Tribes in Brazil have enlisted the aid of drones to monitor areas of deforestation. The tribes, assisted by a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), have been analysing problem areas within the Amazon.

The Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau is an indigenous area located in the state of Rondonia, Brazil. The tribes within this area rely on the forest as their main source for homes, food and medicine. However, with the high levels of illegal deforestation across the Amazon, many of the livelihoods for tribes that habituate within the forest are at risk.

To help combat this, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and a Brazilian NGO (Kaninde Ethno-Environmental Defense Association) are teaching the tribes to operate drones. According to a CNN report, these drones, which are able to take high-resolution images and record video, are able to identify areas of the forest that have been the subject of illegal activities. 

Once illegal activities have been spotted, the evidence collated by the drones is then passed on to the local authorities.

“Without a drone, that deforestation – which was already advanced – would still be unknown to us. The technology today, for territorial monitoring, is very worthwhile,” said a local leader of Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau.