Brazil's environmental protection agency IBAMA has deployed a network of 50 solar-powered autonomous drones to monitor deforestation activity across the Amazon basin in real-time. The system provides continuous coverage of high-risk zones, transmitting alerts to enforcement teams within minutes of detecting illegal clearing activity.
Each drone operates on a scheduled patrol pattern, landing at solar charging stations distributed throughout the monitoring area. Onboard AI analysis distinguishes between legal agricultural activity and unauthorized deforestation, reducing false positive alerts by 85% compared to satellite-only monitoring.
Since deployment in March 2026, the system has contributed to a 42% increase in enforcement actions and a 28% reduction in new deforestation alerts. The program has attracted interest from Indonesia, Congo, and Peru for similar deployments in their tropical forest regions.