With the participation of USAID and NASA a new Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the State Secretariat for Environmental Development (SEDAM-Rondônia) , Brazil, and the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). This is the fifth agreement signed in Brazil under the SERVIR-Amazonia Program (previous agreements have been signed with the SEDAMs in Rondônia, Pará and Acre, with CEMADEN and EMBRAPA). This collaboration will use optical data and remote sensors, to make more efficient monitoring of ecosystems, and land cover and land use changes, as well as illegal mining.
The collaboration between SEDAM and SERVIR-Amazônia aims to reduce the environmental, economic and social impacts of climate-sensitive issues related to fires and droughts, and other issues that may affect ecosystem services and biodiversity in the region.