Launched in October 2020, the NICFI Satellite Data Program provides free access to high-resolution satellite images of the global tropics to anyone, anywhere, to monitor tropical deforestation.
Airbus is proud to participate in this program and delivers millions of km² of SPOT 5 and SPOT 6/7 high resolution imagery: those data precisely describe natural forests over 20 years, and help NICFI users to focus on areas that matter most.
Below are some examples of concrete deforested areas visualized on SPOT 5 and SPOT 6/7 images.
Deforestation in Ecuador
The use of SPOT archive satellite imagery allows users of the NICFI (Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative) Satellite Data Program project to report on forestry policies.
This SPOT 5 image from 2007 and SPOT 6 image from 2013 shows the progression of deforestation on the northern shore of Colombia, around the Rancheria River (which forms the border between Columbia and Ecuador), whilst in southern Ecuador the forest remains unexploited.
SPOT5 - 2007
SPOT6 - 2013
Ecuador
30 years of SPOT 1 to 5 historical archive imagery
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SPOT World Heritage
30 years of SPOT 1 to 5 extensive historical archive imagery to help monitor deforestation
Airbus, the former exclusive commercial operator of SPOT 1-5 data under Spot Image company, is proud to keep supporting the French Space Agency CNES to promote unrivalled archive depth spanning a 30-year period from 1986 to 2015!
This SPOT World Heritage archive represents about 68 billion km² covering the whole world ranging from in 5m to 20m resolution. Combined with the most recent SPOT 6/7 data and most detailed and accurate Pléiades or Pléiades Neo imagery, this imagery will help any users understand precisely what happened in the past and analyse more current changes.
Have a look at the amazing series of images over a deforested area in the Paraná state in Brazil.
Airbus welcomed NICFI and its partners
The Norvegian ministry for Climate and Environment, KSAT and Planet gathered at the Airbus office for the 2nd yearly meeting of the Satellite Data Program
In 2020, the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) awarded KSAT and its partners, Planet and Airbus with a multi-year contract to provide an unprecedented volume of satellite data free of charge for anyone wishing to use it to help reduce and reverse tropical forest loss.
Two years later, Airbus is proud to welcome the NICFI Satellite Data Program partners, KSAT, Planet and the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment!
This 2-day meeting was the opportunity to share the program activities from the past year, highlight some concrete use cases and discuss initiatives, which are locally developed to tackle deforestation in tropical areas and finally, look at the future of the program!
Last week, Airbus delivered 2.87 million km² of SPOT 6/7 imagery to feed the NICFI Satellite Data Program
Those high resolution imagery will allow level 2 users to carry out their projects to tackle deforestation and help them to focus on areas that matter most.
Spanning over 19 countries, those SPOT 6/7 high resolution imagery from the #NICFISatelliteDataProgram are unfortunately showing huge impact of deforestation on tropical forests.
Other historical satellite data shows that deforested areas started to appear on those precise areas in Brazil, Peru and Bolivia 25 years ago… Despite efforts made in several countries to reduce deforestation, more has still to be done…and time is running.
Airbus, KSAT and Planet have joined forces to protect the world’s tropical forest. Do you also wish to be part of this global movement?
Learn more about the NICFI Satellite Data Program and join the program!
#SPOT6/7Imagery #NICFISatelliteDataProgram #EarthObservation #Sustainability
Bolivia - SPOT 6 dated 07/09/2013
Brazil & Peru - SPOT 6 dated 16/08/2013
Deforestation in Colombia
The use of archive satellite images allows users of the NICFI project (Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative) to report on the means implemented to reach forest areas.
Deforestation takes place by the Mecaya, located in Colombia. The analysis of SPOT 5 imagery from 2007 and SPOT 6 imagery from 2013 shows the progression of deforestation by small patches in clusters from the river.
SPOT5 - 2007
SPOT6 - 2013
Rio Mecaya Columbia
Gold mining in Ecuador
Did you know that gold mining is one of the most destructive activities that contributes to forest degradation?
The NICFI data program, as well as the current MAAP initiative, demonstrates how powerful high resolution satellite imagery can be when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable environments.
The demand for jewelry accounts for nearly 40% of mine production and most of us don't really know where the gold in our products comes from or how it is mined. Unfortunately gold mining is one of most destructive activities that contributes to forest degradation, devastating the overall environment and posing a particular threat to indigenous communities.
The MAAP initiative highlights one of these cases. One Airbus SPOT 6/7 high resolution image dated back to 2014 was provided to the NICFI data program, and unveils the environmental conditions and landscape 8 years ago. Acquired in 2021, a new SPOT 6/7 image witnesses drastic expansion of gold mining exploitation and the true impacts on the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest.
SPOT6 - 2014
SPOT7 - 2021
Ecuador
Through diverse examples like this one, #NICFI Data Program demonstrates how powerful high resolution satellite imagery can play a key role in protecting the most vulnerable environments. Discover how Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative mitigate climate change by protecting the world’s rainforest.
Discover how Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative mitigate climate change by protecting the world’s rainforest.
