What’s new on Global Forest Watch.
October 2020 updates.
Global Forest Watch, the online platform for monitoring forests, recently added new data, new features and updated some existing data layers. As ever, we worked closely with the Global Forest Watch team at World Resources Institute to deliver these upgrades. Here’s a summary of what’s newly available and the significance of these updates.
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High-resolution satellite imagery from Planet.
Transparency and accountability are key to sustainable forest use. A new basemap using high-resolution satellite imagery provided by Planet makes deforestation easier to detect. The addition of this satellite imagery was made possible through a partnership between Norway’s Ministry of Climate and Environment, Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), Planet and Airbus.
Want to know more about what this means for forests? Take a read of this GFW blog.
Brand new carbon sequestration rate data layer.
Natural forest regrowth could absorb 23% of CO2 emissions. A brand new data layer visualises where natural forest growth offers the greatest potential for carbon sequestration.
Want to know more about natural forest regrowth and its potential role in fighting climate change? Have a look at this GFW blog.
Updates to existing biodiversity data layers.
The data layers that mark the locations of Key Biodiversity Areas, and Alliance for Zero Extinction sites have both been updated. The layers that map where global biodiversity is most intact and most significant have also been updated.
These data continue to inform important decisions around which places need to be protected and managed sustainably for the benefit of biodiversity.
New help centre and improved map search tool.
Whether you’re just getting started with Global Forest Watch or looking to dive in deeper, the new help centre and improved map search tool will point you in the right direction.
The easier it is to access trusted, reliable data, the more likely it is that they will be used to make choices that are good for people and the planet.
