Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) has completed the estimate of Amazon deforestation for 2010-2011, which was calculated by the Amazon Deforestation Monitoring Project (Projeto de Monitoramento do Desflorestamento na Amazônia Legal – PRODES). Analyzing 96 satellite pictures that correspond to 90% of deforestation observed last year, experts found out an estimated area of 6.238 km².
The margin of error for this measurement is about 10%. PRODES recognize as deforestation, areas larger than 6.25 ha that have been cleared.
The estimate of deforestation rate from August 2010 to July 2011 indicates a reduction of 11% over the same period between 2009 and 2010. It is the lowest rate estimated by INPE since 1988, when the Institute began the annual deforestation surveys.
The numbers were presented in Brasília latest Monday, Dec.05, by INPE’s General Director Gilberto Câmara, during a meeting with the Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Aloizio Mercadante and Minister of Environment, Izabela Teixeira. Check here for INPE’s Director Presentation.
This estimated rate will be complemented by the analysis of other 117 images, necessary to cover the whole area of Amazon rainforest. The final result will be released in April 2012.
PRODES is one of the Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation actions in the Plan for Prevention and Control of Amazon Deforestation (PPCDAM) and has been recognized as a fundamental contribution to PPCDAM goals achievement due its agility and transparency in the dissemination of Amazon deforestation data.
Source: Inpe