Indigenous Monitoring of Illegal Logging in Brazilian Amazon Hero Image

Indigenous Monitoring of Illegal Logging in Brazilian Amazon

Winter 2017 • Brazilian Amazon Region


Rainforest Connection has been testing a new listening technology in forests in Asia, Africa and South America over the past few years, and is now ready to start using it to help the Tembe tribe in Northern Brazil to monitor illegal logging activity in their rainforest. The technology, adapted from recycled cellphones, will help rangers detect the sounds of chainsaws and heavy machinery used to clear forest and allow them to track down illegal loggers. The tribe will generate carbon credits by preventing deforestation, which they will use to invest in health and education.

Other tribes are already expressing interest in using the technology, and it is hoped that this can be a model and practical technology for other indigenous people who want to protect their lands. Indigenous forests are some of the richest and rarest biodiversity hotspots in the world.

Following the launch of the listening technology in the Tembe rainforst, Rainforest Connection plans to convene a group of investors to generate financial support for the widespread adoption of the technology in forests around the world.

Rainforest Connection will use the technology in the future to provide real time information for cloud monitoring of global forests that can be used by global conservation organizations and accessed by anyone in the world.

Draper Richards and the Goldman Foundation have provided early support to the organizational development of Rainforest Connection. Blackstone Ranch Institute provided a grant to help with the initial implementation of the listening technology on the Tembe rainforest.

Rainforest Connection

Rainforest Connection has been testing a new way of monitoring illegal logging activity in forests in Asia, Africa and South America. It transforms recycled cellphones into autonomous, solar powered listening...

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