The National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) is using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery to identify recent burns, target inspections, and reduce the risk of damage to native forest ecosystems in Chile’s La Araucanía region.
CONAF has strengthened its native forest protection work in La Araucanía through the use of satellite monitoring technology designed to detect agricultural burning and support faster, more focused inspections.
Using imagery from the Sentinel-2 constellation, CONAF teams can identify areas that show recent evidence of fire from space. The approach is intended to help inspectors prioritize locations where agricultural activity takes place near native forest, supporting prevention efforts before burning escalates into wider environmental damage.
The system uses the Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR), a satellite-based index used to highlight burned areas and assess fire impacts. By analyzing NBR data, CONAF can detect anomalies linked to recent fires or burns, identify agricultural properties close to native forests, check whether the activity was authorized, and review whether technical requirements were followed.
Officials said the information helps direct inspection teams to the places where there is a greater likelihood of non-compliance or potential harm to forest resources.
María Alejandra Salazar, head of the Monitoring Section at CONAF La Araucanía, said the technology marks an important advance in preventive management and environmental oversight. “Today, technology allows us to observe the territory with a level of detail that was unthinkable a few years ago. Thanks to satellite imagery, we can promptly detect areas with evidence of fire, support the work of our inspectors, and better protect the native forest.”
CONAF warned that controlled burns carried out without the proper conditions can develop into forest fires, with potential impacts on native ecosystems, biodiversity, waterways, and habitats for protected species.
The agency urged landowners and fire users to register burning notices in good time, comply with authorized conditions, and take preventive measures to stop fire spreading into native forest areas.
CONAF said the combination of satellite technology, on-the-ground monitoring, and responsible land management is becoming a key part of efforts to protect La Araucanía’s forest heritage.
