Monitoring Forest Dynamics from Space to Enable Sustainable Livelihoods and Biodiversity Conservation in the Amazon (TerraBio)

The Monitoring Forest Dynamics to Enable Biodiversity Conservation in the Amazon service contributed to the development of the TerraBio tool, which is an assessment approach within the Catalyzing and Learning through Private Sector Engagement for Biodiversity Conservation (CAL-PSE) program, a strategic partnership between USAID/Brazil and the Alliance Bioversity and CIAT. The TerraBio tool estimates the environmental impacts associated with the implementation of sustainable practices, generates high-resolution land cover/land use maps, and analyzes high-precision species-presence information. 

SERVIR Amazonia supported the development of the conceptual and methodological framework for TerraBio’s remote sensing and biodiversity components: 

1. the use of customized remote sensing algorithms to detect: forest loss, forest degradation, forest regeneration, reforestation/afforestation, and the identification of a variety of Amazon-based agricultural and agroforestry land use systems; and
2. the collection of soil samples for DNA analysis to monitor the community of species present in different land cover/land use areas to measure the change in species composition and richness following intervention activities.

Rationale

Private sector investments and collective action can support sustainable development. They can generate economic opportunities meant to strengthen the sustainable production and commercialization of local products, giving economic value to activities that conserve healthy forests, habitats, and natural resources. Over time, preference for sustainable livelihoods and products is expected to displace the products that lead to deforestation and biodiversity loss. This service was intended to provide evidence that sustainable business models and activities fostered by the private sector could improve biodiversity conservation in the Amazon Region.