The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) sponsored training of Member State technical officials by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) in the use of satellite technologies to detect deforestation.
17 February 2012: In partnership with Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) offered Member State technical officials training courses on the use of a satellite detection system of deforestation, which was developed by INPE.
The training is an abridged version of the three-week course that INPE provides to third countries, introducing participants to the system for satellite monitoring of tropical forests it developed and has operated since 1988. Training participants were provided an overview of: remote sensing; digital image processing and interpretation; geoprocessing and radar mapping techniques; and INPE’s TerraAmazon System. They also discussed the various uses of data generated by enforcement officials.
The first round of training, for Spanish-speaking ACTO countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela), was held from 31 October-11 November 2011. The second course, in English, was held for Guyana and Suriname from 6-17 February 2012. Both courses were conducted at INPE’s Amazon Regional Center (CRA) in Belem, Brazil. [ACTO Press Release on November 2011 Training (in Portuguese)] [ACTO Press Release on February 2012 Training (in Portugese)]