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Every fall, one of the planet’s most extraordinary natural spectacles occurs amid the fir forests of central Mexico: Millions of monarch butterflies land here to find respite from the cooling winter temperatures in northeastern U.S. and Canada for their annual hibernation. It is a phenomenon that the <a href="https://monarchconservation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monarch Butterfly Fund</a> affectionately refers to as “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDmKBvztIbk&t=1s" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the arrival of the sun’s daughters</a>.” The sight is both visually splendid and culturally important to the people of Mexico. Several myths surround this phenomenon, <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/monarch-butterflies-us-mexico/#:~:text=As%20pollinators%2C%20the%20monarch%20butterfly,enjoy%2C%20like%20squash%20and%20blueberries" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">such as beliefs that monarch butterflies are returning souls of loved ones</a>. &nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1323" height="1600" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18600" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG.jpeg 1323w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG-847x1024.jpeg 847w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG-768x929.jpeg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG-1270x1536.jpeg 1270w" sizes="(max-width: 1323px) 100vw, 1323px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Monarch butterfly sanctuary “Piedra Herrada.” Credit: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



This incredible event, a critical part of the monarchs’ life cycle, depends on Mexico’s forests. However, these forests are feeling the effects of global climate change. One of the effects is the rise of pests; a problem that is not unique to Mexico, forests pests are a growing threat in many other countries (for example, in 2024, WRI reported that forest pests are <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/europe-forest-loss-drivers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a growing threat to Europe’s forests</a>).  



To help tackle this issue in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Global Forest Watch (GFW) Small Grants Fund recipient <a href="https://focenmexico.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neovolcanic Axis Conservation Fund (FOCEN)</a> has developed a novel approach, combining alerts on GFW’s Forest Watcher app and complementary technology like drones to monitor pests and inform actions to eradicate them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A new challenge for monarchs and monitoring: Forest pests</h2>



FOCEN works regionally to create alliances for the conservation, restoration and responsible use of natural resources in central Mexico. Since 2000, FOCEN has worked to conserve the valuable forests in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR), a <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-see-mexico-monarch-butterfly-migration#:~:text=Travelers%20can%20help%20protect%20these,on%20UNESCO's%20World%20Heritage%20list.&text=In%20one%20of%20the%20planet's,fir%20forests%20of%20Central%20Mexico" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNESCO World Heritage Site</a>. Through the <a href="https://focenmexico.org/fondo-monarca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund (Monarch Fund)</a>, FOCEN has facilitated a scheme that provides economic incentives for the payment of ecosystem services to forest owners (ejidos — small landowners and Indigenous communities) across 12,367 hectares of forests, 91% of which are within MBBR’s core zone.



In 2021, after receiving a grant from GFW’s Small Grants Fund, FOCEN set out to address forest disturbance in the MBBR.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1600" height="761" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18601" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG.jpeg 1600w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG-1024x487.jpeg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG-768x365.jpeg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG-1536x731.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Peña Blanca viewpoint, “Sierra Chincua” monarch butterfly sanctuary. Credit: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



While conducting initial field investigations using Forest Watcher to identify areas of degradation and create reports on their findings, they quickly discovered that the primary cause of forest degradation in the Reserve is forest pests, specifically bark beetles, which attack weakened trees. Worse, they discovered that the beetles are continuing to spread as temperatures and drought increase, threatening forest habitat that is critical for monarch butterfly migration and overwintering.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1545" height="2000" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Imagen_Descortezadores_JL-Gallardo.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18602" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Imagen_Descortezadores_JL-Gallardo.png 1545w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Imagen_Descortezadores_JL-Gallardo-791x1024.png 791w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Imagen_Descortezadores_JL-Gallardo-768x994.png 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Imagen_Descortezadores_JL-Gallardo-1187x1536.png 1187w" sizes="(max-width: 1545px) 100vw, 1545px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A new way to use Forest Watcher and monitoring tools</h2>



FOCEN worked quickly to mobilize on this new finding. Teaming up with technical monitoring partner <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ambiomas_org/reels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ambiomas Acciones y Respuestas Adaptativas (Ambiomas)</a>, they adapted their project and set out to create an early warning system for monitoring forest pests and to develop capacity for using the system and monitoring the forest in a new way. &nbsp;



As a first step, FOCEN and Ambiomas recognized that engaging forest owners and community members living in and around the Reserve was essential. They created a comprehensive course with a corresponding manual and led a two-day intensive training event for 14 people on using Forest Watcher. Over the course of six months, community technicians from the participating ejidos and communities, with the support of Ambiomas and FOCEN, conducted more than 100 field visits and produced more than 1,000 reports on observations of forest degradation in the field. This provided the data needed to inform FOCEN’s development of an early warning system. &nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1600" height="1200" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18603" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG.jpeg 1600w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Training of community technicians from the Senguio ejido by the Ambiomas team. Credit: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



Next, FOCEN and Ambiomas, with support from GFW and the Monarch Butterfly Fund, took a multi-pronged approach to creating the early warning system. Realizing the time commitment of ground patrols and the limitations of satellite imagery, they incorporated multispectral drone technology that can capture data in multiple wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum (red, green, blue) to complement field visits and provide high-resolution imagery of forest degradation that satellites cannot always capture.



They selected five watersheds to assess that had historical records of monarch butterfly hibernation and that are critical to communities. After conducting drone flights, they used a Tree Density Calculator algorithm (available as a QGIS plugin) that provides an estimate of the number of trees present in the study area and shows the coordinates of each tree, creating a forest inventory that includes each tree’s precise location. They then assessed vegetation health using a platform to interpret the multispectral drone imagery and by assessing high-resolution images.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="663" height="505" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Tree-Density-Calculator-fig.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18604"/></figure>



Using the forest inventory, they performed a visual interpretation for each tree determined by the algorithm to have signs of disease, such as standing dead or dry trees and trees with dry tops. The identification criteria were based on the color and appearance of the tree.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="814" height="441" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Examples-of-dead-and-dry-trees-ENG.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18605" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Examples-of-dead-and-dry-trees-ENG.png 814w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Examples-of-dead-and-dry-trees-ENG-768x416.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 814px) 100vw, 814px" /></figure>



They compared this information with the reports generated during monitoring trips using Forest Watcher and found that the reports aligned with the visual interpretation of the images identified by the algorithm.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-English-v4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18606" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-English-v4.png 1080w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-English-v4-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-English-v4-300x300.png 300w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-English-v4-768x768.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></figure>



FOCEN and Ambiomas have now conducted multispectral drone flights for two consecutive years during the pre- and post-rainy season and at times of the year when monarchs are not present to determine the vitality of the fir trees and in order to have timely information on the possible presence of forest pests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Outcomes for improved pest monitoring and response </h2>



Thanks to the early warning system, FOCEN, Ambiomas and communities have been able to take targeted action in controlling bark beetles — namely, removing infected trees and wood debris, in accordance with Mexican regulations for controlling and preventing beetle outbreaks. More monitoring is needed to determine whether the bark beetles are now contained, and local communities are currently conducting pest and forest disease monitoring surveys as part of FOCEN’s Best Management Practices Programs within their <a href="https://focenmexico.org/cuenca-sierra-chincua" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">payment for ecosystem services program</a>.



The combination of tools and practices used in the early warning system provides an important complement to field monitoring. It has helped ejidatarios (community landowners), community members and field technicians monitor larger areas and less accessible places faster and has allowed them to better understand their territory. Using the information collected, they have been able to implement conservation and restoration activities that are helping counteract the effects caused by forest pests.



Additionally, FOCEN and Ambiomas have developed a <a href="https://focenmexico.org/microcuencas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MapBuilder and Story Map</a> for each of the five watersheds crucial to monarch hibernation that they monitored throughout the project to aggregate and represent all the data generated, making it possible to conduct spatial analyses with this information.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1430" height="678" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MapBuilder-screenshot.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18607" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MapBuilder-screenshot.jpg 1430w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MapBuilder-screenshot-1024x486.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MapBuilder-screenshot-768x364.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1430px) 100vw, 1430px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MapBuilder Application for the Nicolas Romero watershed. Source: FOCEN, 2022</figcaption></figure>



FOCEN and Ambiomas also worked with the team at GFW to make several improvements to Forest Watcher such as improving the location accuracy of reports and the ability to directly link reports to MapBuilder, which will help others interested in monitoring for pests or using these tools for other applications in the future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Adapting lessons for tackling forest pests around the world</h2>



In October 2022, FOCEN convened a workshop with the Reserve’s community technicians, technical advisors and researchers from the Colegio de Geografía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México to discuss the impact of climate change on forest degradation. As a next step for FOCEN and Ambiomas, greater funding is needed to allow the continuation of monitoring larger areas and to more accurately assess levels of forest degradation in the forests that monarchs depend on.



These impacts to forests and lessons learned are relevant for many geographies that are confronted with similar issues. FOCEN and Ambiomas found that, in addition to an early warning system to reduce response time to forest damage, early detection and monitoring activities are essential to prevent forest degradation from pests. This requires long-term aerial monitoring and strengthening the local capacities of forest owners, in coordination with the various stakeholders involved in the area.



As climate change continues to wreak havoc, less visible but damaging effects like forest pests are becoming more apparent. The issue of pests causing degradation is not isolated to Mexico, and others can learn from the technologies and approaches developed by FOCEN and Ambiomas and implement similar strategies in the areas that are experiencing similar challenges.



To learn more about FOCEN and Ambiomas’s work and their early warning system for forest pests, please contact <a href="mailto:eligio.garcia@focenmexico.org">eligio.garcia@focenmexico.org</a> or <a href="mailto:ambiomasorg@gmail.co">ambiomasorg@gmail.com</a>.



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A New Monitoring Challenge: Protecting Forests from Pests

Every fall, one of the planet’s most extraordinary natural spectacles occurs amid the fir forests of central Mexico: Millions of monarch butterflies land here to find respite from the cooling winter temperatures in northeastern U.S. and Canada for their annual hibernation. It is a phenomenon that the <a href="https://monarchconservation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monarch Butterfly Fund</a> affectionately refers to as “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDmKBvztIbk&amp;t=1s" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the arrival of the sun’s daughters</a>.” The sight is both visually splendid and culturally important to the people of Mexico. Several myths surround this phenomenon, <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/monarch-butterflies-us-mexico/#:~:text=As%20pollinators%2C%20the%20monarch%20butterfly,enjoy%2C%20like%20squash%20and%20blueberries" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">such as beliefs that monarch butterflies are returning souls of loved ones</a>. &nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18600"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Monarch butterfly sanctuary "Piedra Herrada." Credit: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



This incredible event, a critical part of the monarchs’ life cycle, depends on Mexico’s forests. However, these forests are feeling the effects of global climate change. One of the effects is the rise of pests; a problem that is not unique to Mexico, forests pests are a growing threat in many other countries (for example, in 2024, WRI reported that forest pests are <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/europe-forest-loss-drivers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a growing threat to Europe’s forests</a>).  



To help tackle this issue in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Global Forest Watch (GFW) Small Grants Fund recipient <a href="https://focenmexico.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neovolcanic Axis Conservation Fund (FOCEN)</a> has developed a novel approach, combining alerts on GFW’s Forest Watcher app and complementary technology like drones to monitor pests and inform actions to eradicate them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A new challenge for monarchs and monitoring: Forest pests</h2>



FOCEN works regionally to create alliances for the conservation, restoration and responsible use of natural resources in central Mexico. Since 2000, FOCEN has worked to conserve the valuable forests in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR), a <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-see-mexico-monarch-butterfly-migration#:~:text=Travelers%20can%20help%20protect%20these,on%20UNESCO's%20World%20Heritage%20list.&amp;text=In%20one%20of%20the%20planet's,fir%20forests%20of%20Central%20Mexico" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNESCO World Heritage Site</a>. Through the <a href="https://focenmexico.org/fondo-monarca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund (Monarch Fund)</a>, FOCEN has facilitated a scheme that provides economic incentives for the payment of ecosystem services to forest owners (ejidos — small landowners and Indigenous communities) across 12,367 hectares of forests, 91% of which are within MBBR's core zone.



In 2021, after receiving a grant from GFW’s Small Grants Fund, FOCEN set out to address forest disturbance in the MBBR.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18601"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Peña Blanca viewpoint, "Sierra Chincua" monarch butterfly sanctuary. Credit: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



While conducting initial field investigations using Forest Watcher to identify areas of degradation and create reports on their findings, they quickly discovered that the primary cause of forest degradation in the Reserve is forest pests, specifically bark beetles, which attack weakened trees. Worse, they discovered that the beetles are continuing to spread as temperatures and drought increase, threatening forest habitat that is critical for monarch butterfly migration and overwintering.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Imagen_Descortezadores_JL-Gallardo.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18602"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A new way to use Forest Watcher and monitoring tools</h2>



FOCEN worked quickly to mobilize on this new finding. Teaming up with technical monitoring partner <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ambiomas_org/reels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ambiomas Acciones y Respuestas Adaptativas (Ambiomas)</a>, they adapted their project and set out to create an early warning system for monitoring forest pests and to develop capacity for using the system and monitoring the forest in a new way. &nbsp;



As a first step, FOCEN and Ambiomas recognized that engaging forest owners and community members living in and around the Reserve was essential. They created a comprehensive course with a corresponding manual and led a two-day intensive training event for 14 people on using Forest Watcher. Over the course of six months, community technicians from the participating ejidos and communities, with the support of Ambiomas and FOCEN, conducted more than 100 field visits and produced more than 1,000 reports on observations of forest degradation in the field. This provided the data needed to inform FOCEN’s development of an early warning system. &nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18603"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Training of community technicians from the Senguio ejido by the Ambiomas team. Credit: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



Next, FOCEN and Ambiomas, with support from GFW and the Monarch Butterfly Fund, took a multi-pronged approach to creating the early warning system. Realizing the time commitment of ground patrols and the limitations of satellite imagery, they incorporated multispectral drone technology that can capture data in multiple wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum (red, green, blue) to complement field visits and provide high-resolution imagery of forest degradation that satellites cannot always capture.



They selected five watersheds to assess that had historical records of monarch butterfly hibernation and that are critical to communities. After conducting drone flights, they used a Tree Density Calculator algorithm (available as a QGIS plugin) that provides an estimate of the number of trees present in the study area and shows the coordinates of each tree, creating a forest inventory that includes each tree’s precise location. They then assessed vegetation health using a platform to interpret the multispectral drone imagery and by assessing high-resolution images.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Tree-Density-Calculator-fig.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18604"/></figure>



Using the forest inventory, they performed a visual interpretation for each tree determined by the algorithm to have signs of disease, such as standing dead or dry trees and trees with dry tops. The identification criteria were based on the color and appearance of the tree.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Examples-of-dead-and-dry-trees-ENG.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18605"/></figure>



They compared this information with the reports generated during monitoring trips using Forest Watcher and found that the reports aligned with the visual interpretation of the images identified by the algorithm.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-English-v4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18606"/></figure>



FOCEN and Ambiomas have now conducted multispectral drone flights for two consecutive years during the pre- and post-rainy season and at times of the year when monarchs are not present to determine the vitality of the fir trees and in order to have timely information on the possible presence of forest pests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Outcomes for improved pest monitoring and response </h2>



Thanks to the early warning system, FOCEN, Ambiomas and communities have been able to take targeted action in controlling bark beetles — namely, removing infected trees and wood debris, in accordance with Mexican regulations for controlling and preventing beetle outbreaks. More monitoring is needed to determine whether the bark beetles are now contained, and local communities are currently conducting pest and forest disease monitoring surveys as part of FOCEN’s Best Management Practices Programs within their <a href="https://focenmexico.org/cuenca-sierra-chincua" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">payment for ecosystem services program</a>.



The combination of tools and practices used in the early warning system provides an important complement to field monitoring. It has helped ejidatarios (community landowners), community members and field technicians monitor larger areas and less accessible places faster and has allowed them to better understand their territory. Using the information collected, they have been able to implement conservation and restoration activities that are helping counteract the effects caused by forest pests.



Additionally, FOCEN and Ambiomas have developed a <a href="https://focenmexico.org/microcuencas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MapBuilder and Story Map</a> for each of the five watersheds crucial to monarch hibernation that they monitored throughout the project to aggregate and represent all the data generated, making it possible to conduct spatial analyses with this information.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MapBuilder-screenshot.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18607"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MapBuilder Application for the Nicolas Romero watershed. Source: FOCEN, 2022</figcaption></figure>



FOCEN and Ambiomas also worked with the team at GFW to make several improvements to Forest Watcher such as improving the location accuracy of reports and the ability to directly link reports to MapBuilder, which will help others interested in monitoring for pests or using these tools for other applications in the future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Adapting lessons for tackling forest pests around the world</h2>



In October 2022, FOCEN convened a workshop with the Reserve’s community technicians, technical advisors and researchers from the Colegio de Geografía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México to discuss the impact of climate change on forest degradation. As a next step for FOCEN and Ambiomas, greater funding is needed to allow the continuation of monitoring larger areas and to more accurately assess levels of forest degradation in the forests that monarchs depend on.



These impacts to forests and lessons learned are relevant for many geographies that are confronted with similar issues. FOCEN and Ambiomas found that, in addition to an early warning system to reduce response time to forest damage, early detection and monitoring activities are essential to prevent forest degradation from pests. This requires long-term aerial monitoring and strengthening the local capacities of forest owners, in coordination with the various stakeholders involved in the area.



As climate change continues to wreak havoc, less visible but damaging effects like forest pests are becoming more apparent. The issue of pests causing degradation is not isolated to Mexico, and others can learn from the technologies and approaches developed by FOCEN and Ambiomas and implement similar strategies in the areas that are experiencing similar challenges.



To learn more about FOCEN and Ambiomas’s work and their early warning system for forest pests, please contact <a href="mailto:eligio.garcia@focenmexico.org">eligio.garcia@focenmexico.org</a> or <a href="mailto:ambiomasorg@gmail.co">ambiomasorg@gmail.com</a>.



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Cada otoño, uno de los espectáculos naturales más extraordinarios del planeta tiene lugar entre los bosques de abetos (oyamel) del centro de México: Millones de mariposas monarca aterrizan aquí en busca de un respiro a las frías temperaturas invernales del noreste de EE.UU. y Canadá para su hibernación anual. Es un fenómeno al que el <a href="https://monarchconservation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monarch Butterfly Fund</a> se refiere cariñosamente como «<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDmKBvztIbk&amp;t=1s" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">la llegada de las hijas del sol</a>». El espectáculo es a la vez visualmente espléndido y culturalmente importante para el pueblo de México. Existen varios mitos en torno a este fenómeno, como <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/monarch-butterflies-us-mexico/#:~:text=As%20pollinators%2C%20the%20monarch%20butterfly,enjoy%2C%20like%20squash%20and%20blueberries" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">la creencia de que las mariposas monarca son almas que regresan de seres queridos</a>. &nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18600"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Santuario de la mariposa monarca «Piedra Herrada». Crédito: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



Este increíble acontecimiento, parte fundamental del ciclo vital de las monarcas, depende de los bosques de México. Sin embargo, estos bosques están sintiendo los efectos del cambio climático global. Uno de los efectos es el aumento de plagas; un problema que no es exclusivo de México, las plagas forestales son una amenaza creciente en muchos otros países (por ejemplo, en 2024, WRI informó que las plagas forestales son una <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/europe-forest-loss-drivers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amenaza creciente para los bosques de Europa</a>).&nbsp;



Para ayudar a abordar este problema en la Reserva de la Biosfera de la Mariposa Monarca de México, <a href="https://focenmexico.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">El Fondo de Conservación del Eje Neovolcánico (FOCEN)</a>, beneficiario del Fondo de Pequeñas Suvenciones de Global Forest Watch (GFW), ha desarrollado un enfoque novedoso, combinando alertas en la aplicación Forest Watcher de GFW y tecnología complementaria como drones para monitorear las plagas e informar de las acciones para erradicarlas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Un nuevo reto para las monarcas y su monitoreo: las plagas forestales</h2>



FOCEN trabaja a escala regional para crear alianzas en favor de la conservación, la restauración y el uso responsable de los recursos naturales del centro de México. Desde 2000, FOCEN ha trabajado para conservar los valiosos bosques de la Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca (RBMM) de México, declarada <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-see-mexico-monarch-butterfly-migration#:~:text=Travelers%20can%20help%20protect%20these,on%20UNESCO's%20World%20Heritage%20list.&amp;text=In%20one%20of%20the%20planet's,fir%20forests%20of%20Central%20Mexico" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO</a>. A través del <a href="https://focenmexico.org/fondo-monarca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fondo para la Conservación de la Mariposa Monarca (Fondo Monarca)</a>, FOCEN ha facilitado un esquema que proporciona incentivos económicos para el pago de servicios ecosistémicos a los propietarios de bosques (ejidos - pequeños propietarios y comunidades indígenas) a lo largo de 12,367 hectáreas de bosques, 91% de los cuales se encuentran dentro de la zona núcleo de la RBMM.



En 2021, tras recibir una subvención del Fondo de Pequeñas Subvenciones de GFW, FOCEN se propuso abordar las alteraciones forestales en la RBMM.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18601"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mirador de Peña Blanca, santuario de la mariposa monarca «Sierra Chincua». Crédito: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



Mientras realizaban las primeras investigaciones sobre el terreno utilizando Forest Watcher para identificar las zonas de degradación y elaborar informes sobre sus hallazgos, descubrieron rápidamente que la principal causa de degradación forestal en la Reserva son las plagas forestales, concretamente los escarabajos descortezador, que atacan a los árboles debilitados. Peor aún, descubrieron que los escarabajos siguen extendiéndose a medida que aumentan las temperaturas y la sequía, amenazando el hábitat forestal que es fundamental para la migración y la hibernación de la mariposa monarca.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ES-pests-fig.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18628"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Fuente: Gallardo S. J.L. 2023</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Una nueva forma de utilizar Forest Watcher y las herramientas de monitoreo</h2>



FOCEN trabajó rápidamente para movilizarse ante este nuevo hallazgo. En colaboración con Ambiomas Acciones y Respuestas Adaptivas (Ambiomas), adaptaron su proyecto y se propusieron crear un sistema de alerta temprana para monitorear plagas forestales y desarrollar capacidades para utilizar el sistema y monitorear el bosque de una forma nueva.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Como primer paso, FOCEN y Ambiomas reconocieron que era esencial implicar a los propietarios de los bosques y a los miembros de las comunidades que viven en la Reserva y sus alrededores. Crearon un curso integral acompañado de un &nbsp;manual y organizaron un curso intensivo de dos días para capacitar a 14 personas en el uso de Forest Watcher. A lo largo de seis meses, técnicos comunitarios de los ejidos y comunidades participantes, con el apoyo de Ambiomas y FOCEN, realizaron más de 100 visitas de campo y elaboraron más de 1000 informes sobre observaciones de degradación forestal sobre el terreno. Esto proporcionó los datos necesarios para que FOCEN desarrollara un sistema de alerta temprana.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18603"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Capacitación de técnicos comunitarios del ejido de Senguio por el equipo de Ambiomas. Crédito: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



A continuación, FOCEN y Ambiomas, con el apoyo de GFW y el Fondo de la Mariposa Monarca, adoptaron un enfoque múltiple para crear el sistema de alerta temprana. Conscientes del tiempo que requieren las patrullas terrestres y de las limitaciones de las imágenes por satélite, incorporaron drones con tecnología multiespectral, capaz de captar datos en múltiples longitudes de onda más allá del espectro visible (rojo, verde y azul) para complementar las visitas en campo y proporcionar imágenes de alta resolución de la degradación forestal que los satélites no siempre pueden captar.&nbsp;



Seleccionaron cinco cuencas hidrográficas con registros históricos de hibernación de la mariposa monarca y que son fundamentales para las comunidades. Tras realizar vuelos con drones, utilizaron un algoritmo de cálculo de densidad de árboles (Tree Density Calculator, disponible como complemento de QGIS) que proporciona una estimación del número de árboles presentes en el área de estudio y muestra las coordenadas de cada árbol, creando un inventario forestal que incluye la ubicación precisa de cada árbol. A continuación, evaluaron la salud de la vegetación utilizando una plataforma para interpretar las imágenes multiespectrales de los drones y evaluando imágenes de alta resolución.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Tree-Density-Calculator-fig.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18604"/></figure>



Utilizando el inventario forestal, realizaron una interpretación visual de cada árbol que el algoritmo determinaba que presentaba signos de enfermedad, como árboles muertos o secos en pie y árboles con copas secas. Los criterios de identificación se basaron en el color y el aspecto del árbol.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ES-dead-trees-fig.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18631"/></figure>



Compararon esta información con los informes generados durante los viajes de monitoreo con Forest Watcher y comprobaron que los informes coincidían con la interpretación visual de las imágenes identificadas por el algoritmo.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-Spanish-v6.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18632"/></figure>



FOCEN y Ambiomas llevan dos años consecutivos realizando vuelos multiespectrales con drones durante la época anterior y posterior a las lluvias, así como en épocas del año en las que no hay monarcas para determinar la vitalidad de los oyameles y poder disponer de información puntual sobre la posible presencia de plagas forestales.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Resultados para un mejor monitoreo y la respuesta ante plagas&nbsp; </h2>



Gracias al sistema de alerta temprana, FOCEN, Ambiomas y las comunidades han podido tomar medidas específicas para controlar los escarabajos descortezadores,concretamente, retirar los árboles infectados y los restos de madera, de acuerdo con la normativa mexicana para controlar y prevenir los brotes de escarabajos. Se necesita más monitoreo para determinar si los escarabajos descortezadores están ahora contenidos y las comunidades locales están llevando a cabo actualmente encuestas de monitoreo de plagas y enfermedades forestales como parte de los Programas de Mejores Prácticas de Gestión de FOCEN dentro de su <a href="https://focenmexico.org/cuenca-sierra-chincua" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">programa de pago por servicios ecosistémicos</a>.



El conjunto de herramientas y prácticas utilizadas en el sistema de alerta temprana constituye un complemento importante a la vigilancia en campo. Ha ayudado a los ejidatarios, a los miembros de la comunidad y a los técnicos de campo a vigilar más rápidamente zonas más extensas y lugares menos accesibles y les ha permitido conocer mejor su territorio. Con la información recopilada, han podido poner en marcha actividades de conservación y restauración que están ayudando a contrarrestar los efectos causados por las plagas forestales.&nbsp;



Además, FOCEN y Ambiomas han desarrollado un <a href="https://focenmexico.org/microcuencas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MapBuilder y un Story Map</a> para cada una de las cinco cuencas hidrográficas que son cruciales para la hibernación de las monarcas y que monitorearon a lo largo del proyecto. En ellos, agregaron y representaron todos los datos generados, haciendo posible realizar análisis espaciales con esta información.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MapBuilder-screenshot.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18607"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Aplicación MapBuilder para la cuenca Nicolas Romero. Fuente: FOCEN, 2022</figcaption></figure>



FOCEN and Ambiomas also worked with the team at GFW to make several improvements to Forest Watcher such as improving the location accuracy of reports and the ability to directly link reports to MapBuilder, which will help others interested in monitoring for pests or using these tools for other applications in the future.



FOCEN y Ambiomas también trabajaron con el equipo de GFW para introducir varias mejoras en Forest Watcher, como mejorar la precisión de la ubicación de los informes y la posibilidad de vincular directamente los informes a MapBuilder, lo que ayudará a otras personas interesadas en la vigilancia de plagas o en utilizar estas herramientas para otras aplicaciones en el futuro.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Adaptar las enseñanzas para combatir las plagas forestales en todo el mundo</h2>



En octubre de 2022, FOCEN convocó a un taller con los técnicos comunitarios de la Reserva, asesores técnicos e investigadores del Colegio de Geografía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México para discutir el impacto del cambio climático en la degradación forestal. Como un siguiente paso para FOCEN y Ambiomas, se necesita mayor financiamiento que permita continuar con el monitoreo de áreas más extensas y evaluar con mayor precisión los niveles de degradación forestal en los bosques de los que dependen las monarcas.&nbsp;



Estos impactos en los bosques y las lecciones aprendidas son relevantes para muchas geografías que se enfrentan a problemas similares. FOCEN y Ambiomas descubrieron que, además de un sistema de alerta temprana para reducir el tiempo de respuesta a los daños forestales, las actividades de detección temprana y seguimiento son esenciales para prevenir la degradación de los bosques a causa de las plagas. Para ello es necesario realizar un monitoreo aéreo a largo plazo y reforzar las capacidades locales de los propietarios forestales, en coordinación con las distintas partes interesadas de la zona.&nbsp;



A medida que el cambio climático sigue causando estragos, los efectos menos visibles pero perjudiciales, como las plagas forestales, son cada vez más evidentes. El problema de las plagas que causan degradación no es exclusivo de México, y otros pueden aprender de las tecnologías y los enfoques desarrollados por FOCEN y Ambiomas y aplicar estrategias similares en las zonas que están experimentando retos parecidos.



Si desea más información sobre el trabajo de FOCEN y Ambiomas y su sistema de alerta temprana de plagas forestales, póngase en contacto con <a href="mailto:eligio.garcia@focenmexico.org">eligio.garcia@focenmexico.org</a> o <a href="mailto:ambiomasorg@gmail.com">ambiomasorg@gmail.com</a>.



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Un nuevo reto de monitoreo: Proteger los bosques de las plagas

GFW partner FOCEN is using a novel monitoring approach to tackle increasing forest pests in in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve.

Cocoa

Cocoa | Global Forest Watch Blog

commodities

commodities | Global Forest Watch Blog

Sofia Tenorio Fenton

Caroline Winchester

Sofia Scharrer

Ariana Carter

ECOM Research Team

Cocoa production has been linked to high rates of deforestation and biodiversity loss, making it a significant contributor to environmental degradation. Addressing and mitigating these negative impacts is essential for achieving a more sustainable cocoa supply chain.



ECOM, one of the world’s largest cocoa traders and processors that sources from over 30 countries, has made it a priority to reduce the negative impacts from their operations. One way they are doing so is by applying a standardized methodology developed by World Resources Institute (WRI) to ensure the cocoa beans they use are sustainably sourced and are not linked to forest loss.



Recognizing that collective action is critical to ending deforestation and no one company can tackle the problem alone, ECOM joined the <a href="https://worldcocoafoundation.org/programmes-and-initiatives/cocoa-and-forests-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cocoa & Forests Initiative</a> (CFI), facilitated by the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), and established in 2017 with the aim of ending cocoa-driven deforestation and restoring forest areas. Companies that joined the CFI agreed to map their supply chains, align methodologies on deforestation risk assessment and contribute to transparent monitoring and reporting.



To support these efforts, World Resources Institute (WRI) partnered with WCF and 19 major cocoa and chocolate companies to create <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/data-and-tools/data-resources-ending-deforestation-cocoa-west-africa/">two data-driven resources</a> available on GFW — the <a href="https://gfw.global/4bEEES2">West Africa Cocoa dataset</a> and the <a href="https://data.globalforestwatch.org/documents/gfw::cocoa-deforestation-risk-assessment/about">Cocoa Deforestation Risk Assessment (DRA)</a> — that ECOM has adapted and scaled to additional regions to secure a more sustainable cocoa supply chain.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1430" height="868" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cocoa-Deforestation-Risk-Assessment-Priority-2023.png" alt="" class="wp-image-16731" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cocoa-Deforestation-Risk-Assessment-Priority-2023.png 1430w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cocoa-Deforestation-Risk-Assessment-Priority-2023-1024x622.png 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cocoa-Deforestation-Risk-Assessment-Priority-2023-768x466.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1430px) 100vw, 1430px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Proactively identifying deforestation risk in cocoa supply chains</h2>



Prior to the Cocoa DRA, ECOM relied on broader, less tailored tools such as national level risk assessments or global data sets like the ones available on GFW. With the release of the Cocoa DRA, ECOM was able to adapt <a href="https://www.wri.org/research/mapping-cocoa-assessing-deforestation-risk-cocoa-cote-divoire-ghana" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">its methodology</a> to carry out widespread risk assessment in a standardized manner, expanding the model to other geographies and analyzing data from Cameroon, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Ghana, Nigeria, Peru, Mexico, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Vietnam and Uganda.



The flexibility of the Cocoa DRA has enabled ECOM to leverage global data and peer-reviewed methods while supplementing these with their own farm boundary data and ground verification (which is an essential component of cocoa monitoring since satellites can have trouble detecting cocoa grown under shade canopies).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="602" height="205" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Picture1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18569"/></figure>



Once high-risk areas have been identified, ECOM works with smallholder farmers to proactively tackle cocoa-linked deforestation, focusing on prevention through strategies like sensitization training or Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs. The focus on high-risk locations enables further engagement with farmers and remediation to avoid excluding them from the supply chain, which can lead to worse outcomes and accelerate deforestation.



For example, since 2021, ECOM has partnered with a customer and local farming communities in Ghana to promote agroforestry through a PES initiative. The program provides farmers with multi-purpose shade trees, and farmers receive financial incentives for maintaining these trees over three years, boosting adoption rates. To ensure the program’s success and its meaningful contributions to local biodiversity and ecosystem health, ECOM conducted comprehensive land assessments prior to implementation. These assessments identified suitable tree species and accounted for farmers’ needs. The initiative includes training in Good Agricultural Practices, environmental stewardship and business management. A progress report due later in 2025 will highlight its impact on biodiversity and ecosystem health.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1363" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Ghana-SourceTrust-1-2048x1363.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18570" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Ghana-SourceTrust-1-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Ghana-SourceTrust-1-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Ghana-SourceTrust-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Ghana-SourceTrust-1-1536x1022.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: ECOM</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Beyond regulatory compliance</h2>



As the cocoa sector is focused on preparing for compliance with regulations like the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), it is crucial to recognize the continued importance of solutions and approaches that go beyond near-term compliance needs to effectively address sector-wide, systemic challenges.



While regulatory compliance assessments are focused on whether deforestation risk occurred after a given cut-off date, they often do not help identify future deforestation risk or inform collective action. The Cocoa DRA is intended to support better allocation of resources for halting deforestation and to enable collaborative approaches among cocoa supply chain actors where they’re most urgently needed to address deforestation.



For example, in Côte d’Ivoire, ECOM is using information gained from the Cocoa DRA to inform multiple efforts aiming to protect forests and support sustainability. In one project, they’re collaborating with the <a href="https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/32209.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Green Innovation Centre of GIZ</a>, the German Corporation for International Cooperation, to provide training and awareness-raising to help farmers adapt to climate change, build resilience and increase incomes through climate-smart cocoa and agroforestry. Around the protected areas of the Bossematié Nature Reserve and the Beki Classified Forest, ECOM is working to tackle deforestation and improve conservation by helping farmers in the forest buffer zone transition to agroforestry. They collaborated with GIZ to develop a management plan for the Reserve’s buffer zone and are now developing an incentive scheme based on carbon stocks and additional planting of trees for promoting agroforestry practices.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1365" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cote-dIvoire-Daloa-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18571" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cote-dIvoire-Daloa-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cote-dIvoire-Daloa-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cote-dIvoire-Daloa-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cote-dIvoire-Daloa-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: ECOM</figcaption></figure>



Additionally, two briquette production units are being installed within two of ECOM’s partner cooperatives to promote the use of sustainable briquettes made from organic waste. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on firewood to help prevent deforestation.



Finally, ECOM is also supporting local nurseries to develop plants for on- and off-farm planting and distributing trees to further accelerate the transition to agroforestry. This will all be supported by a local plan to monitor and prevent deforestation. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1356" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Peru-Forestry-2048x1356.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18572" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Peru-Forestry-2048x1356.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Peru-Forestry-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Peru-Forestry-768x509.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Peru-Forestry-1536x1017.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: ECOM</figcaption></figure>



Using the Cocoa DRA and complementary data and tools, ECOM will continue ongoing monitoring efforts aimed at identifying and preventing future deforestation. This is a great step in the right direction, but ultimately, companies like ECOM need more solutions that can encourage collaborative approaches and continued innovation that prioritizes the needs of cocoa farmers and their communities. Only then can we truly achieve deforestation-free supply chains.



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Better Cocoa for the Planet: How ECOM is Reducing Deforestation in Their Supply Chain

Cocoa production has been linked to high rates of deforestation and biodiversity loss, making it a significant contributor to environmental degradation. Addressing and mitigating these negative impacts is essential for achieving a more sustainable cocoa supply chain.



ECOM, one of the world’s largest cocoa traders and processors that sources from over 30 countries, has made it a priority to reduce the negative impacts from their operations. One way they are doing so is by applying a standardized methodology developed by World Resources Institute (WRI) to ensure the cocoa beans they use are sustainably sourced and are not linked to forest loss.



Recognizing that collective action is critical to ending deforestation and no one company can tackle the problem alone, ECOM joined the <a href="https://worldcocoafoundation.org/programmes-and-initiatives/cocoa-and-forests-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cocoa &amp; Forests Initiative</a> (CFI), facilitated by the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), and established in 2017 with the aim of ending cocoa-driven deforestation and restoring forest areas. Companies that joined the CFI agreed to map their supply chains, align methodologies on deforestation risk assessment and contribute to transparent monitoring and reporting.



To support these efforts, World Resources Institute (WRI) partnered with WCF and 19 major cocoa and chocolate companies to create <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/data-and-tools/data-resources-ending-deforestation-cocoa-west-africa/">two data-driven resources</a> available on GFW — the <a href="https://gfw.global/4bEEES2">West Africa Cocoa dataset</a> and the <a href="https://data.globalforestwatch.org/documents/gfw::cocoa-deforestation-risk-assessment/about">Cocoa Deforestation Risk Assessment (DRA)</a> — that ECOM has adapted and scaled to additional regions to secure a more sustainable cocoa supply chain.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cocoa-Deforestation-Risk-Assessment-Priority-2023.png" alt="" class="wp-image-16731"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Proactively identifying deforestation risk in cocoa supply chains</h2>



Prior to the Cocoa DRA, ECOM relied on broader, less tailored tools such as national level risk assessments or global data sets like the ones available on GFW. With the release of the Cocoa DRA, ECOM was able to adapt <a href="https://www.wri.org/research/mapping-cocoa-assessing-deforestation-risk-cocoa-cote-divoire-ghana" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">its methodology</a> to carry out widespread risk assessment in a standardized manner, expanding the model to other geographies and analyzing data from Cameroon, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Ghana, Nigeria, Peru, Mexico, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Vietnam and Uganda.



The flexibility of the Cocoa DRA has enabled ECOM to leverage global data and peer-reviewed methods while supplementing these with their own farm boundary data and ground verification (which is an essential component of cocoa monitoring since satellites can have trouble detecting cocoa grown under shade canopies).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Picture1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18569"/></figure>



Once high-risk areas have been identified, ECOM works with smallholder farmers to proactively tackle cocoa-linked deforestation, focusing on prevention through strategies like sensitization training or Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs. The focus on high-risk locations enables further engagement with farmers and remediation to avoid excluding them from the supply chain, which can lead to worse outcomes and accelerate deforestation.



For example, since 2021, ECOM has partnered with a customer and local farming communities in Ghana to promote agroforestry through a PES initiative. The program provides farmers with multi-purpose shade trees, and farmers receive financial incentives for maintaining these trees over three years, boosting adoption rates. To ensure the program's success and its meaningful contributions to local biodiversity and ecosystem health, ECOM conducted comprehensive land assessments prior to implementation. These assessments identified suitable tree species and accounted for farmers’ needs. The initiative includes training in Good Agricultural Practices, environmental stewardship and business management. A progress report due later in 2025 will highlight its impact on biodiversity and ecosystem health.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Ghana-SourceTrust-1-2048x1363.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18570"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: ECOM</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Beyond regulatory compliance</h2>



As the cocoa sector is focused on preparing for compliance with regulations like the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), it is crucial to recognize the continued importance of solutions and approaches that go beyond near-term compliance needs to effectively address sector-wide, systemic challenges.



While regulatory compliance assessments are focused on whether deforestation risk occurred after a given cut-off date, they often do not help identify future deforestation risk or inform collective action. The Cocoa DRA is intended to support better allocation of resources for halting deforestation and to enable collaborative approaches among cocoa supply chain actors where they’re most urgently needed to address deforestation.



For example, in Côte d’Ivoire, ECOM is using information gained from the Cocoa DRA to inform multiple efforts aiming to protect forests and support sustainability. In one project, they’re collaborating with the <a href="https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/32209.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Green Innovation Centre of GIZ</a>, the German Corporation for International Cooperation, to provide training and awareness-raising to help farmers adapt to climate change, build resilience and increase incomes through climate-smart cocoa and agroforestry. Around the protected areas of the Bossematié Nature Reserve and the Beki Classified Forest, ECOM is working to tackle deforestation and improve conservation by helping farmers in the forest buffer zone transition to agroforestry. They collaborated with GIZ to develop a management plan for the Reserve’s buffer zone and are now developing an incentive scheme based on carbon stocks and additional planting of trees for promoting agroforestry practices.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cote-dIvoire-Daloa-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18571"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: ECOM</figcaption></figure>



Additionally, two briquette production units are being installed within two of ECOM’s partner cooperatives to promote the use of sustainable briquettes made from organic waste. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on firewood to help prevent deforestation.



Finally, ECOM is also supporting local nurseries to develop plants for on- and off-farm planting and distributing trees to further accelerate the transition to agroforestry. This will all be supported by a local plan to monitor and prevent deforestation. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Peru-Forestry-2048x1356.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18572"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: ECOM</figcaption></figure>



Using the Cocoa DRA and complementary data and tools, ECOM will continue ongoing monitoring efforts aimed at identifying and preventing future deforestation. This is a great step in the right direction, but ultimately, companies like ECOM need more solutions that can encourage collaborative approaches and continued innovation that prioritizes the needs of cocoa farmers and their communities. Only then can we truly achieve deforestation-free supply chains.



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Cocoa trader ECOM shows how companies can use data-driven resources reduce deforestation in their cocoa supply chains.

Better Cocoa: How ECOM is Reducing Deforestation in Their Supply Chain

indigenous peoples

indigenous peoples | Global Forest Watch Blog

Isabela Barriga

Inge Snip

A decade ago, the launch of Global Forest Watch (GFW) ushered in a new era of accountability and transparency around monitoring and protecting the world’s forests. To celebrate 10 years of impact, our Voices of Global Forest Watch series will highlight successes of GFW users, partners and community members throughout the year. We invite you to read, watch and share the stories of exceptional leaders in forest monitoring who have played a pivotal role in protecting forests everywhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6pfTvH6_520?si=NSmHYOeS_YIpeBBy" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







“Forests have protected the climate of our planet, including protecting against flood threats and soil erosion. They provide a source of water for essential needs, a variety of types of food, and oxygen. At their core, [forests] have provided everything for all of us.” – Muhammad Ichwan, National Executive Director of Indonesia’s Forestry Independent Monitoring Network (JPIK)&nbsp;



Indonesia is home to the world’s third-largest forested area. Founded in 2010, JPIK is a leading voice in the country’s battle against forest loss and illegal logging, as well as addressing the causes of deforestation, using GFW tools. Their work spans years of mobilizing communities, leveraging technology and advocating for sustainable forest management.&nbsp;



JPIK is a network of civil society organizations across Indonesia, form Papua to Aceh, that originally came together to monitor the application of Indonesia’s Timber legality Assurance System (SVLK).&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="624" height="468" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/JPIK-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18195"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Meranti logs resulting from illegal logging in Central Kalimantan Province. Credit: JPIK</figcaption></figure>



JPIK has grown into a national network, comprising 26 regional offices, over 614 individual members and 68 institutional members. As Ichwan explains, JPIK’s mandate now goes beyond monitoring logging; it combines community engagement with policy advocacy to create long-lasting solutions to prevent forest loss and degradation.



This expansion required a strategic rethinking of the monitoring framework used by independent monitors to enable them to advocate for legal and policy reforms to better address illegal logging and protect Indonesia’s forests.



The adoption of satellite technology, particularly GFW data, has improved JPIK’s forest monitoring capabilities significantly in recent years.



“The use of satellite technology today is quite helpful in JPIK’s work,” said Ichwan. “We use this technology as our basis for conducting field monitoring, and for evidence of complaints — to law enforcement, to certification agencies, government.”



For example, in a pivotal case in December 2022, JPIK used GFW data to uncover illegal logging activities in Central Kalimantan. The investigation revealed the illegal harvesting of ramin wood, a species <a href="https://wri-indonesia.org/id/wawasan/mengenal-cites-dan-perannya-mengatasi-perdagangan-kayu-ilegal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species</a> (CITES). “Through the GFW app we can track illegal logging sites in protected forests, the flow of wood into rivers, until it enters the company,” said Ichwan. By tracking the wood’s journey, JPIK exposed an operation aiming to disguise the illegally logged timber as legitimate. The findings were submitted to Indonesian authorities, leading to legal actions against the perpetrators.



The involvement of local communities, particularly Indigenous Peoples, is key to JPIK’s success. Indonesia’s forests are critical to the livelihoods of Indigenous and local communities, who often bear the brunt of effects of deforestation and poor forest management, facing increased risks of flooding, landslides and other environmental disasters. “If the forests are damaged or the governance of these forests is damaged, [Indigenous or local communities] will be most affected,” said Ichwan.



JPIK provides training to communities on independent forest monitoring and the use of GFW tools. According to Ichwan, empowering Indigenous Peoples and local communities to independently lead forest monitoring has been one of JPIK’s most effective strategies. “Indigenous or local communities are the primary independent monitoring actors because they are the closest party to forests, the closest to forests as their life support,” he said.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="468" height="312" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/JPIK-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18196"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Training on GFW with WRI Indonesia. Credit: JPIK</figcaption></figure>



In another case in Central Kalimantan, a group of Indigenous people trained by JPIK helped stop illegal logging in protected areas. Their efforts, which included reporting the violations to law enforcement, resulted in significant legal actions: criminal sanctions, withdrawal of SVLK certifications and fines for the perpetrators and others.



Looking to the future, JPIK recognizes the importance of involving Indonesia’s youth in forest monitoring. They plan to recruit and train hundreds of young people — aged 17 to 29 — on the principles of sustainable forestry, using GFW and forest advocacy. The goal is to equip this new generation with the skills needed to document, report and campaign against illegal logging and deforestation, while also using social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube to raise awareness.



This next generation of independent forest monitors will continue JPIK’s legacy of community-driven, technology-enhanced forest protection. According to Ichwan, continuing to use GFW in this work is key: “GFW, for us, is very important to support our work on forest monitoring, to counter the threat of deforestation and illegal logging in Indonesia.”



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Voices of Global Forest Watch: Muhammad Ichwan, Indonesia’s Forestry Independent Monitoring Network

A decade ago, the launch of Global Forest Watch (GFW) ushered in a new era of accountability and transparency around monitoring and protecting the world’s forests. To celebrate 10 years of impact, our Voices of Global Forest Watch series will highlight successes of GFW users, partners and community members throughout the year. We invite you to read, watch and share the stories of exceptional leaders in forest monitoring who have played a pivotal role in protecting forests everywhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<iframe width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6pfTvH6_520?si=NSmHYOeS_YIpeBBy" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







“Forests have protected the climate of our planet, including protecting against flood threats and soil erosion. They provide a source of water for essential needs, a variety of types of food, and oxygen. At their core, [forests] have provided everything for all of us.” – Muhammad Ichwan, National Executive Director of Indonesia's Forestry Independent Monitoring Network (JPIK)&nbsp;



Indonesia is home to the world’s third-largest forested area. Founded in 2010, JPIK is a leading voice in the country's battle against forest loss and illegal logging, as well as addressing the causes of deforestation, using GFW tools. Their work spans years of mobilizing communities, leveraging technology and advocating for sustainable forest management.&nbsp;



JPIK is a network of civil society organizations across Indonesia, form Papua to Aceh, that originally came together to monitor the application of Indonesia's Timber legality Assurance System (SVLK).&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/JPIK-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18195"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Meranti logs resulting from illegal logging in Central Kalimantan Province. Credit: JPIK</figcaption></figure>



JPIK has grown into a national network, comprising 26 regional offices, over 614 individual members and 68 institutional members. As Ichwan explains, JPIK's mandate now goes beyond monitoring logging; it combines community engagement with policy advocacy to create long-lasting solutions to prevent forest loss and degradation.



This expansion required a strategic rethinking of the monitoring framework used by independent monitors to enable them to advocate for legal and policy reforms to better address illegal logging and protect Indonesia's forests.



The adoption of satellite technology, particularly GFW data, has improved JPIK's forest monitoring capabilities significantly in recent years.



"The use of satellite technology today is quite helpful in JPIK’s work," said Ichwan. “We use this technology as our basis for conducting field monitoring, and for evidence of complaints — to law enforcement, to certification agencies, government.”



For example, in a pivotal case in December 2022, JPIK used GFW data to uncover illegal logging activities in Central Kalimantan. The investigation revealed the illegal harvesting of ramin wood, a species <a href="https://wri-indonesia.org/id/wawasan/mengenal-cites-dan-perannya-mengatasi-perdagangan-kayu-ilegal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species</a> (CITES). “Through the GFW app we can track illegal logging sites in protected forests, the flow of wood into rivers, until it enters the company,” said Ichwan. By tracking the wood’s journey, JPIK exposed an operation aiming to disguise the illegally logged timber as legitimate. The findings were submitted to Indonesian authorities, leading to legal actions against the perpetrators.



The involvement of local communities, particularly Indigenous Peoples, is key to JPIK’s success. Indonesia’s forests are critical to the livelihoods of Indigenous and local communities, who often bear the brunt of effects of deforestation and poor forest management, facing increased risks of flooding, landslides and other environmental disasters. “If the forests are damaged or the governance of these forests is damaged, [Indigenous or local communities] will be most affected,” said Ichwan.



JPIK provides training to communities on independent forest monitoring and the use of GFW tools. According to Ichwan, empowering Indigenous Peoples and local communities to independently lead forest monitoring has been one of JPIK’s most effective strategies. “Indigenous or local communities are the primary independent monitoring actors because they are the closest party to forests, the closest to forests as their life support,” he said.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/JPIK-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18196"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Training on GFW with WRI Indonesia. Credit: JPIK</figcaption></figure>



In another case in Central Kalimantan, a group of Indigenous people trained by JPIK helped stop illegal logging in protected areas. Their efforts, which included reporting the violations to law enforcement, resulted in significant legal actions: criminal sanctions, withdrawal of SVLK certifications and fines for the perpetrators and others.



Looking to the future, JPIK recognizes the importance of involving Indonesia's youth in forest monitoring. They plan to recruit and train hundreds of young people — aged 17 to 29 — on the principles of sustainable forestry, using GFW and forest advocacy. The goal is to equip this new generation with the skills needed to document, report and campaign against illegal logging and deforestation, while also using social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube to raise awareness.



This next generation of independent forest monitors will continue JPIK's legacy of community-driven, technology-enhanced forest protection. According to Ichwan, continuing to use GFW in this work is key: “GFW, for us, is very important to support our work on forest monitoring, to counter the threat of deforestation and illegal logging in Indonesia.”



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Voices of Global Forest Watch: Muhammad Ichwan, Indonesia's Forestry Independent Monitoring Network

Satu dekade yang lalu, peluncuran Global Forest Watch (GFW) mengantarkan era baru akuntabilitas dan transparansi dalam pemantauan dan perlindungan hutan dunia. Untuk merayakan 10 tahun dampaknya, seri Kisah Pemantauan dengan GFW (Voices of Global Forest Watch) akan menyoroti keberhasilan para pengguna, mitra, dan anggota komunitas GFW sepanjang tahun. Kami mengundang Anda untuk membaca, menonton, dan berbagi kisah-kisah para pemimpin luar biasa dalam pemantauan hutan yang memiliki peran penting dalam melindungi hutan di mana pun.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<iframe width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6pfTvH6_520?si=NSmHYOeS_YIpeBBy" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







“Hutan telah melindungi iklim planet kita, termasuk melindungi dari ancaman banjir dan erosi tanah. Hutan menyediakan sumber air untuk kebutuhan pokok, berbagai jenis makanan, dan oksigen. Pada intinya, [hutan] telah menyediakan segalanya untuk kita semua.” - Muhammad Ichwan, Direktur Eksekutif Nasional Jaringan Pemantau Independen Kehutanan (JPIK)



Indonesia adalah rumah bagi kawasan hutan terbesar ketiga di dunia. Didirikan pada tahun 2010, JPIK merupakan organisasi terdepan dalam perjuangan melawan dan mengatasi deforestasi dan pembalakan liar di Indonesia, salah satunya dengan menggunakan perangkat GFW. Upaya mereka ini telah berlangsung selama bertahun-tahun dalam pemberdayaan masyarakat, pemanfaatan teknologi pendukung pemantauan, serta mengadvokasi pengelolaan hutan yang berkelanjutan. JPIK adalah jaringan organisasi masyarakat sipil di seluruh Indonesia, dari Papua hingga Aceh, yang pada awalnya merupakan perkumpulan untuk bersama-sama mengawasi penerapan Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu (SVLK) di Indonesia.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/JPIK-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18195"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kayu bulat Meranti hasil pembalakan liar di Provinsi Kalimantan Tengah. Kredit: JPIK</figcaption></figure>



JPIK telah berkembang menjadi jaringan nasional yang terdiri dari 26 kantor regional tersebar di seluruh Indonesia, dengan lebih dari 614 anggota individu dan 68 anggota lembaga. Seperti yang dijelaskan oleh Ichwan, mandat JPIK kini lebih dari sekedar memantau penebangan kayu; JPIK menggabungkan pelibatan masyarakat dengan advokasi kebijakan untuk menciptakan solusi jangka panjang guna mencegah hilangnya hutan dan degradasi lahan.



Perluasan ini membutuhkan peninjauan strategis terhadap kerangka kerja pemantauan yang digunakan oleh para pemantau independen, sehingga memungkinkan mereka untuk mendorong reformasi hukum dan kebijakan yang lebih efektif untuk menangani pembalakan liar dan melindungi hutan di Indonesia dengan lebih baik.



Penggunaan teknologi satelit, khususnya data GFW, telah meningkatkan kemampuan pemantauan hutan JPIK secara signifikan dalam beberapa tahun terakhir.&nbsp;



“Penggunaan teknologi satelit saat ini cukup membantu kerja-kerja JPIK,” kata Ichwan. “Kami menggunakan teknologi ini sebagai dasar untuk melakukan pemantauan lapangan, dan sebagai data pendukung pengaduan - kepada penegak hukum, lembaga sertifikasi, dan pemerintah.”



Sebagai contoh, dalam sebuah kasus penting pada bulan Desember 2022, JPIK menggunakan data GFW untuk mengungkap kegiatan penebangan hutan ilegal di Kalimantan Tengah. Investigasi tersebut mengungkap adanya pemanenan kayu ramin – spesies yang tergolong Apendiks II atau sebagai spesies yang dilindungi <a href="https://wri-indonesia.org/id/wawasan/mengenal-cites-dan-perannya-mengatasi-perdagangan-kayu-ilegal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dalam sistem CITES</a> (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) – secara ilegal. “Melalui aplikasi GFW, kami dapat melacak lokasi pembalakan liar dalam kawasan hutan lindung, distribusi kayu melalui sungai, hingga masuk ke perusahaan,” kata Ichwan. Dengan melacak perjalanan kayu tersebut, JPIK berhasil membongkar sebuah operasi yang bertujuan untuk menyamarkan kayu yang ditebang secara ilegal menjadi kayu legal. Temuan ini kemudian disampaikan kepada pihak berwenang di Indonesia, yang kemudian berujung pada tindakan hukum kepada para pelaku.



Keterlibatan masyarakat lokal, khususnya Masyarakat Adat, merupakan kunci keberhasilan JPIK. Hutan Indonesia sangat penting bagi mata pencaharian Masyarakat Adat dan masyarakat lokal, yang sering kali menanggung beban terbesar dari dampak deforestasi dan pengelolaan hutan yang buruk, menghadapi peningkatan resiko banjir, tanah longsor, dan bencana lingkungan lainnya. “Jika hutan rusak atau tata kelola hutan buruk, [masyarakat adat atau lokal] akan menjadi pihak yang paling terkena dampaknya,” kata Ichwan.



JPIK memberikan pelatihan kepada masyarakat mengenai pemantauan hutan secara mandiri dan penggunaan perangkat GFW. Menurut Ichwan, memberdayakan masyarakat adat dan komunitas lokal untuk memimpin pemantauan hutan secara mandiri merupakan salah satu strategi JPIK yang paling efektif. “Masyarakat adat atau masyarakat lokal adalah pelaku utama pemantauan independen karena mereka adalah pihak yang paling dekat dengan hutan sebagai penopang kehidupan mereka,” katanya.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/JPIK-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18196"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pelatihan tentang GFW dengan WRI Indonesia. Kredit: JPIK</figcaption></figure>



Dalam kasus lain di Kalimantan Tengah, sekelompok masyarakat adat yang dilatih oleh JPIK membantu menghentikan pembalakan liar dalam kawasan lindung. Upaya mereka, termasuk melaporkan pelanggaran kepada penegak hukum, menghasilkan tindakan hukum yang signifikan: sanksi pidana, pencabutan sertifikasi SVLK dan denda bagi para pelaku, dan lain-lain.



Kedepannya, JPIK menyadari pentingnya melibatkan kaum muda Indonesia dalam pemantauan hutan. JPIK berencana untuk merekrut dan melatih ratusan anak muda - berusia 17 hingga 29 tahun - tentang prinsip-prinsip pengelolaan kehutanan berkelanjutan, serta menggunakan GFW dan advokasi hutan. Tujuannya untuk membekali generasi baru ini dengan keterampilan yang dibutuhkan untuk mendokumentasikan, melaporkan, dan mengkampanyekan perlawanan terhadap pembalakan liar dan deforestasi, serta menggunakan platform media sosial seperti TikTok dan YouTube untuk meningkatkan kesadaran masyarakat.



Generasi pemantau hutan independen berikutnya akan melanjutkan warisan JPIK dalam hal perlindungan hutan yang berbasis masyarakat dan didukung oleh teknologi. Menurut Ichwan, melanjutkan penggunaan GFW dalam pekerjaan ini adalah kuncinya: “GFW, bagi kami, sangat penting untuk mendukung pekerjaan kami dalam pemantauan hutan, untuk melawan ancaman deforestasi dan pembalakan liar di Indonesia.”



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Kisah Pemantauan dengan Global Forest Watch: Muhammad Ichwan, Jaringan Pemantau Independen Kehutanan Indonesia

As part of our Voices of GFW series, learn about Muhammad Ichwan's work with Indonesia's Forestry Independent Monitoring Network (JPIK).

Voices of GFW: Muhammad Ichwan, JPIK

Voices of Global Forest Watch: Muhammad Ichwan, Indonesia&#8217;s Forestry Independent Monitoring Network

amazon

amazon | Global Forest Watch Blog

Congo Basin

Congo Basin | Global Forest Watch Blog

Small grants fund

Small grants fund | Global Forest Watch Blog

Women are Leading the Way to Protect Some of the World’s Most Important Forests

Las mujeres lideran el camino para proteger algunos de los bosques más importantes del mundo

Para Wanita Memimpin Upaya Perlindungan Hutan-Hutan Terpenting Di Dunia

Les femmes montrent la voie de la protection de certaines des forêts les plus importantes au monde

This blog spotlights stories of women leaders using GFW tools and data to protecting some of the world’s most important forests.

Women are Protecting Some of the World’s Most Important Forests

A decade ago, the launch of Global Forest Watch (GFW) ushered in a new era of accountability and transparency around monitoring and protecting the world’s forests. To celebrate 10 years of impact, our Voices of Global Forest Watch series will highlight successes of GFW users, partners and community members throughout the year. We invite you to read, watch and share the stories of exceptional leaders in forest monitoring who have played a pivotal role in protecting forests everywhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U9q_I9KHLzU?si=KZVxl0wS0mpzEMi5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







“Forests are important as they play several roles. I consider forests to be the factor that allows us to stay alive.” – Serge Bondo Kayembe, Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière



Serge Bondo Kayembe, born in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), developed a passion for forest conservation at a young age. Growing up, he worked alongside his family in a forested area, where he became deeply aware of the importance of protecting these vital ecosystems.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Protecting forests is not only beneficial for us living in forests and around forests,” said Serge, “but also for others beyond our countries where wood is produced, where logging is done in tropical areas.”&nbsp;



Serge works with the Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière (OGF), a nonprofit working to protect DRC’s forests through resource monitoring, legislation and governance oversight using tools like GFW to detect and report illegal activities, which are further investigated in field missions. This monitoring is essential to ensure that forest laws are respected and that forests are protected.&nbsp;



Serge is proud of the work OGF has achieved so far,&nbsp;including receiving&nbsp;government support through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that enables OGF to act as an independent third party monitoring government forest-related activities. Thanks to this MoU, OGF’s work has gained acceptance from DRC’s Ministry of Forestry. This collaboration and tools like GFW have enabled OGF to&nbsp;secure&nbsp;more responsible and transparent management of forest resources by making information on forest exploitation accessible and governance processes clear and open. In a major achievement, this independent monitoring has led to proposed alternatives to protect critical areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;



For example, a DRC provincial government gathered key stakeholders to develop strategies for protecting the Luki Biosphere Reserve, a protected area in Central Congo Province. The area faces significant threats of deforestation due to charcoal production, agriculture and illegal logging, both from forestry companies and from local communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="800" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18043" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-1.jpg 1200w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



OGF used GFW’s deforestation alerts to identify the different causes of deforested activities, and used this information to prepare proposals for alternative activities that allow communities to sustainably meet their economic needs without causing deforestation and biodiversity loss in the reserve. This led to meetings between authorities and local stakeholders to develop strategies for protecting the reserve, introduce alternative economic activities for local communities and strengthen monitoring measures.&nbsp;



OGF actively involves local communities in this kind of work by raising awareness of the negative impacts of deforestation and providing trainings on how to protect natural resources. Through these trainings, OGF supported communities to monitor forests and report any suspicious activity. This participatory approach has strengthened the role of communities in conserving the reserve, making them more vigilant and proactive in protecting their environment.&nbsp;



In 2023 and 2024, with support from GFW’s Small Grants Fund (SGF), OGF worked on building the skills of a network of independent forest monitors, which currently consists of 25 organizations, to improve environmental monitoring and make conservation initiatives in the reserve more sustainable. OGF organized training courses for local forest monitors, government officials in charge of forest control and other civil society actors, resulting in more sustainable and participatory forest management.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1536" height="2048" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-1536x2048.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18044" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



“These tools allow us to access documentation, i.e. all logging titles, cutting permits, concession contracts,” Serge said, explaining how they use WRI’s Open Timber Portal and Forest Atlas for planning, while GFW’s near-real-time deforestation alerts are crucial for execution, helping forest monitors in the field identify and investigate the causes, such as bushfires or large-scale logging.&nbsp;&nbsp;



These tools also provide detailed, reliable, publicly available evidence that they can submit to authorities. This information has helped authorities to better understand the scale of the problem and take appropriate action.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1536" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-2048x1536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18069" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-768x576.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-1536x1152.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



In the Luki region, use of deforestation alerts has contributed to rapid detection and response to illegal activities, leading to a positive impact to protect forests and biodiversity. As a result, OGF has been able to not only improve monitoring and documentation of illegal activities, but fostered collaborations with local authorities for better law enforcement.&nbsp;



In addition to their work in Luki, OGF has made significant impacts in other regions. They contributed to a significant reduction in deforestation in several critical areas of the DRC through collaborations with various NGOs and the government. They have worked to ensure that local communities in many areas of the DRC have access to equitable benefits from forest resources, including the creation of social infrastructure. And their efforts have led to important legislative reforms aimed at strengthening forest protection and improving governance of natural resources.&nbsp;



The challenges for protecting DRC’s critical forests remain significant, and Serge recognizes that he, OGF, and the communities they work with have a long way to go in this ongoing fight for forest conservation and the rights of forest communities.&nbsp;



“At the beginning of my career, I thought it was going to be easy. But over the years, I’ve been doing this job for 12 years, I feel like I just started.”&nbsp;



<a href="https://ogfrdc.cd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more about OGF here.</a>



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Voices of Global Forest Watch: Serge Bondo Kayembe, Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière

A decade ago, the launch of Global Forest Watch (GFW) ushered in a new era of accountability and transparency around monitoring and protecting the world’s forests. To celebrate 10 years of impact, our Voices of Global Forest Watch series will highlight successes of GFW users, partners and community members throughout the year. We invite you to read, watch and share the stories of exceptional leaders in forest monitoring who have played a pivotal role in protecting forests everywhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<iframe width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U9q_I9KHLzU?si=KZVxl0wS0mpzEMi5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







“Forests are important as they play several roles. I consider forests to be the factor that allows us to stay alive.” - Serge Bondo Kayembe, Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière



Serge Bondo Kayembe, born in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), developed a passion for forest conservation at a young age. Growing up, he worked alongside his family in a forested area, where he became deeply aware of the importance of protecting these vital ecosystems.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Protecting forests is not only beneficial for us living in forests and around forests,” said Serge, “but also for others beyond our countries where wood is produced, where logging is done in tropical areas.”&nbsp;



Serge works with the Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière (OGF), a nonprofit working to protect DRC’s forests through resource monitoring, legislation and governance oversight using tools like GFW to detect and report illegal activities, which are further investigated in field missions. This monitoring is essential to ensure that forest laws are respected and that forests are protected.&nbsp;



Serge is proud of the work OGF has achieved so far,&nbsp;including receiving&nbsp;government support through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that enables OGF to act as an independent third party monitoring government forest-related activities. Thanks to this MoU, OGF’s work has gained acceptance from DRC's Ministry of Forestry. This collaboration and tools like GFW have enabled OGF to&nbsp;secure&nbsp;more responsible and transparent management of forest resources by making information on forest exploitation accessible and governance processes clear and open. In a major achievement, this independent monitoring has led to proposed alternatives to protect critical areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;



For example, a DRC provincial government gathered key stakeholders to develop strategies for protecting the Luki Biosphere Reserve, a protected area in Central Congo Province. The area faces significant threats of deforestation due to charcoal production, agriculture and illegal logging, both from forestry companies and from local communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18043"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



OGF used GFW’s deforestation alerts to identify the different causes of deforested activities, and used this information to prepare proposals for alternative activities that allow communities to sustainably meet their economic needs without causing deforestation and biodiversity loss in the reserve. This led to meetings between authorities and local stakeholders to develop strategies for protecting the reserve, introduce alternative economic activities for local communities and strengthen monitoring measures.&nbsp;



OGF actively involves local communities in this kind of work by raising awareness of the negative impacts of deforestation and providing trainings on how to protect natural resources. Through these trainings, OGF supported communities to monitor forests and report any suspicious activity. This participatory approach has strengthened the role of communities in conserving the reserve, making them more vigilant and proactive in protecting their environment.&nbsp;



In 2023 and 2024, with support from GFW’s Small Grants Fund (SGF), OGF worked on building the skills of a network of independent forest monitors, which currently consists of 25 organizations, to improve environmental monitoring and make conservation initiatives in the reserve more sustainable. OGF organized training courses for local forest monitors, government officials in charge of forest control and other civil society actors, resulting in more sustainable and participatory forest management.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-1536x2048.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18044"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



“These tools allow us to access documentation, i.e. all logging titles, cutting permits, concession contracts,” Serge said, explaining how they use WRI’s Open Timber Portal and Forest Atlas for planning, while GFW’s near-real-time deforestation alerts are crucial for execution, helping forest monitors in the field identify and investigate the causes, such as bushfires or large-scale logging.&nbsp;&nbsp;



These tools also provide detailed, reliable, publicly available evidence that they can submit to authorities. This information has helped authorities to better understand the scale of the problem and take appropriate action.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-2048x1536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18069"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



In the Luki region, use of deforestation alerts has contributed to rapid detection and response to illegal activities, leading to a positive impact to protect forests and biodiversity. As a result, OGF has been able to not only improve monitoring and documentation of illegal activities, but fostered collaborations with local authorities for better law enforcement.&nbsp;



In addition to their work in Luki, OGF has made significant impacts in other regions. They contributed to a significant reduction in deforestation in several critical areas of the DRC through collaborations with various NGOs and the government. They have worked to ensure that local communities in many areas of the DRC have access to equitable benefits from forest resources, including the creation of social infrastructure. And their efforts have led to important legislative reforms aimed at strengthening forest protection and improving governance of natural resources.&nbsp;



The challenges for protecting DRC’s critical forests remain significant, and Serge recognizes that he, OGF, and the communities they work with have a long way to go in this ongoing fight for forest conservation and the rights of forest communities.&nbsp;



“At the beginning of my career, I thought it was going to be easy. But over the years, I’ve been doing this job for 12 years, I feel like I just started.”&nbsp;



<a href="https://ogfrdc.cd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more about OGF here.</a>



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Il y a dix ans, le lancement de Global Forest Watch (GFW) a marqué le début d'une nouvelle ère de responsabilité et de transparence en ce qui concerne la surveillance et la protection des forêts du monde. Pour célébrer ces dix années d'impact, notre série Voix of Global Forest Watch mettra en lumière les réussites des utilisateurs, des partenaires et des membres de la communauté de GFW tout au long de l'année. Nous vous invitons à lire, regarder et partager les histoires de leaders exceptionnels dans le domaine de la surveillance des forêts qui ont joué un rôle essentiel dans la protection des forêts partout dans le monde.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<iframe width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U9q_I9KHLzU?si=KZVxl0wS0mpzEMi5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







« Les forêts sont importantes car elles jouent plusieurs rôles. Je considère que les forêts sont le facteur qui nous permet de rester vivant. »  - Serge Bondo Kayembe, Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière 



Serge Bondo, né à Kinshasa, en République démocratique du Congo (RDC), s'est passionné dès son plus jeune âge pour la conservation des forêts. En grandissant, il a travaillé avec sa famille dans une zone forestière, où il a pris profondément conscience de l'importance de la protection de ces écosystèmes vitaux.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;



« La protection des forêts n'est pas seulement bénéfique pour nous qui vivons dans les forêts et autour des forêts », a déclaré Serge. « Mais aussi pour d'autres, au-delà de nos pays, où le bois est produit, où l'exploitation forestière se fait dans les zones tropicales. »&nbsp;&nbsp;



Serge travaille avec l'Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière (OGF), une organisation à but non lucratif qui s'efforce de protéger les forêts de la RDC en surveillant les ressources, la législation et la gouvernance à l'aide d'outils tels que le GFW pour détecter et signaler les activités illégales, qui sont ensuite examinées plus en détail dans le cadre de missions sur le terrain. Cette surveillance est essentielle pour garantir le respect des lois forestières et la protection des forêts.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Serge est fier du travail accompli par l'OGF jusqu'à présent, notamment en recevant le soutien du gouvernement par le biais d'un protocole d'accord qui permet à l'OGF d'agir en tant que tierce partie indépendante chargée de surveiller les activités forestières du gouvernement. Grâce à ce protocole d'accord, le travail d'OGF a gagné l'acceptation du ministère des forêts de la RDC. Cette collaboration et des outils tels que le GFW ont permis à OGF de garantir une gestion plus responsable et plus transparente des ressources forestières en rendant les informations sur l'exploitation forestière accessibles et les processus de gouvernance clairs et ouverts. Une réalisation majeure est que ce suivi indépendant a permis de proposer des alternatives pour protéger les zones vulnérables.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;



Par exemple, un gouvernement provincial de la RDC a réuni les principales parties prenantes pour élaborer des stratégies de protection de la réserve de biosphère de Luki, une zone protégée dans la province du Congo central. Cette zone est fortement menacée par la déforestation due à la production de charbon de bois, à l'agriculture et à l'exploitation forestière illégale, tant par les entreprises forestières que par les communautés locales.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18043"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



OGF a utilisé les alertes de déforestation de GFW pour identifier les différentes causes des activités de déforestation, et a utilisé ces informations pour préparer des propositions d'activités alternatives qui permettent aux communautés de répondre durablement à leurs besoins économiques sans causer de déforestation et de perte de biodiversité dans la réserve. Cette démarche a mené à des réunions entre les autorités et les parties prenantes locales afin d'élaborer des stratégies de protection de la réserve, d'introduire des activités économiques alternatives pour les communautés locales et de renforcer les mesures de surveillance. &nbsp;



OGF implique activement les communautés locales dans ce type de travail en les sensibilisant aux effets négatifs de la déforestation et en leur proposant des formations sur la manière de protéger les ressources naturelles. Par ces formations, OGF a soutenu les communautés à surveiller les forêts et à signaler toute activité suspecte. Cette approche participative a renforcé le rôle des communautés dans la conservation de la réserve, les rendant plus vigilantes et proactives dans la protection de leur environnement. &nbsp;



En 2023 et 2024, avec le soutien du Fonds de petites subventions de GFW, OGF a travaillé sur le renforcement des compétences d'un réseau d'observateurs forestiers indépendants, qui comprend actuellement 25 organisations, afin d'améliorer la surveillance de l'environnement et de rendre les initiatives de conservation dans la réserve plus durables. OGF a organisé des formations pour les observateurs forestiers locaux, les fonctionnaires chargés du contrôle des forêts et d'autres acteurs de la société civile, ce qui a permis une gestion plus durable et plus participative des forêts.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-1536x2048.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18044"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



« Ces outils nous permettent d'accéder à la documentation, c'est-à-dire à tous les titres d'exploitation forestière, aux permis de coupe et aux contrats de concession », explique Serge, qui précise qu'ils utilisent le portail Open Timber et Forest Atlas de WRI pour la planification, tandis que les alertes de déforestation en temps quasi réel de GFW sont cruciales pour l'exécution, aidant les surveillants forestiers sur le terrain à identifier et à enquêter sur les causes, telles que les feux de brousse ou l'exploitation forestière à grande échelle.&nbsp; &nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-2048x1536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18069"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



Ces outils fournissent également des preuves détaillées, fiables et accessibles au public qu'ils peuvent soumettre aux autorités. Ces informations ont aidé les autorités à mieux comprendre l'ampleur du problème et à prendre les mesures appropriées.&nbsp; &nbsp;



Dans la région de Luki, l'utilisation des alertes à la déforestation a contribué à la détection et à la réponse rapides aux activités illégales, ce qui a eu un impact positif sur la protection des forêts et de la biodiversité. En conséquence, OGF a pu non seulement améliorer la surveillance et la documentation des activités illégales, mais aussi favoriser la collaboration avec les autorités locales pour une meilleure application de la loi. &nbsp;



En plus de son travail à Luki, OGF a eu un impact significatif dans d'autres régions. Elle a contribué à une réduction significative de la déforestation dans plusieurs zones critiques de la RDC grâce à des collaborations avec diverses ONG et le gouvernement. Elle a veillé à ce que les communautés locales dans de nombreuses régions de la RDC aient accès à des bénéfices équitables des ressources forestières, y compris la création d'infrastructures sociales. Leurs efforts ont conduit à d'importantes réformes législatives visant à renforcer la protection des forêts et à améliorer la gouvernance des ressources naturelles. &nbsp;



Les défis pour la protection des forêts critiques de la RDC restent considérables, et Serge reconnaît que lui-même, OGF et les communautés avec lesquelles ils travaillent ont un long chemin à parcourir dans cette lutte continuelle pour la conservation des forêts et les droits des communautés forestières. &nbsp;



« Au début de ma carrière, je pensais que ce serait facile. Mais au fil des ans, cela fait 12 ans que je fais ce métier, j'ai l'impression que je viens de commencer. » &nbsp;



<a href="https://ogfrdc.cd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pour en savoir plus sur l'OGF, cliquez ici.</a>



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Voix de Global Forest Watch : Serge Bondo, Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière  