Brazil creates high-resolution deforestation map to help exporters meet eu’s new environmental rules

Brazil has developed cutting-edge mapping technology to help its commodity exporters comply with the European Union’s upcoming deforestation regulation, which aims to keep products linked to illegal forest clearing out of EU markets.

The country’s National Space Research Institute (INPE) created new satellite monitoring technology that can detect deforestation in areas as small as half a hectare (1.2 acres) – meeting the precise requirements of the EU’s Deforestation-free Products Regulation (EUDR). This represents a significant technological advancement, as Brazil’s existing Amazon monitoring system, PRODES, only tracks deforestation in one-hectare areas or larger. “It was the first time we did [this in] less than 1 hectare,” said Claudio Almeida, coordinator of INPE’s monitoring program.

The EUDR, set to take effect at the end of 2026 after a second delay, will require companies to provide detailed geographic data and documentation proving their exports to the EU aren’t sourced from areas illegally deforested after December 31, 2020. The regulation targets seven key commodities often linked to deforestation: soy, cattle, rubber, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, and timber – many of which are major Brazilian exports.

This mapping initiative represents Brazil’s proactive approach to maintaining access to EU markets while addressing international concerns about deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. The new technology had to overcome unique challenges, including adapting to the Amazon’s rainy season timing, which can complicate satellite-based forest monitoring efforts.