Amazon tribes are using drones to track deforestation in Brazil

Empowering indigenous defense with technology

The Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau tribe, living in a protected region of the Brazilian Amazon, has begun using drones to monitor their territory. Trained by the WWF and the Kaninde Ethno-Environmental Defense Association, tribe members can now survey large areas of dense jungle from the air. This technology allows them to document deforestation, illegal farming, and cattle ranching with high-resolution images and GPS data, which are then used as evidence to pressure government authorities to intervene.

Benefits and limitations of drone surveillance

Drones are a cost-effective alternative to expensive helicopter patrols, allowing communities to monitor wider areas while minimizing dangerous confrontations with illegal loggers. Beyond defense, the tribe uses drones to locate food sources like Brazil nut trees and track sacred species like the harpy eagle. However, experts emphasize that technology is not a silver bullet; it is most effective when combined with the deep, localized knowledge indigenous people possess regarding their own ecosystems.

Escalating threats to indigenous protectors

The Amazon faces ongoing challenges from illegal activities that have surged during the Covid-19 pandemic. Members of the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau, including leader Awapy, face direct death threats from land-grabbers and illegal loggers for their protection efforts. Despite the risks and the political criticism surrounding the Brazilian government's environmental policies, the tribe remains committed to fighting for the preservation of the rainforest for future generations.