UC02: Deforestation in Acre, Brazil

Querying deforestation data and comparing data sources with Highcharts

Objective

Fetch annual deforestation data for Acre, Brazil (2010-2019) from the GJD API using PRODES as the data source, then compare with other available sources (Hansen/UMD and MapBiomas).

Step 1: The API Call

const params = new URLSearchParams({
  ID_Topic: 11,               // Deforestation
  ID_Countries: '["BR"]',
  ID_Jurisdictions: '["BR-AC"]',
  ID_Municipalities: '[]',
  ID_years: `[${years}]`,
  ID_sources: '[12]',        // PRODES only
});

Step 2: PRODES Deforestation Chart

Step 3: Comparing Data Sources

Removing the ID_sources filter reveals data from three different sources. Each uses different satellite imagery and methodologies, resulting in different values.

Key Takeaway: Different data sources use different methodologies. Always be explicit about which source you are using and document your choice.

Summary

  1. Queried deforestation data (Topic 11) filtered by PRODES source.
  2. Visualized annual deforestation with a Highcharts column chart.
  3. Compared multiple data sources side-by-side to highlight methodological differences.