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New technologies are providing unprecedented capabilities for combating deforestation around the globe, particularly in tropical forests.

Why it matters: The technologies, which are made possible by advances in Earth observing satellites and artificial intelligence techniques, are in the spotlight as global biodiversity treaty talks take place in Cali, Colombia.

  • They are aimed at monitoring and providing actionable intelligence for governments, activists and nonprofits to protect the forests that act as major carbon sinks.

Zoom in: The newest developments come from the nonprofit forest carbon tracking group CTrees, as well as the satellite company Planet Labs PBC.

  • CTrees built an AI-driven platform to monitor forest degradation, which refers to the loss of trees, carbon and other ecosystem benefits. These lands have not been clear-cut, however.
  • Degradation can result from a variety of human activities ranging from logging to construction of roadways into intact forests, or development at the edges of tropical forests that chip away at the total area.

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