Satellite Photos Bust Clearcutting Cattle Ranchers.

Cattle ranchers in Paraguay face jail time after their rainforest clear cutting activities were exposed by satellite photos.

The cattle ranchers were caught on satellite camera clear cutting over 4000 hectares of protected rainforest in Paraguay. The particular patch of land they were destroying is home to the indigenous Ayoreo Indians who rely on the forest for their survival. Because of the deforestation, members of the tribe have been forced off their land and are now in embroiled in numerous legal battles.

This happens everyday all over the world. In fact, 70% of all deforestation is the result of cattle farming. Cattle ranchers use to be able to hide their illegal clearcutting because they were able to find remote patches of land away from anyone who would see them break the law. With the use of satellite technology, illegal cattle ranchers and clearcutters have nowhere to hide.

Environmental groups are going all 007-CIA-Bourne Identity on illegal cattle ranchers. I love it.