Amazon Aerobotany

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The Amazon rainforest harbors more biodiversity than any other terrestrial ecosystem on Earth. But it’s also one of the least explored parts of our planet, especially its majestic canopy that towers over 50 meters above the forest floor: out of reach to all but a tiny handful of expert tree climbers.

Fortunately, technology has provided a way to obtain a bird’s eye view of the rainforest canopy without risking life and limb: using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), or in everyday parlance: a DRONE.

In our study, we use a quadcopter mini-drone as our “eye in the sky" by sending it out on programmed flight paths to capture high-resolution imagery of the rainforest canopy. We work in Tambopata National Reserve, a ~15,000 sq. km protected area in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest that harbors a spectacular diversity of virtually every form of life.

Now that we finally have high-resolution imagery of the rainforest canopy, what can we do with it? This is where YOU come in – we need your eyes! By spending less than a minute per image, you can help gather unique data that will contribute directly to research and conservation efforts in Tambopata, and help monitor and protect these invaluable rainforest ecosystems in the long term.

Join our research team as a citizen scientist....and become an Amazon Aerobotanist!