A Flight Simulator Becomes a Game in which Users Identify Deforestation and Illegal Mining Sites in the Amazon

Apr. 05, 2024

A recent study by Greenpeace Brasil, one of the world's largest environmental organizations, reveals that in 2023, illegal mining destroyed the equivalent of 1,409.3 hectares on the lands of the Yanomami, Kayapó and Munduruku peoples – the equivalent of clear-cutting four football pitches per day. The study further indicates that approximately 26,400 hectares across these three territories are severely affected by illegal activities.

To shed light on this grim reality, the organization is launching the game "Flying Guardians." The project is a mod to a hyper-realistic flight simulator, one of the top-ten most played games in the world. The mod will leverage satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC, a leading provider of data and insights about Earth. This adaptation could allow players to observe real incidents of illegal mining and deforestation in the Amazon, specifically from the Munduruku and Yanomami lands. Updated satellite imagery of the rainforest and contextual information about these lands are among the functions now added to the simulator for awareness.

This tool for cyber-activism swaps out the game's original maps for updated satellite data provided by Planet. When users fly over environmentally protected areas of the rainforest, they'll see images updated throughout the year, enabling them to identify potential incident sites and report their exact coordinates.

Ricardo Guerra, Planet's director for Latin America said:

"With speed, technology, and adaptability at its core, this initiative bridges the gap between the desire of a new generation to make a difference, the gaming world, and satellite technology. By addressing the urgent needs of our changing climate and environment, we're proud to see Planet leading the charge in innovative projects and supporting Greenpeace in this exceptional endeavor. This initiative is being rolled out in Brazil, and it has huge potential for global expansion."

 

Jorge Dantas, the spokesperson for Greenpeace Brasil's Indigenous Peoples sector said:

"The Munduruku and Yanomami lands have been devastated by wildcat mining. Community members' lives have been taken, the environment is being desecrated, diseases like malaria are out of control, and the rivers are being poisoned by mercury. The technology for constantly updating these maps means that each player can see for themselves the destruction caused by illegal mining in the Amazon. And to help stop that destruction, everyone can pitch in by signing our petition to free the region of wildcat mining, in a move to help Brazilian authorities remove these invaders from Indigenous lands once and for all."

 

Customizations to the flight simulator include the addition of Greenpeace planes, which are often used on environmental protection missions. There are also four command towers providing information about geographic coordinates of the Munduruku and Yanomami lands, and a command that allows users to sign Greenpeace's petition to stop illegal mining in the Amazon – all without leaving the game. Flying Guardians is an initiative by Greenpeace Brasil, created and developed hand in hand with ad agency AlmapBBDO.

AlmapBBDO CCO Marco Giannelli said:

"What I love about this idea is that it enhances the user experience by using Planet imagery to deliver updated maps, while also making players aware of such a crucial cause for the Earth, one that we should all be supporting and engaging with. This is a virtual game with the potential to have massive real-world impact."

 

The game's new dynamic includes four radio channels broadcasting information to users. The first channel explains the activities and the role of Greenpeace Brasil, calling players to step up and become protectors of the Amazon. The second channel explains Planet's satellite data and their work worldwide; the third is an amateur broadcast, with a member of the activist group as an interlocutor, which lays out a fictional plot set on the Munduruku and Yanomami territories. The fourth channel, meanwhile, features a Greenpeace Brasil guide and serves to support users with information about in-game commands and tools.

Players can also publish images of the alerts on their social media, tagging @GreenpeaceBrasil and using the hashtags #FlyingGuardians and #AmazoniaLivreDeGarimpo.