The massive green swaths of Peru’s Andean and Amazonian forests host a more diverse array of life than previously thought — much of which has been hidden beyond the visible spectrum of light until now. “If you look at any current satellite data … it only deciphers whether there is a forest present or not, not anything about the forest,” Asner said. The maps, developed with help from the Peruvian government, tell a more complete story of the forest, Asner said. To determine the areas most in need of protection, Asner overlaid the psychedelic imagery with the Peruvian government’s maps of deforestation and protected areas. The 36 different forest types are shown through the Andes and Amazonian regions of Peru.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 27, 2017 11:02 UTC