Alcis

More opium poppy cultivation in Pakistan than Afghanistan this year?

A remarkable development if true!

More here:
www.alcis.org/post/opiate-...

Poppy cultivation figures from @alcis.org for 2025 covering 6 provinces that were responsible for 80% of cultivation in 2022. Shows increase but not as dramatic as rumoured. Highlights the importance of genuinely mixed methods for generating robust evidence base for policy making

Trump says Iran's nuclear plans put back 'decades' by US strikes after report suggests impact limited - live updates The US president is attending a Nato summit after a leaked report suggested US strikes set back Iran only

We have been here before...

Do you recall the US Military’s Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) strike in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, April 2017? Immediate reporting of the strike's impact was considerably overblown & challenged by @alcis.org at the time, as here:

medium.com/alcis-storie...

Patterns of poppy cultivation varied across Helmand province this year.

@mansfieldintinc.bsky.social explains in this article (www.alcis.org/post/opiate-...) that in accessible areas, poppy fields remained small & isolated. In remote areas, poppy fields were visible from the road & more contiguous.

Satellite imagery indicate that poppy cultivation will increase in Afghanistan in 2025, but will likely remain at historically low levels.

@mansfieldintinc.bsky.social's latest blog: www.alcis.org/post/opiate-... explains that some poppy cultivation in Badakhshan has moved to rainfed areas.

Satellite imagery indicates that poppy cultivation will increase in Afghanistan in 2025, but it will likely remain at historically low levels.

More here in @mansfieldintinc.bsky.social's blog:
www.alcis.org/post/opiate-...).

Opiate supplies continue despite the Taliban drugs ban While many argue that a shift into synthetic opioids downstream in Europe is a function of a shortage of opium in Afghanistan caused by the Taliban drugs ban, opium prices in Afghanistan have been fal...

Update on the Taliban's drug ban from @mansfieldintinc.bsky.social, looking at factors for continued opiate supplies; inventories in southwest Afghanistan, cultivation in Badakhshan, improved processing techniques, & increases in poppy cultivation in Pakistan in 2025.
www.alcis.org/post/opiate-...

Opiate supplies continue despite the Taliban drugs ban While many argue that a shift into synthetic opioids downstream in Europe is a function of a shortage of opium in Afghanistan caused by the Taliban drugs ban, opium prices in Afghanistan have been fal...

An important and timely update from @mansfieldintinc.bsky.social on the significant ongoing impacts of the Taliban's drugs ban across Afghanistan & the region. You won't find this level and quality of analysis anywhere else.

www.alcis.org/post/opiate-...

Don't miss this!

Understanding Conflict Through Satellite Imagery

Great article by @mansfieldintinc.bsky.social in @lawfaremedia.org that sets out how satellite imagery is now an essential dataset for better understanding the reasons for conflict and identifying policy options.

A great synthesis report by David Mansfield, with analysis and products by @alcis.org that brings together the impacts of the Taliban's drugs ban over the last three years.

www.euda.europa.eu/publications...

Two policy briefs covering water issues in southwest Afghanistan & flows into Iran from Dave Mansfield & @alcis.org & the potential for further conflicts in the future:

Digging an ever-deeper hole: www.xcept-research.org/publication/...

Missing the target: www.xcept-research.org/publication/...

Missing the target: Examining the causes of the conflict on the Afghanistan-Iran border in May 2023 - XCEPT This policy brief shares key findings and implications for policy from an XCEPT study on the escalation in violence along the Afghanistan-Iran border on 27 May 2023. The study addresses the misconcept...

A policy brief - for the time poor!

This policy brief by David Mansfield & @alcis.org contains considerations & implications resulting from violent clashes between Iranian and Afghan border forces in May 2023.

www.xcept-research.org/publication/...

Missing the target: Examining the causes of the conflict on the Afghanistan-Iran border in May 2023 - XCEPT Violent clashes between Iranian and Afghan border forces broke out on 27 May 2023 and lasted for more than a week. The fighting led to multiple deaths and injuries among both Iranian and Afghan border...

Out now on XCEPT Research website, this new report by David Mansfield & @alcis.org funded by FCDO.

It explores the cross-border violence that erupted between Afghanistan and Iran in May 2023 and contains data and analysis you will not find elsewhere.

www.xcept-research.org/publication/...

Frozen to Flooded Exploring the Threats of Glacier Retreat and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the Cordillera Blanca, Tropical Andes

Today’s #WorldWaterDay2025 theme is #GlacierPreservation

@alcis.org's storymap explores how communities in the Tropical Andes are at increasing risk from Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) that can destroy communities, infrastructure & ecosystems downstream.
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6b23...

Exciting news! Our StoryMap, After the Shocks, is a finalist in the Esri #ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition! 🎉

Our #StoryMap highlights the 2023 Afghanistan earthquakes and their impact on minority communities.

Read our latest blog for the full picture: www.alcis.org/post/storymap-success
#GIS #Geo

It's brilliant to see how others are using the power of #GIS for sustainability initiatives like @mappedout.bsky.social!

Do check out the success story linked below!

Want to know how we're using GIS for Good? Check out our page here: www.alcis.org/humanitarian...
#humanitarian #ArcGIS #Esri

With the Esri #ArcGIS StoryMap finalists being announced tomorrow, we’re reflecting on our previous entry, which was recognised in the UN WDF #StoryMap competition.

We entered #Esri's StoryMap competition with our latest StoryMap: After the Shocks.

Take a read: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a160...

Limerick's Wetland Wealth A story map introducing Limerick's wetlands and why we should value these wild places

Gorgeous interactive story map about Limericks wetlands. I love when stuff like this is commissioned storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/363b...

Snoqualmie Soundscape Snoqualmie Soundscape StoryMap. Immerse yourself in some of the sounds of the Snoqualmie Tribe's Ancestral Lands.

Need something to listen to besides politics for a bit?

Here's a super cool storymap from the Snoqualmie Tribe about the soundscape of our ancestral lands.

#indigenous
#soundscape
#Snoqualmie

storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/3ba8...

How the Turkey earthquake tore a 300-kilometre rupture in the Earth’s surface The ground was torn, cracked open, and dragged in different directions after the massive earthquakes on Feb. 6.

Two extraordinary summaries of the devastating #earthquake sequence around #Turkey and #Syria exactly two years ago. They provide clear explanations and an excellent presentation of the events. #Geology ⚒️ 🧪

www.reuters.com/graphics/TUR...

earthquake.usgs.gov/storymap/ind...

Are you a woman working in the field of GIS?
Is one of your co-workers excelling in the GIS sphere?

Make sure to sign yourself, and/or others, up for the Women in #GIS awards!

There are scholarships, grants and free Esri #ArcGIS access up for grabs!
#WomeninGIS #Esri

We’re thrilled to announce our place on #GeoAwesome’s Top 100 #Geospatial Companies list for 2025, our fourth year in a row!

From award winning #StoryMaps, to supporting disaster response initiatives, 2024 was a year of impact. 🌍

Our latest blog: www.alcis.org/post/2025-top-100

Attending @geomob.bsky.social for the first time!
Community focused events like #Geomob play a crucial part in forming connections, in an increasingly #digital world.

Congratulations to Helen Mazalon for her awesome presentation!

If you missed her presentation: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ca38...

Our team attended @geomob.bsky.social London to watch Helen Mazalon present her #geospatial work with @seedsfordev.bsky.social.

Not only was her talk a success, she won Best Speaker!

Missed it? Check out her StoryMap, Satellites and Seeds, here: www.alcis.org/story-maps
#Geomob

Have you explored our most recent #StoryMap on the 2023 Afghan earthquakes?

These earthquakes left significant impacts, destroying lives and infrastructure. Nomadic pastoralists like the Kuchi faced greater impacts, already displaced by past #naturaldisasters.

storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a160...

Climate-smart agriculture for community resilience was a core theme of our recent StoryMap.

At Alcis, we see the importance of using #GIS to improve crisis areas like agricultural resilience in Afghanistan.
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/2089ecf4b88e4f21b3d2e7a0ad2cb978
#geospatial #humanitarian

Great! Well, we hope to see you at the next event 🛰️

Hope to see you there!

Our team is off to London for #Geomob this week!
We're excited to hear Helen Mazalon's talk and to see how #GIS is making an impact. 🛰️

Check out the StoryMap for more info: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ca3867611cbc4547a8a14ecaa06d8161

Will we see you there?
#Geospatial #Humanitarian

With 2030 on the horizon, we’re using GIS to drive the Sustainable Development Goals forward!

For the International Day of Education, check our latest blog to see how #GIS is helping access to education: www.alcis.org/post/education_day

How are you celebrating today? Share your thoughts below!