Questions this tool can answer:
- How can businesses sustainably source commodities, and detect/reduce deforestation in their global supply chains?
- Governments and non-profits can use Global Forest Watch identify unsustainable activities taking place that threaten forest ecosystems, and quickly respond to these threats.
Global Forest Watch, developed by the World Resources Institute’s Land & Carbon Lab, is an online platform with the best available data about forests. With the click of a button, anyone can now access near real-time information about where and how forests are changing around the world.
The GFW partnership is comprised of over 100 organizations who contribute data, technology, expertise and action to ensure that transparency drives greater accountability for how the world’s remaining forest landscapes are managed and used. Leveraging satellite data, advanced computer algorithms and cloud computing power, GFW offers an openly accessible suite of tools designed to enable experts and non-experts alike to access information about forest change and mobilize action. Over four million people around the world have used GFW to generate better outcomes for forests and people. Users include:
- Local law enforcement officers, park managers, community rangers and non-profit organizations who use GFW’s Forest Watcher mobile app and near-real-time data to identify and respond to threats in time to make a difference.
- Global companies buying, selling and financing agricultural commodities like palm oil, soy and beef who use GFW Pro as a management solution to better detect and reduce deforestation in their supply chains.
- The Global Forest Review, which leverages GFW’s data and expertise to track progress toward global forest goals and provide accessible insights related to the state of the world’s forests.
- National governments that utilize GFW’s monitoring technology to deploy independent Forest Atlases for managing their forest resources.
- Non-profit organizations and individuals who receive GFW’s Small Grants Fund and Tech Fellowship, which allows them to use GFW in their advocacy, research and field work.
Thousands of people around the world use GFW every day to monitor and manage forests, stop illegal deforestation and fires, call out unsustainable activities, defend their land and resources, sustainably source commodities and conduct research at the forefront of conservation.