How to See (and Stop) Deforestation from Space | Tasso Azevedo | TED

Overview

This talk explores the devastating impact of deforestation in tropical forests, particularly in the Amazon, and highlights how innovative mapping technologies developed by MapBiomas are transforming the fight against illegal deforestation. By leveraging satellite imagery, machine learning, and collaborative networks, these tools are enabling accountability, legal action, and sustainable practices on a global scale.

Notable Quotes

- Tropical forests are like the lungs of the Earth. When we cut them down, they exhale the carbon stored for decades and stop cooling the planet. – Tasso Azevedo, on the critical role of forests in climate regulation.

- In 2018, all environmental agencies in Brazil produced less than 1,000 reports on deforestation. Last year, MapBiomas produced 2,000 reports per week. – Tasso Azevedo, on the power of technology to scale environmental monitoring.

- We aim to exchange the sounds of destruction with the sounds of life. – Tasso Azevedo, on the vision for restoring tropical forests.

🌳 The Scale and Impact of Deforestation

- Nearly 20 trees are cut down every second in the Amazon, contributing to Brazil's position as the fifth-largest greenhouse gas emitter.

- Unlike other top emitters, 75% of Brazil's emissions stem from land use changes, primarily deforestation.

- Forest loss disrupts the planet's cooling system by releasing stored carbon and halting evapotranspiration.

🛰️ Mapping Technology as a Game-Changer

- MapBiomas uses satellite imagery and machine learning to create detailed, time-series maps of land use changes since 1985.

- These maps classify land into categories like forests, croplands, urban areas, and water, enabling precise tracking of deforestation.

- The technology allows for the production of 40 years of maps in just six months, covering 9.6 billion pixels across Brazil.

⚖️ Accountability and Legal Action

- High-resolution satellite data is cross-referenced with land registries and protected area catalogs to identify illegal deforestation.

- Detailed reports generated by MapBiomas are admissible in court, increasing enforcement actions against illegal activities from 5% to 54% between 2019 and 2024.

- Brazilian banks have denied $1.5 billion in financing to farms linked to deforestation, redirecting funds to sustainable operations.

💰 Broader Applications and Global Impact

- MapBiomas data is used in diverse areas, including disease prevention, water regulation, climate impact assessments, and Indigenous land protection.

- In 2023, the Brazilian government used MapBiomas to locate 3,000 illegal airstrips, aiding in the removal of 30,000 gold miners from Indigenous lands.

- The collaborative MapBiomas network spans over 100 organizations and aims to cover 70% of the world's tropical forests by 2030.

🌍 A Vision for the Future

- The ultimate goal is to empower every tropical country with the tools to produce actionable maps locally.

- By fostering transparency and collaboration, the initiative seeks to reverse deforestation trends and restore ecosystems globally.