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Special Focus: Amazonia

Firecast
Firecast is a forest and fire monitoring and alert system for the tropics

MADAGASCAR FIRES © NASA’s MODIS Rapid Response Team

Firecast uses satellite observations to track fires and forest disturbances, delivering time-sensitive information to decision-makers through email alerts and SMS messaging.

Satellite-based fire locations provide intelligence to help technicians on the ground contain agricultural fires that can burn out of control and degrade nearby forests. 2015 © Flavio Forner

We aim to improve access and interpretability of satellite monitoring data to support on-the-ground decisions ranging from fire management and prevention to enforcing land-use policies. Near real-time monitoring from Firecast also provides invaluable information on ecosystem trends to support strategic land-use policies and conservation interventions.
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Satellite-based fire detections provide near real-time location information to help technicians on the ground contain agricultural fires that can burn out of control and degrade nearby forests.

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The fire data are used in awareness campaigns conducted with groups of farmers that we support, and we find them very useful, especially in our area of intervention, in this case the protection of forests, the environment in general and the management of natural resources.

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- Fire Alert Subscriber

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We mainly use this data for the operation of the control system for monitoring the protected area that we manage.

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- Fire Alert Subscriber

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These data are used to monitor outreach activities carried out by the fire brigade officers and to provide warnings to fire brigades for fires larger areas, and awareness of common strategies and focus areas for advocacy.

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- Fire Alert Subscriber

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...the Chef de Triage of the forest service ...[in Mandrare valley Madagascar] had been using the [fire incidence] maps to help him in collecting fines for illegal fires.

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- Fire Alert Subscriber

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©FAN

We partner with local organizations to support in-country monitoring capabilities to meet the needs of local users. The national conservation organization Fundaҫion Amigos de la Naturaleza (FAN) in Bolivia operates a national fire monitoring system and provides specialized education & outreach for improved fire management with Indigenous and Mennonite communities in Santa Cruz.

Photo by John Musinsky

Park officials for the Gunung Leuser National Park in Indonesia use active fire alerts for targeted patrolling of the 3,061 sq miles (7,927 km²) park. Hundreds of arrests of encroachers conducting illegal activities are made each year.

Photo by John Musinsky

A district officer is analyzing four months of fire activity in the Alaotra-Mangoro region of Madagascar. CI engages key institutions responsible for in-country monitoring and managing of national parks.