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Organized Crime in The Amazon: A Growing Threat to the World’s Greatest Tropical Rainforest

Nature crime has long been an overlooked but growing driver of deforestation in the Amazon.

Organized Crime in The Amazon: A Growing Threat to the World’s Greatest Tropical Rainforest | Forest Insights | Global Forest Watch Blog

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Large forest fire to open area for agriculture and cattle ranching in the Amazon rainforest. Credit: Paralaxis / Alamy Stock Photo

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Fires Drove Record-breaking Tropical Forest Loss in 2024

The tropics lost a record-shattering amount of primary rainforest in 2024 driven largely by fires, according to new data from UMD and GFW.

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Global Forest Watch’s 2024 Tree Cover Loss Data Explained

Explicación de los datos de Global Forest Watch sobre la pérdida de cobertura arbórea en 2024

Explication des données du Global Forest Watch sur la perte de la couverture arborée en 2024  

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New data shows alarming increases in primary forest loss in 2024. What does the data measure and how does it compare to other official data?

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Katie Reytar

Jefferson Ferreira-Ferreira

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Miguel Calmon

<p>In 2022, Global Forest Watch (GFW) in partnership with <a href="https://landcarbonlab.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Land & Carbon Lab</a> <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/data-and-tools/new-gfw-tree-cover-gain-net-change-data/">released new tree cover gain data</a> from the University of Maryland that shows <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/tracking-global-tree-cover-gain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">where and how much land has gained tree cover globally</a> between 2000 and 2020. This data set provided much-needed information to complement data on tree cover loss, revealing a more complete picture of forest change dynamics.</p>



<p>We’ve <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/data-and-tools/new-gfw-tree-cover-gain-net-change-data/">now added a new dimension</a> to the gain data showing not just the cumulative change between 2000 and 2020, but also how much tree cover was gained in the intervening five-year periods — 2000-2005, 2005-2010, 2010-2015, and 2015-2020. Data from these intervals provides valuable information on the global trajectory and pace of gain, which can help us better track the extent to which tree cover is coming back. This can include gain resulting from <a href="https://www.wri.org/forest-landscape-restoration-principles" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest landscape restoration</a>, which typically involves a variety of strategic interventions that lead to increased tree cover across the landscape.</p>



<p>While we now have a better global picture of tree cover gain, the data captures a wide variety of forms of tree cover, from industrial scale monoculture of Eucalyptus and oil palm — which are not typically considered forms of restoration — to regenerating natural forests. This means that though the data does include gain resulting from forest landscape restoration, it is difficult to identify or measure the success of restoration investments and interventions using the tree cover gain data alone.</p>



<p>Some contextual data, such as mapped plantations from the <a href="https://www.wri.org/research/spatial-database-planted-trees-sdpt-version-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spatial Database of Planted Trees</a>, can provide additional information that can help users distinguish gain in plantations from more natural forms of tree cover gain. However, local information — such as geographic information on where and what type of restoration activities are taking place — is the most useful for interpreting what is actually occurring in different locations and whether it would count toward <a href="https://research.wri.org/gfr/forest-targets-tracker" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">achieving global targets</a>.</p>



<p>In this blog, we explore a few such examples in Brazil where we see areas of gain, but that represent very different scenarios for what is happening on the ground.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tree cover gain data can capture restoration successes</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Landless Rural Workers Movement supports forest regeneration in Pará State</em></h3>



<p>The Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) is a national social movement in Brazil that focuses on agrarian land reform, seeking to achieve a self-sustainable way of life for rural poor in the country. It is the largest rural network of smallholder farmers in Latin America, supporting more than 450,000 families.</p>



<p>In 2004, MST began occupying the Abril Vermelho settlement in Pará State, an area of 6,668 hectares that had previously been used for oil palm monoculture and belonged to a bankrupt palm oil company. The land was then designated for agrarian reform and became a rural settlement. Today, Abril Vermelho has more than 300 families <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/amazon-restoration-brazil-agrarian-reform-settlements" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dedicated to producing food with sustainable practices</a>.</p>



<p>When MST arrived, the land was degraded including an unbalanced insect population, poor soil quality and deteriorated water springs. MST first planted small crops of beans, corn and manioc. Over the years they experimented with several management practices to improve soil productivity, cope with pests and improve water quality and quantity. The settled families practiced agroecology, an approach focused on the recovery of native vegetation through the elimination of oil palm production areas, allowing the forest to regenerate.</p>



<p>The main practice in the settlement today is agroforestry, where food crops are introduced in the regenerating forests, or native tree species are planted among food crops.</p>



<p>The tree cover gain data captures the successful restoration efforts that resulted from forest regeneration and native tree species planting. The data shows that the landscape of Abril Vermelho gained a total of 1,981 hectares between 2000 and 2020, with the vast majority (89%) of the new tree cover gained between 2000 and 2010, corresponding with when MST began occupying and settling the area.</p>



<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/20025052?163031"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script><noscript><img decoding="async" src="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20025052/thumbnail" width="100%" alt="chart visualization" /></noscript></div>



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<p><em>Blue pixels show the tree cover gain in the Abril Vermelho settlement area.</em></p>



<p>Forest restoration and assisted natural regeneration in the settlement became part of MST’s program “Plant Trees – Produce Healthy Food” launched in 2020, which aims to plant 100 million trees all over the country. Besides being a significant contribution for their agroecology practices, this initiative is a strong contributor to Brazilian restoration goals and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Future updates to the gain data combined with local information will help to visualize and measure the impact of this initiative.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Restoration of ecological corridors gives hope to black lion tamarin population in São Paulo</em></h3>



<p>In the Pontal do Paranapanema region, located in the western corner of São Paulo state between the Parana and Paranapanema Rivers, a project to save the endangered black lion tamarin evolved into a landscape-scale restoration project that has successfully restored thousands of hectares of forest cover to support the lion tamarins’ habitat. Once thought to be extinct, the population of black lion tamarins has recovered significantly, largely due to the landscape-scale restoration in and around the only forests where they are known to exist.</p>



<p><a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.200939" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A combination of factors</a> and collaboration across several sectors led to the successful restoration of the region. These factors included scientists and researchers educating local farmers about conservation and agroforestry, agreements with government to include conservation area in land titles for newly settled farming communities, and coordination among local farmers and researchers to set aside certain areas to create forest corridors that allow the tamarins and other wildlife to move freely between the larger forests of Morro do Diabo State Park and the Mico Leão Preto Ecological Station. Brazil’s forest code, which obligates landowners to reforest riparian areas, created an incentive for reforestation of these corridors, and funding for the restoration activities was secured through dozens of organizations via voluntary carbon markets.</p>



<p>The tree cover gain data shows the results of these efforts for forest recovery. The Pontal do Paranapanema landscape gained a total of 2,476 hectares of tree cover between 2000 and 2020 with nearly three-quarters of that gain occurring after 2010, which reflects the dedicated efforts of the community to reforest the ecological corridors that began in 2012.</p>



<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/20025099?163031"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script><noscript><img decoding="async" src="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20025099/thumbnail" width="100%" alt="chart visualization" /></noscript></div>



<p>The tree cover gain data also shows the results of restoration across the ecological corridors connecting the Morro do Diabo State Park to the Mico Leão Preto Ecological Station.</p>



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<p><em>Blue pixels show the tree cover gain in forested corridors between the forests of Morro do Diabo State Park, the Mico Leão Preto Ecological Station, other patch forest and the Paranapanema River.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Not all tree cover gain is restoration</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Production forests dominate the landscape in Southern Bahia state</em></h3>



<p>Southern Bahia in eastern Brazil is known for its diverse ecosystems and agricultural practices. Though one of the main agricultural activities, growing cacao, uses agroforestry systems, the region has also been a significant hub for cultivating eucalyptus over the past few decades. Eucalyptus is a non-native species that is used in manufacturing pulp and paper as well as various other uses like energy.</p>



<p>Historically, companies were drawn to the region due to the availability of large, inexpensive tracts of land that were ideal for mechanized practices. The favorable climate and soil conditions supported the rapid growth of tree species like eucalyptus and pine. Additionally, government policies, including fiscal incentives and investments from the National Social and Economic Development Bank (BNDES), further encouraged the expansion of tree plantations. Many of these plantations were established on previously degraded lands implementing ecological zoning systems to ensure ecosystems protection, promoting ecological restoration and native species in a “mosaic approach,” and adopting sustainable forestry practices, such as reduced-impact logging and maintaining buffer zones around water bodies to prevent soil erosion and protect water quality.</p>



<p>This has attracted large companies to grow and harvest eucalyptus, resulting in high eucalyptus production. Due to the expansion of eucalyptus and native species, the Southern Bahia region gained 220,100 hectares of tree cover between 2000 and 2020, which translates to a more than 5% increase in tree cover.</p>



<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/20023118?163031"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script><noscript><img decoding="async" src="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20023118/thumbnail" width="100%" alt="chart visualization" /></noscript></div>



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<p><em>In Bahia state, tree cover gain is widespread, but represents a large network of eucalyptus plantations and monoculture, which is typically not considered restoration.</em></p>



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<p><em>Detailed view of eucalyptus plantations in Nova Viçosa, Bahia, Brazil.</em></p>



<p>Despite the increase in tree cover captured by the tree cover gain data, these plantations are not typically considered restoration. This is because plantations, especially those involving non-native species, do not restore the original biodiversity and ecological functions of the native ecosystems they replace. While they may contribute to carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services, they are not considered true ecological restoration.</p>



<p>In the case of Southern Bahia, the consolidation of land ownership by the companies cultivating eucalyptus has caused conflict with local organizations and communities due to impact on the landscape, among other issues. An initiative was established in 2005 that led to a national Forest Dialogue and regional forums to promote collaborative efforts to minimize the environmental impacts of eucalyptus plantations. Now, a program led by the Forest Dialogue has assigned several locations as conservation areas, and the companies are enacting restoration programs and initiatives to form ecological corridors.</p>



<p>Future data will reveal whether the region continues to gain tree cover. However, more localized information will be necessary to determine how much of this gain can be attributed to the restoration efforts led by those companies and how much is due to plantations. As a start, we know that there are 19,300 hectares of restoration reported in the Bahia state in the Brazilian Restoration and Reforestation Observatory, although the amount of reported restoration is known to be underrepresented.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What does this mean for using the tree cover gain data?</h2>



<p>The new data on tree cover gain represents a significant step forward in understanding the dynamics of forest change from space, and as the best-available global data, significantly expands the scale at which we can view such changes. Being able to see this gain in five-year intervals, instead of just as one 20-year cumulative sum, provides important detail on the timing of when new tree cover was established and the trajectory, which are important for monitoring efforts and tracking restoration targets over time. Additionally, when combined with data on tree cover loss, it provides the missing piece on calculating net tree cover change.</p>



<p>However, there are limitations in how this data can be used. Satellites can more easily capture taller trees with at least 10% canopy cover — which means that newly sprouting growth is seldom counted. Furthermore, even though the new five-year periods provide a more complete picture of gain, there is still a lag time between when tree growth begins and when it can be detected.</p>



<p>The Bonn Challenge, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and other major global initiatives have helped national governments and other communities to set priorities and channel investments toward restoration, but global data on tree cover gain or other types of land cover change alone can’t measure their success. Detailed landscape restoration plans, as well as georeferenced information on local projects and investments, are still important for understanding the scope and scale of restoration success.</p>



<p>For example, the <a href="https://www.africa.terramatch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TerraFund for AFR100</a> initiative, which channels funding to restoration projects in Africa, has developed a <a href="https://terramatchsupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/21178354112539-The-TerraFund-Monitoring-Reporting-and-Verification-Framework" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification Framework</a> that outlines a clear set of indicators and standards for how to measure and report information on restoration progress, integrating both field-based and satellite-based sources of data.</p>



<p>Further advancements to the tree cover gain data will continue to improve its usefulness. For example, dedicated research to differentiate natural tree cover gain from industrial or plantation-based gain has <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-022-00904-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">been successfully applied</a> to a prior version of tree cover gain data, with plans to expand this research to the 20-year gain data shortly. But in addition to improving global data, tying local information on actions to the global data on change will continue to be critical for monitoring restoration at scale, and having confidence that we are achieving our goals to restore degraded landscapes.</p>



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What can Tree Cover Gain Data Tell Us About Restoration? Perspectives from Brazil

O que os dados de ganho de cobertura arbórea podem nos dizer sobre restauração? Perspectivas do Brasil

This blog explores case studies in Brazil where we see tree cover gain, but that are not always restoration.

What can Tree Cover Gain Data Tell Us About Restoration? Brazil Case Studies

Users In Action

Hear stories from the forest defenders working in the field.

Users In Action | Global Forest Watch Blog

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Isabela Barriga

Inge Snip

<p><em>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 <strong>Voices of Global Forest Watch series</strong> 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.</em></p>



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<p></p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



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



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



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

<p><em>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 <strong>Voices of Global Forest Watch series</strong> 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.</em></p>



<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>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>"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.”</p>



<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



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



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



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

 

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<p><em>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 <strong>série Voices of Global Forest Watch</strong> 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.</em></p>



<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>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



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



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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

overview of a river in Pantanal, Brazil

deforestation

deforestation | Global Forest Watch Blog

Mikaela Weisse

Tropical Forest Loss Drops Steeply in Brazil and Colombia, but High Rates Persist Overall