Global Forest Watch

Global Forest Watch (GFW) is a dynamic online forest monitoring and alert system that empowers people everywhere to better manage forests. For the first time, Global Forest Watch unites satellite technology, open data, and crowdsourcing to guarantee access to timely and reliable information about forests. GFW is free and follows an open data approach in putting decision-relevant information in the hands of governments, companies, NGOs, and the public.

GFW is supported by a diverse partnership of organizations that contribute data, technical capabilities, funding, and expertise. The partnership is convened by the World Resources Institute

History

Global Forest Watch originally began in 1997 as an initiative to establish a global forest monitoring network around the world, convened by the World Resources Institute and partners. It began as part of WRI’s Forest Frontiers Initiative. The original GFW achieved many outcomes toward the conservation of large intact forest areas.

WRI has continued the work that Global Forest Watch started, working to improve forest information by merging the latest technology with on-the-ground partnerships. In the Congo Basin countries, WRI has published Forest Atlases that help decision makers achieve sustainable management of forest resources through strengthened land-use planning and monitoring. These are now available for Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. The Forest and Landscapes in Indonesia project works to support government and civil society actions for effective and equitable land use in Indonesia. This work now continues as part of WRI’s work on forests and is integrated with Global Forest Watch. In addition to the countries listed above, GFW published state of the forest reports for Canada, Chile, Russia, and Venezuela and related policy reports for Guyana and Suriname.
The GFW network also developed the methods for mapping Intact Forest Landscapes by piloting this method in Russia and Canada and then expanding it to the global level for the year 2000. Monitoring of these areas continues, with an ongoing update for the year 2012 underway.

Recommended in the November 2014 issue of ALA's Choice.