UAV Drones Becoming Valuable Tools in Fighting Illegal Deforestation in Global Conservation Projects

In Leuser Ecosystem, Sumatra Indonesia UAV Drones are being used effectively to expose tropical rainforest destruction from land clearing for illegal palm oil plantations in the national park to identifying illegal logging camps.

With support from Global Conservation, both fixed wing long-distance UAV Drones and Quad-Copters are being used to uncover large-scale rainforest destruction for illegal palm oil plantations within the Gunung Leuser National Park and great Leuser Ecosystem.

While use of UAV Drones for Anti-Poaching has been less productive, mapping of forest destruction in far away areas using drones have proved highly effective.  Mapping and imagery are used to prepare police cases against illegal logging and land clearing, and for discussions with local communities and their leaders to reverse destructive practices.

The Leuser Ecosystem team are using UAV Drones in 3 regions of Leuser for the mapping of high-threat areas to monitor encroachment and forest loss / restorations, and high resolution mapping of illegal logging and forest destruction based on Global Forest Watch fire reporting.

Photos by Forum Leuser Ecosystem (FKL).

Drones are relatively cheap, can cover hundreds and even thousands of acres in a short space of time and can beam back live video transmission.

Forum Konservation Leuser, our Partner in Conservation in Leuser Ecosystem, has become increasingly proficient using drones to map deforestation in protected areas. Below are some examples of progress.

Quad-Copter Drones - FKL is using 2 Canon IXUS 125 HS cameras, 3 video cameras (Foxeer Legend and Runcam), and 1 Sony DSC WX500 camera, FKL purchased 3 units of DJI Mavic Pro Combo's multi-motor drones for short-distance mapping and forest surveillance work.

Drone mapping of deforestation and illegal land clearing for palm oil plantations.

Drone Team monitoring Leuser Ecosystem deforestation.

Investigation of Illegal Burning in Singkil Peat Swamp Wildlife Reserve, Leuser Ecosystem

Land clearing on the edges of the National Park.

 FKL Ranger Teams running drone missions for mapping illegal deforestation.

Investigation of Illegal Plantation in Singkil Peat Swamp Wildlife Reserve, Leuser Ecosystem

Drone Testing for Mapping Mission

Main control display.

FKL reviewing mapping and drones imagery with community leaders.

Unfortunately, surveillance against wildlife poacher and illegal logging camps using FLIR Thermal cameras to identify campfire locations was a failure as current affordable consumer / commercial UAV Drones are not yet reliable to fly over deep forests or at night causing expensive loss of equipment on complex night missions.