IPAM (Amazon Environmental Research Institute) expresses deep sorrow over the death of geophysicist Dalton de Morisson Valeriano, aged 69, who passed away last Thursday (5th). A researcher at INPE (National Institute for Space Research), Valeriano dedicated his life to the protection of tropical forests.
He was one of the key figures behind the creation of PRODES (Monitoring Program for the Amazon Rainforest) and the implementation of DETER (Real-Time Deforestation Detection), a tool used to map deforestation and other changes in the Amazon’s forest cover.
According to IPAM’s Director of Science, Ane Alencar, Valeriano was a “visionary” in tropical forest monitoring, and his achievements were crucial in transforming how Brazil and the world address deforestation. “The implementation of the DETER system was fundamental for enabling a rapid response to reduce deforestation,” she stated.
Valeriano held a degree in biology from UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro), a master’s degree in remote sensing from INPE, and a PhD in geography from the University of California, in the United States. He was a specialist in monitoring deforestation and fires using satellite imagery.
In an official statement, INPE honored him as a “visionary of the forest,” who helped reveal to Brazil the true state of the Amazon. For IPAM, his passing represents an irreparable loss to Brazilian science and to all those committed to the defense of forests.
IPAM extends its condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Dalton Valeriano during this time of grief. His legacy lives on in the fight to preserve the Amazon and in the unwavering commitment to scientific truth.