Causecast

by CLAIRE MORGENSTERN, Contributing Writer

What happens when an indigenous tribe fearing deforestation comes into contact with modern mapping technology? Ask Almir Suruí, chief of the Paiter Suruí tribe that lives on the Sete de Setembro Reserve in western Brazil. The Paiter Suruí, along with dozens of other tribes around the world, use Google Earth technology to monitor their vast reserves in an effort to catch loggers and other groups that threaten the conservation of their lands for future generations.

The Sete de Setembro Reserve consists of 612,000 acres in the western Brazilian state of Rondônia. Today, the land is almost completely surrounded by loggers, miners, and ranchers, all of which pose a threat to the longevity of the reserve. The only way Almir and his tribe could learn of the deforestation was to walk for days until they reached territory that had been encroached upon. And, due to such a large landscape, keep tabs on what was happening in every corner of the reserve all the time – or even conduct semi-frequent monitoring, for that matter – was a difficult task.

In 2006, the Paiter Suruí partnered with the Amazon Conservation Team (ACT), an NGO that works with local tribes in Brazil, Suriname, and Colombia. By 2008, ACT and the Suruí had drafted a 50 year environmental management plan, coming up with a protocol to help the Suruí better prepare for increased interaction with the agribusiness industry and the effects of the globalized economy.

However, it was a glimpse that Almir Suruí caught of his home-all 612,000 acres of it – using Google Earth at an internet café – that radically altered the course and capabilities of the tribe’s conservation management plan. Looking at the satellite image, Almir noticed pockets of deforestation that he didn’t know were there. With the use of Google Earth, the Suruí could do in mere seconds what use to take days of walking to accomplish. Moreover, they would have visual proof that deforestation was taking place, which would put them in a better position to preserve or reclaim land that is rightfully theirs.

Almir and representatives of ACT met with Google Earth’s philanthropic branch, Google Earth Outreach, at Google’s offices in San Francisco. Google donated computers, smart phones, and GPS devices to the tribe so they could monitor their territorial borders for deforestation and encroachment, but also so they could share information about their culture and daily rituals with the online world – a big jump for a tribe that made their first contact with the modern world just 40 years ago. Back in Brazil, ACT helped the Suruí establish a training center with additional computers and networking tools to teach members of the tribe how to operate and maximize the effectiveness of the donated devices. Now, the Suruí have a sustainable method – not to mention some cutting-edge technology – of minimizing deforestation using the talents and skills of the local community.

Learn more about Google Earth Outreach initiatives taking place around the globe. Feeling generous? Donate to the Amazon Conservation Team to help make sure the Amazon’s resources exist for future generations.

Photo by -fabio-, flickr.