A Brazilian tribe is in talks with Google to use its satellite imaging program to monitor and prevent illegal logging in the tribal reservation of more than 600,000 acres in the Amazon rainforest.
"Although the project is still in the planning stages for a remote area that does not even have Internet access yet, the tribe's chief and Google hope their unusual alliance will reduce illegal rain forest destruction, where government enforcement is spotty at best."
"Google Earth, which enables anyone who downloads its free software to see satellite images and maps of most of the world, is increasingly being called upon for humanitarian purposes by groups who see the technology's potential."
"Eventually, the Surui chief, Almir Narayamoga Surui, envisions many of the 1,200 members of his Surui tribe using computers with satellite Internet connections and high-resolution images from Google Earth to police all corners of their 250,000-hectare, or 618,000-acre, reservation."
"They could then offer proof to the authorities that the destruction is occurring and demand action, or possibly spook the loggers and miners away, said Surui."
Read the full story: Tribe and Google Earth team to support Amazon forests
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