 anos.



O ICV utiliza as extensas imagens de satélite e capacidades de alerta de desmatamento do GFW em seu trabalho de proteção ambiental.



Como beneficiário do <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/grants-and-fellowships/projects/">Small Grants Fund (SGF)</a> de 2020 a 2022, o ICV ajudou a expandir o uso do GFW no Ministério Público de Mato Grosso para responsabilizar os proprietários de terras por crimes ambientais. O ICV treinoutécnicos do Ministério Público sobre como usar as ferramentas e dados do GFW para combater o desmatamento ilegal e os incêndios, e ajudou a desenvolver uma metodologia e um processo para que os promotores e a equipe técnica identifiquem e ajam em caso de alertas de desmatamento ilegal.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2018_Oficina_mapeamento_castanhais_2-1-2048x1536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17488"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: ICV</figcaption></figure>



O ICV também desenvolveu uma série de vídeos tutoriais para ajudar promotores, técnicos, consultores, pesquisadores, acadêmicos e outros a monitorar as mudanças na cobertura da terra causadas por incêndios e desmatamento, usando o GFW.



“Percebemos um aumento nos esforços de fiscalização ambiental, tanto do Ministério Público quanto da Secretaria de Estado do Meio Ambiente, para realizar fiscalizações em campo e apurar danos e infrações ambientais”, disse Vinicius.



O trabalho do ICV abriu um precedente para a integração da tecnologia de sensoriamento remoto nos esforços de conservação ambiental em Mato Grosso. Vinicius acredita que envolver comunidades como os Povos Indígenas nesses esforços é crucial para a sustentabilidade.



“Uma parte essencial deste trabalho é o sentido de capacidade das pessoas [para usar ferramentas de monitoramento]”, disse Vinicius, explicando como o ICV promoveu uma abordagem comunitária para o monitoramento ambiental, equipando os indivíduos com as ferramentas para recolher e reportar dados sobre crimes contra a floresta. “Temos hoje mais de 40 Povos Indígenas em [Mato Grosso] que têm o potencial para usar ferramentas de monitoramento para monitorar seus territórios e protegê-los diretamente.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2015_mapeamento_participativo_babacuais_2-1-2048x1371.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17490"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: ICV</figcaption></figure>



Estas atividades permitiram que promotores, técnicos e a Secretaria de Estado do Meio Ambiente reunissem evidências detalhadas, incluindo fotos georreferenciadas e coordenadas geográficas de atividades ilegais, que são fundamentais para identificar e abordar focos de desmatamento. Os dados recolhidos melhoraram significativamente a aplicação da lei e os esforços de conservação.



Desde 2020, o ICV expandiu o uso das ferramentas do GFW para além da Amazônia para monitorar outros biomas críticos. Um <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/environmental-conservation/article/abs/public-prosecutors-offices-experience-using-global-forest-watch-to-monitor-and-deter-deforestation-in-the-cerrado/767687C40EF80993741FB500D52196DB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artigo científico publicado recentemente</a> aborda a experiência e resultados com o uso do GFW pelo MPMT para monitorar e deter o desmatamento no bioma Cerrado.



“Biomas como o Pantanal e o Cerrado nem sempre têm tanta visibilidade quanto a Amazônia, mas são muito importantes para o equilíbrio climático e hidrológico e abrigam uma enorme biodiversidade”, disse Vinicius, explicando que Mato Grosso inclui áreas de três dos seis biomas do Brasil.“Um estado com toda essa riqueza natural, com diversidade de Povos Indígenas e comunidades tradicionais, além de líder em produtividade agrícola e pecuária, apresenta-se como um excelente laboratório para encontrar as soluções de sustentabilidade que nosso planeta necessita.”



<a href="https://www.icv.org.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saiba mais sobre o Instituto Centro de Vida aqui.</a>



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Vozes do Global Forest Watch: Vinicius Silgueiro, Instituto Centro de Vida

As part of our Voices of Global Forest Watch series, learn about Vinicius Silgueiro's work with Brazilian nonprofit Instituto Centro de Vida.

Voices of GFW: Vinicius Silgueiro, Instituto Centro de Vida

restoration

restoration | Global Forest Watch Blog

A decade ago, the launch of Global Forest Watch (GFW) ushered in a new era of accountability and transparency around monitoring and protecting the world’s forests. To celebrate 10 years of impact, our Voices of Global Forest Watch series will highlight successes of GFW users, partners and community members throughout the year. We invite you to read, watch and share the stories of exceptional leaders in forest monitoring who have played a pivotal role in protecting forests everywhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qbCzN9S6iCQ?si=7bfjPsSX-rJt3mGf" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







“We believe at Hen Mpoano that conservation without livelihood is a mere conversation.” – Justice Camillus Mensah, Project Manager at Hen Mpoano.&nbsp;



<a href="https://henmpoano.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hen Mpoano</a>, a two-time recipient of GFW’s <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/grants-and-fellowships/projects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Small Grants Fund</a> (SGF), is a nonprofit organization based in Ghana working to protect and restore the Takoradi Forest District in southwestern Ghana, home to two important reserves: Cape Three Points Forest Reserve and Subri River Forest Reserve, which is the largest forest reserve in the country and is designated as a Global Significant Biodiversity Area.&nbsp;



“My passion for forests is from growing up along the coasts and being exposed to mangrove exploitation. But when I got to know the importance of mangroves, I decided to use technology that I love to protect mangroves and any other coastal resource, including the coastal terrestrial forests,” said Justice. “Forest is life. I keep telling the people that indeed when the last tree dies, the last man will also die.”&nbsp;



Justice was able to channel his passion into working with Hen Mpoano in 2013. Over the past decade, he has contributed immensely to ongoing campaigns for coastal ecosystem conservation in Ghana and other African countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;



During Hen Mpoano’s SGF projects, they worked to strengthen effective forest law compliance and enforcement, including pro-conservation action among forest fringing communities — all of which has been effective in reducing deforestation.&nbsp;&nbsp;



According to Justice, forest law enforcement in Ghana is almost impossible without community involvement.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1365" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_1530-2048x1365.jpg" alt="Community members training to use GFW tools" class="wp-image-17227" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_1530-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_1530-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_1530-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_1530-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: Hen Mpoano</figcaption></figure>



“We use a community-based approach to forest monitoring and protection. Members from forest fringing communities have been resourced through hands-on training on Global Forest Watch data and tools, in combination with other tools, to collect data on a regular basis,” said Justice.&nbsp;&nbsp;



With smart phones and GPS devices, the community forest monitoring teams collect evidence of forest crimes such as GPS coordinates and geotagged pictures. This data is then used to identify hotspots of forest crimes and used to generate maps using <a href="https://mapbuilder.wri.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MapBuilder</a> and other software. These maps are shared confidentially with the Forest Services Division to help trigger enforcement action and target limited resources to hotspots.&nbsp;&nbsp;



This work also led to an agreement for the Wildlife Division to provide armed staff support for enforcement in the two reserves. Through this joint effort, more than 70 culprits have been arrested for various infractions, particularly illegal mining.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Hen Mpoano now applies GFW tools and data to monitor mangrove and freshwater swamp in a project funded by the U.S. Forest Service&nbsp;—&nbsp;a landscape also undergoing mangrove restoration through <a href="https://www.africa.terramatch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TerraFund for AFR100</a>. Hen Mpoano’s approach involves not only restoration and planting, but also strengthening conservation efforts in the area by engaging community members to monitor landscape changes using GFW.&nbsp;



Hen Mpoano has faced challenges, particularly with forest patrols where culprits have confronted community monitoring teams, forest officers and even Hen Mpoano staff. However, data and technology such as GFW has helped equip forest monitors with tools to continue their work.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1365" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_8842-2048x1365.jpg" alt="Community member using GFW tools" class="wp-image-17226" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_8842-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_8842-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_8842-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_8842-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: Hen Mpoano</figcaption></figure>



“In my opinion, GFW has cemented the collaborative management approach by providing citizens the tools and skill to be a part of forest protection. The community members feel very much empowered,” said Justice. “If Ghana’s status as the leading country in rainforest loss can be reversed, my team has a great role to play in that process. We will not relent until we see positive change.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



<a href="https://henmpoano.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more about Hen Mpoano here.</a>&nbsp;



If you are interested in supporting Hen Mpoano to continue to expand their work to protect and restore forest landscapes, contact <a href="mailto:info@henmpoano.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">info@henmpoano.org</a>.&nbsp;



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Voices of Global Forest Watch: Justice Camillus Mensah, Hen Mpoano 

A decade ago, the launch of Global Forest Watch (GFW) ushered in a new era of accountability and transparency around monitoring and protecting the world’s forests. To celebrate 10 years of impact, our Voices of Global Forest Watch series will highlight successes of GFW users, partners and community members throughout the year. We invite you to read, watch and share the stories of exceptional leaders in forest monitoring who have played a pivotal role in protecting forests everywhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<iframe width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qbCzN9S6iCQ?si=7bfjPsSX-rJt3mGf" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







“We believe at Hen Mpoano that conservation without livelihood is a mere conversation.” - Justice Camillus Mensah, Project Manager at Hen Mpoano.&nbsp;



<a href="https://henmpoano.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hen Mpoano</a>, a two-time recipient of GFW’s <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/grants-and-fellowships/projects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Small Grants Fund</a> (SGF), is a nonprofit organization based in Ghana working to protect and restore the Takoradi Forest District in southwestern Ghana, home to two important reserves: Cape Three Points Forest Reserve and Subri River Forest Reserve, which is the largest forest reserve in the country and is designated as a Global Significant Biodiversity Area.&nbsp;



“My passion for forests is from growing up along the coasts and being exposed to mangrove exploitation. But when I got to know the importance of mangroves, I decided to use technology that I love to protect mangroves and any other coastal resource, including the coastal terrestrial forests,” said Justice. “Forest is life. I keep telling the people that indeed when the last tree dies, the last man will also die.”&nbsp;



Justice was able to channel his passion into working with Hen Mpoano in 2013. Over the past decade, he has contributed immensely to ongoing campaigns for coastal ecosystem conservation in Ghana and other African countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;



During Hen Mpoano’s SGF projects, they worked to strengthen effective forest law compliance and enforcement, including pro-conservation action among forest fringing communities — all of which has been effective in reducing deforestation.&nbsp;&nbsp;



According to Justice, forest law enforcement in Ghana is almost impossible without community involvement.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_1530-2048x1365.jpg" alt="Community members training to use GFW tools" class="wp-image-17227"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: Hen Mpoano</figcaption></figure>



“We use a community-based approach to forest monitoring and protection. Members from forest fringing communities have been resourced through hands-on training on Global Forest Watch data and tools, in combination with other tools, to collect data on a regular basis,” said Justice.&nbsp;&nbsp;



With smart phones and GPS devices, the community forest monitoring teams collect evidence of forest crimes such as GPS coordinates and geotagged pictures. This data is then used to identify hotspots of forest crimes and used to generate maps using <a href="https://mapbuilder.wri.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MapBuilder</a> and other software. These maps are shared confidentially with the Forest Services Division to help trigger enforcement action and target limited resources to hotspots.&nbsp;&nbsp;



This work also led to an agreement for the Wildlife Division to provide armed staff support for enforcement in the two reserves. Through this joint effort, more than 70 culprits have been arrested for various infractions, particularly illegal mining.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Hen Mpoano now applies GFW tools and data to monitor mangrove and freshwater swamp in a project funded by the U.S. Forest Service&nbsp;—&nbsp;a landscape also undergoing mangrove restoration through <a href="https://www.africa.terramatch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TerraFund for AFR100</a>. Hen Mpoano’s approach involves not only restoration and planting, but also strengthening conservation efforts in the area by engaging community members to monitor landscape changes using GFW.&nbsp;



Hen Mpoano has faced challenges, particularly with forest patrols where culprits have confronted community monitoring teams, forest officers and even Hen Mpoano staff. However, data and technology such as GFW has helped equip forest monitors with tools to continue their work.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_8842-2048x1365.jpg" alt="Community member using GFW tools" class="wp-image-17226"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: Hen Mpoano</figcaption></figure>



“In my opinion, GFW has cemented the collaborative management approach by providing citizens the tools and skill to be a part of forest protection. The community members feel very much empowered,” said Justice. “If Ghana’s status as the leading country in rainforest loss can be reversed, my team has a great role to play in that process. We will not relent until we see positive change.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



<a href="https://henmpoano.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more about Hen Mpoano here.</a>&nbsp;



If you are interested in supporting Hen Mpoano to continue to expand their work to protect and restore forest landscapes, contact <a href="mailto:info@henmpoano.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">info@henmpoano.org</a>.&nbsp;



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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