Planet has unveiled Project Centinela, an initiative designed to bolster conservation efforts in some of the world’s most vulnerable biodiversity hotspots. The program will provide cutting-edge satellite imagery and analytical tools to scientists and conservationists working in areas at the highest risk of species extinction. By offering access to high-resolution, high-frequency data, Planet seeks to fill a critical gap in conservation: the lack of timely, precise information about ecosystems undergoing rapid change.
The launch of Project Centinela marks a notable step forward in biodiversity monitoring. Despite international efforts, many of the world’s vital biodiversity areas remain largely unprotected or insufficiently monitored. For example, more than 40% of Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, where species are most likely to disappear, lack formal protection. Equally alarming, the status of many Key Biodiversity Areas is updated only every five years, leaving conservationists without real-time insights into ecosystem health. This is where Planet’s satellite capabilities can make a difference, says Amy Rosenthal.
“In the hands of communities, decision makers, and researchers, Planet’s powerful imagery and tools help us see Earth’s changing surface, characterize ecosystem and biodiversity conditions, and track the success of conservation and restoration efforts over time,” Rosenthal said.
“Leveraging daily satellite data and modern AI, we can monitor critical hotspots and tackle threats before it’s too late,” added Andrew Zolli.
Through Project Centinela, up to 50 biodiversity hotspots will receive continuous monitoring over the next three years. The program is particularly focused on areas that have been historically underfunded and neglected, including ecosystems such as cloud forests, wetlands, and coastal regions.
These ecosystems often house rare species that are highly susceptible to extinction but have escaped the attention of mainstream conservation efforts.
At the heart of Project Centinela are Planetary Variables—datasets like forest carbon, soil moisture, and land surface temperature—which provide insights into ecosystem dynamics. These variables, coupled with high-frequency satellite imagery, enable conservationists to detect changes in habitats in real time and respond rapidly to emerging threats.
The project’s initial cohort includes 8 biodiversity hotspots across the globe:
🇨🇷 The Osa Peninsula (Costa Rica)
🇧🇷 Vale do Javari (Brazil)
🇧🇴 Rio Matos Ramsar site in Bolivia
🇨🇩 Virunga National Park in DRC
🇹🇿 🇺🇬 Eastern Chimpanzee Conservation Areas (Tanzania & Uganda)
🇲🇿 Northern coastal Mozambique
🇳🇵Terai Arc Landscape (Nepal)
🇮🇩 Gunung Naning (Indonesia)
In coming years, the project will expand its reach to help more of those working to preserve the planet’s most imperiled species and ecosystems.
