Established in 2008, GREPALMA brings together small to large growers who are committed to the responsible cultivation of palm oil in Guatemala. As an association, their aim is to foster a sense of social and environmental responsibility, presenting the sustainable production of palm oil as economically viable and a means to develop their neighboring communities.
Supported by Satelligence’s data, analytical insights, and collaborative approach, this case study conveys the value of improved land use maps and the importance of good national commodity monitoring systems.
The Context
In 2019, GREPALMA created the voluntary commitment to zero deforestation. In line with the agreement, GREPALMA sought a neutral third party for satellite verification of compliance to the commitment.
The satellite monitoring verification would need to:
(1) Assess current deforestation activity in real-time to track progress towards NDPE commitments;
(2) Assess historical deforestation to identify trends and patterns for deforestation hotspots;
(3) Map the extent of Guatemala’s palm oil hectares in 2020.
The Solution
GREPALMA brought Satelligence in to meet these monitoring criteria. We developed a global near real-time satellite-based vegetation change alert system using a sensor-independent integrated approach at 10m resolution. This system makes use of both radar and optical satellite imagery, enabling change detection even in cloudy weather. Combined with data collected by partners on the ground, our approach led to more accurate and reliable satellite data for deforestation monitoring. Drawing from field data (collaborating with growers, for example) meant that we could successfully differentiate between natural forest and plantation crops. Changes detected in plantation crops will therefore not trigger a deforestation alert, meaning that GREPALMA is able to prioritise its efforts on only the relevant vegetation changes and act on areas in need of immediate attention.
Satelligence Deliverables:
- A national, near-real time alert system for deforestation and other environmental risk events
- Visual map of palm oil acreage for 2019-2020, including location of concessions
- Quarterly deforestation reports tailored to GREPALMA’s needs
- Measurable proof of progress towards GREPALMA’s NDPE, RSPO and zero-deforestation environmental commitments
Key Discoveries
Thanks to field data verification and the ability to detect nuances in the country’s forest dynamics, we could determine that the majority of Guatemala’s ‘forest’ is not natural, but rather plantation crops for commodities such as coffee, timber, oil palm, etc.
Analysis carried out by Satelligence (accuracy of 98.6%) for the period 1989-2020 identified that a total of 180,614 hectares of palm oil were planted in Guatemala, representing 2.46% of the cultivable area of the country. Of these hectares, only 16,470 (9,1%)are associated with deforestation.
What this means is that only 8% of palm has been planted on deforested land since 2008, and therefore 99% of GREPALMA’s members are free from deforestation and EUDR-compliant.
Combining satellite imagery, field data, and in-house expertise leads to highly accurate deforestation data.
[1. Satellite image of Guatemala. 2. Forested areas according to EU Forest Observatory 3. Satelligence’s granular view of deforestation]
Project Impact
The outcome of our work resulted in a tailored service that monitored current activity providing GREPALMA staff with actionable information on detected problem areas, which enabled them to assess and mitigate the issues appropriately. With real-time deforestation monitoring, we detected changes in the vegetation cover for natural forest, riparian, peatland and conservation areas, as well as other high-risk areas. These areas could be identified as either plantation development, road development, encroachment, or fire damage, to which Satelligence helped GREPALMA prioritize vegetation changes that were relevant and in need of immediate attention.
With technical support from Satelligence, The Guild of Palm Growers of Guatemala (GREPALMA) presented the report of the Satellite Monitoring study for the sustainable development of palm oil production in Guatemala. The results corresponds to the satellite monitoring of 37,770 km² of Guatemalan territory, which includes part of the departments of Petén, Izabal, Alta Verapaz, Escuintla, San Marcos, Suchitepéquez, Retalhuleu, Quetzaltenango, Quiché and Chimaltenango and its surroundings; areas where established palm cultivation is found .
According to the analysis of satellite images for the period 1989-2020 carried out by Satelligence, with an accuracy of 98.6%, it was identified that a total of 180,614 hectares of palm oil were planted in Guatemala, which represents 2.46% of the cultivable area of the country. Of these hectares, they specified that only 16,470 are associated with deforestation.
We have identified 11,904 hectares of forest conservation under management within farms of GREPALMA associates.
Project Voices
“This monitoring made a big impact!
It shows we are accountable: buyers can have trust in our sustainable supply.”
Karen Rosales – Former Executive Director, GREPALMA
“[…] in Guatemala, more than 90% of the plantations have been established on land without forest, such as former pastureland, and are not related to deforestation.”
Niels Wielaard – CEO of Satelligence
Beyond GREPALMA
Projects of this scale often span several spheres and impact can grow exponentially. In the case of Grepalma, we see how their access to current, real-time data means that they can act on detected risk areas and mitigate issues as needed. Alongside real-time data, the association also receives a report every 3 months, compiling the period’s deforestation and fire alerts. In turn, GREPALMA shares these alerts with the Guatemalan government, providing an objective overview of environmental risks to help coordinate national conservation efforts, maximising impact. From a broader perspective, this means that producer countries are able to communicate progress and counteract negative NGO campaigns, for example, through verified, credible data. A proven low rate of deforestation opens doors to global market access.
Our Work in the News
Guatemala: Control forestal permite que niveles de carbono sean bajos en cultivos de palma.
GREPALMA members who have explicitly joined the commitment
2019-2021: AGRIPALMA, S.A., AGROINDUSTRIA PALMERA SAN ROMAN, S.A., AGROPECUARIA NUEVO SAN CARLOS, S.A., AGROPECUARIA RAUDALES LA CACHIMBA, S.A., ASESORÍA TÉCNICA PROFESIONAL DEL PETÉN, S.A., BALEU, S.A., CORPORACION UNIACEITES, S.A. CAUCHOS Y PALMAS, S.A., COROZAL, S.A.,CORPORACION PALMAS SAN AGUSTIN, S.A., DESARROLLO DE PROYECTOS E INVERSIONES DE GUATEMALA, SOCIEDAD ANÓNIMA (DEPROINGUA, S.A.), ENTRE PALMAS S.A., GRUPO HAME, INDUSTRIA DE JABONES Y DETERGENTES LAS PALMAS, S.A., LAGUNA BLANCA, S.A., NATURACEITES, S.A., PALMERAS CAPITAL, S.A.
Satellite monitoring to verify compliance with the Zero Deforestation commitment assumed by GREPALMA and its partners is carried out in 100% of the oil palm cultivation established in Guatemala.