Global Forest Watch Blog

Stay atop the latest forest research and news! The Global Forest Watch blog uses data to illuminate the state of forests worldwide and tells the stories of people dedicated to protecting them. Read about rainforests, deforestation, fires, sustainable agriculture, forest management and other topics critical to the future of forests.

AMPA volunteer using Forest Watcher

Forest Guardians in Action: Amazónicos por la Amazonía Tackles Environmental Crimes with GFW

GFW Small Grants Fund recipient AMPA is working with communities and authorities to to verify and raise awareness of environmental crimes.
Timber logging

Monitoring Forest Degradation for the EU Deforestation Regulation Using GFW

Under the EUDR, wood products entering the EU market must be degradation-free. Tools like GFW can help companies monitor for degradation.

An aerial shot shows the contrast between forest and agricultural landscapes near Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil.

Tropical Primary Forest Loss Worsened in 2022, Despite International Commitments to End Deforestation

Tropical primary forest loss was 10% higher in 2022 than in 2021 despite international commitments, according to new data on GFW.

Latest articles

Forest in Sweden

Timber Harvesting and Climate Change Are Depleting Europe’s Mature Forests

A new study found that important tall, mature forests are declining in some parts of Europe due to timber harvesting and climate change.

Suriname forests

Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Are Using Satellite Data to Fight Deforestation

Communities are increasingly using tools like GFW to gather evidence of deforestation and degradation on their lands and take legal action.  

African savannah elephants in the Maasai Mara

Protecting Critical Forest Habitats in the Maasai Mara with Mara Elephant Project

Maasai Mara forests in Kenya are vital for communities and wildlife. Mara Elephant Project helps protect these forests with data from GFW.

forest_fire_borneo

The Latest Data Confirms: Forest Fires Are Getting Worse

The latest data on forest fires confirms: Fires are becoming more widespread, burning nearly twice as much tree cover today as 20 years ago.

Amazon – Brazil, 2011.©Neil Palmer/CIAT

Global Forest Watch’s 2022 Tree Cover Loss Data Explained

New data shows high rates of primary forest loss in 2022. What does the data measure and how does it compare to other official estimates of deforestation?

Net forest greenhouse gas flux 2001-2022

What’s New With GFW’s Forest Carbon Monitoring

Carbon monitoring data on GFW provides information on where forests are gaining or losing carbon. In 2023, we updated this model with new data.

Oil palm plantation

3 Ways Global Forest Watch Can Support the EU Law on Deforestation-free Supply Chains

Companies and others can use satellite data to help establish whether commodities are deforestation-free as required under the EUDR.

Trees outside of dense forests in Ethiopia

Tree Cover Data Sets on Global Forest Watch, Explained

Global Forest Watch hosts three tree cover data sets. We explain the differences between them and how all provide valuable information on forests.

Global Forest Watch and Forest Resources Assessment

Global Forest Watch and the Forest Resources Assessment, Explained in 5 Graphics

Both GFW and FRA provide valuable information on the state of forests, and they both have important, and complementary, applications.