Google is creating a new satellite image map to help protect Brazil's forests

In the early 2000s, Brazil experienced record deforestation, resulting in biodiversity loss and rising temperatures. To help the country continue to protect its forests, we have partnered with the government to create the first highly detailed satellite image map of the landscape, showing a snapshot of this period. This data gives local authorities a powerful new way to accurately measure their progress in combating deforestation, and is now available for everyone to use on Google Earth and Earth Engine.

To create the map, we processed thousands of historical satellite images, removed clouds and corrected colors. This image is six times more accurate than previously available images, allowing us to see detailed patches of forests for the first time. Now, authorities can get an accurate picture of where deforestation took place so they can track progress and take action like never before.

Read more in the Google Earth Medium post.