Scientists have found that selective logging in the Amazon is twice as bad as people had previously thought. Selective logging is when instead of removing a whole area of trees, just a few are taken leaving the rest intact. This has gone unnoticed because previous satellites were not able to view just a few trees being taken. New technology however has now allowed scientists are allowed to see openings down to just a single tree or two. Research shows that valuable hardwoods such as mahogany is often what is illegally cut down. Although this selective process only accounts for a few trees from each area of the amazon to be taken, when added up is equally destructive to the Amazon. Studies have shown that knocking down just one tree causes significant damage to the understory in the ground, thus drying it up and making it prone for fires. Scientists were astounded by the fact that selective logging was the cause for 8,000 sq miles a year to be removed in the Amazon. The government of Brazil has found it rather difficult to enforce the laws in place against selective logging over an area as large as the Amazon so scientists hope that the satellites will be able to pinpoint where it is occurring, and then send over that information to law enforcement.

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