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Users In Action

Hear stories from the forest defenders working in the field.

Users In Action | Global Forest Watch Blog

indigenous peoples

indigenous peoples | Global Forest Watch Blog

Indonesia

Indonesia | Global Forest Watch Blog

Isabela Barriga

Inge Snip

<p><em>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 <strong>Voices of Global Forest Watch series</strong> 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;</em>&nbsp;</p>



<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>



<p></p>



<p><strong>“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.”</strong> – Muhammad Ichwan, National Executive Director of Indonesia’s Forestry Independent Monitoring Network (JPIK)&nbsp;</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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;</p>



<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>“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.”</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.”</p>



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

 

</div>



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

<p><em>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 <strong>Voices of Global Forest Watch series</strong> 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;</em>&nbsp;</p>



<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>



<p></p>



<p><strong>“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.”</strong> – Muhammad Ichwan, National Executive Director of Indonesia's Forestry Independent Monitoring Network (JPIK)&nbsp;</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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;</p>



<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>"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.”</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.”</p>



<hr> 

<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”="">
 

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

 

</div>



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

<p><em>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;</em>&nbsp;</p>



<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>



<p></p>



<p><strong>“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.”</strong> - Muhammad Ichwan, Direktur Eksekutif Nasional Jaringan Pemantau Independen Kehutanan (JPIK)</p>



<p>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.</p>



<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>“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.”</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.”</p>



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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

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Peru | Global Forest Watch Blog

<p><em>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 <strong>Voices of Global Forest Watch series</strong> 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.</em></p>



<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/81QXh8wJwno?si=qw9WDO8r0RXmgfy0" 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>



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<p><strong>“[Indigenous Communities] say they once hunted the animals, the fish; now they say they hunt deforestation through integrated deforestation alerts.” </strong><em>–</em> Wendy Pineda, General Project Manager for Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) in Peru. </p>



<p></p>



<p>This sentiment captures the essence of how Indigenous Peoples in the Peruvian Amazon are using advanced tools to fight deforestation.</p>



<p>RFUS, a partner with Global Forest Watch since 2016, has been pivotal in training and building the capacity of forest monitors, particularly in Peru’s Loreto region. Their work supports Indigenous Peoples in defending their rights and territories, and their collaboration with GFW has led to significant strides in forest conservation in the region. For example, a 2021 study looking at results from two years of monitoring found that communities using GFW data and tools were able to reduce deforestation in their territories by <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2015171118" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">52% within the first year alone.</a></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1365" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17848" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Since 2016, Rainforest Foundation US has been using Global Forest Watch tools with significant results in the fight against deforestation in Indigenous peoples’ territories.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Wendy Pineda, a specialist in geospatial technology and engineering and project management techniques, has been instrumental in creating participatory tools and training methodologies for these communities.</p>



<p>Wendy supports RFUS’s activities such as a training in 2017 for community monitors on how to use the Forest Watcher app for monitoring and verifying deforestation in the Ucayali region. This pilot led to scaling of programs from Ucayali to Loreto, which were the activities evaluated in the 2021 study.</p>



<p>Together with Peru’s National Protected Area Service (SERNANP), RFUS and local communities were able to use GLAD alerts to identify and halt illegal logging operations and coca cultivation in the buffer zone of the Sierra Divisor National Park. RFUS later extended field training using GLAD alerts and Forest Watcher to Loreto. In both Ucayali and Loreto, the field data collected through the community monitoring served as the basis for prosecution of those implicated in illegal deforestation by Peruvian government agencies.</p>



<p>RFUS currently works with approximately 200 Indigenous men and women using tools like GFW to improve monitoring of their territories and prevent the loss of forests and critical resources. This has led some communities to develop their own land management plans. RFUS has also made efforts to increase women’s access to technology by implementing a gender and social inclusion program, enabling more women to become monitors and trainers.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1086" height="724" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mirian-Sanchez-San-Jose-de-Pacache-community-Peru.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17849" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mirian-Sanchez-San-Jose-de-Pacache-community-Peru.jpg 1086w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mirian-Sanchez-San-Jose-de-Pacache-community-Peru-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mirian-Sanchez-San-Jose-de-Pacache-community-Peru-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Forest monitor Mirian Sánchez trains women from the San José de Pacache community, Peru, in using technology for forest protection.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Some communities’ demonstrated capacity to manage their territory has led to their inclusion in Peru’s <a href="https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minam/noticias/23055-comunidades-indigenas-usan-herramientas-tecnologicas-para-el-control-de-las-actividades-ilegales-que-impactan-en-el-bosque" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Conditional Payment for Ecosystem Services program</a>, providing financial support for ongoing monitoring efforts.</p>



<p>Wendy underscores the importance democratizing technology has played: “Now that [GFW has] been able to democratize information — satellite images, data — this information can be [used] by any Indigenous man or woman.” This shift enables Indigenous communities to independently manage their territories and understand their forests’ contributions to climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.</p>



<p>This has been a <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help/forest-watcher/webinars/beyond-satellite-monitoring-impacts-on-the-lives-of-indigenous-communities-in-the-peruvian-amazon/">game-changer</a> for helping more community members become expert technology users. “There are many iconic cases of Indigenous Peoples’ success using GFW tools,” said Wendy. For example, installing technology information hubs that provide access to early deforestation and wildfire alerts, helping communities produce research to support legal and judicial claims.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1365" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17850" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Rainforest Foundation US Peru team, led by Wendy Pineda, arriving at a partner Indigenous community in the Alto Napo region of the Peruvian Amazon.</figcaption></figure>



<p>However, forest monitoring does not come without risks and challenges. While the rise in data information available to Indigenous Peoples strengthens their ability to secure their rights, the increased visibility also exposes environmental advocates. “In that sense, we need to start thinking about how these technologies can also protect environmental defenders,” said Wendy.</p>



<p>RFUS continues to expand their reach. They are now working with 59 Indigenous communities across the Napo, Lower Amazon and Ucayali River Basins to create new satellite information hubs. RFUS also continues to strengthen existing forest monitoring systems, improving access to satellite information, internet and necessary equipment. These hubs enhance Indigenous trainers’ capacities to train forest patrollers and replicate trainings across other communities.</p>



<p>Reflecting on the impact of RFUS’s work, Wendy emphasized the importance of continued support and technological advancements: “Our efforts show that when Indigenous communities are equipped with the right tools, they become formidable defenders of their forests.” As RFUS and its partners push forward, they remain dedicated to empowering more communities and ensuring that the voices and expertise of Indigenous Peoples are at the forefront of forest conservation efforts.</p>



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Voices of Global Forest Watch: Wendy Pineda, Rainforest Foundation US

<p><em>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 <strong>Voices of Global Forest Watch series</strong> 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.</em></p>



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<p><strong>"[Indigenous Communities] say they once hunted the animals, the fish; now they say they hunt deforestation through integrated deforestation alerts." </strong><em>–</em> Wendy Pineda, General Project Manager for Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) in Peru. </p>



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<p>This sentiment captures the essence of how Indigenous Peoples in the Peruvian Amazon are using advanced tools to fight deforestation.</p>



<p>RFUS, a partner with Global Forest Watch since 2016, has been pivotal in training and building the capacity of forest monitors, particularly in Peru's Loreto region. Their work supports Indigenous Peoples in defending their rights and territories, and their collaboration with GFW has led to significant strides in forest conservation in the region. For example, a 2021 study looking at results from two years of monitoring found that communities using GFW data and tools were able to reduce deforestation in their territories by <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2015171118" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">52% within the first year alone.</a></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17848"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Since 2016, Rainforest Foundation US has been using Global Forest Watch tools with significant results in the fight against deforestation in Indigenous peoples' territories.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Wendy Pineda, a specialist in geospatial technology and engineering and project management techniques, has been instrumental in creating participatory tools and training methodologies for these communities.</p>



<p>Wendy supports RFUS’s activities such as a training in 2017 for community monitors on how to use the Forest Watcher app for monitoring and verifying deforestation in the Ucayali region. This pilot led to scaling of programs from Ucayali to Loreto, which were the activities evaluated in the 2021 study.</p>



<p>Together with Peru's National Protected Area Service (SERNANP), RFUS and local communities were able to use GLAD alerts to identify and halt illegal logging operations and coca cultivation in the buffer zone of the Sierra Divisor National Park. RFUS later extended field training using GLAD alerts and Forest Watcher to Loreto. In both Ucayali and Loreto, the field data collected through the community monitoring served as the basis for prosecution of those implicated in illegal deforestation by Peruvian government agencies.</p>



<p>RFUS currently works with approximately 200 Indigenous men and women using tools like GFW to improve monitoring of their territories and prevent the loss of forests and critical resources. This has led some communities to develop their own land management plans. RFUS has also made efforts to increase women’s access to technology by implementing a gender and social inclusion program, enabling more women to become monitors and trainers.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mirian-Sanchez-San-Jose-de-Pacache-community-Peru.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17849"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Forest monitor Mirian Sánchez trains women from the San José de Pacache community, Peru, in using technology for forest protection.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Some communities' demonstrated capacity to manage their territory has led to their inclusion in Peru's <a href="https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minam/noticias/23055-comunidades-indigenas-usan-herramientas-tecnologicas-para-el-control-de-las-actividades-ilegales-que-impactan-en-el-bosque" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Conditional Payment for Ecosystem Services program</a>, providing financial support for ongoing monitoring efforts.</p>



<p>Wendy underscores the importance democratizing technology has played: "Now that [GFW has] been able to democratize information — satellite images, data — this information can be [used] by any Indigenous man or woman." This shift enables Indigenous communities to independently manage their territories and understand their forests' contributions to climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.</p>



<p>This has been a <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help/forest-watcher/webinars/beyond-satellite-monitoring-impacts-on-the-lives-of-indigenous-communities-in-the-peruvian-amazon/">game-changer</a> for helping more community members become expert technology users. "There are many iconic cases of Indigenous Peoples’ success using GFW tools,” said Wendy. For example, installing technology information hubs that provide access to early deforestation and wildfire alerts, helping communities produce research to support legal and judicial claims.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17850"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Rainforest Foundation US Peru team, led by Wendy Pineda, arriving at a partner Indigenous community in the Alto Napo region of the Peruvian Amazon.</figcaption></figure>



<p>However, forest monitoring does not come without risks and challenges. While the rise in data information available to Indigenous Peoples strengthens their ability to secure their rights, the increased visibility also exposes environmental advocates. “In that sense, we need to start thinking about how these technologies can also protect environmental defenders,” said Wendy.</p>



<p>RFUS continues to expand their reach. They are now working with 59 Indigenous communities across the Napo, Lower Amazon and Ucayali River Basins to create new satellite information hubs. RFUS also continues to strengthen existing forest monitoring systems, improving access to satellite information, internet and necessary equipment. These hubs enhance Indigenous trainers' capacities to train forest patrollers and replicate trainings across other communities.</p>



<p>Reflecting on the impact of RFUS’s work, Wendy emphasized the importance of continued support and technological advancements: "Our efforts show that when Indigenous communities are equipped with the right tools, they become formidable defenders of their forests." As RFUS and its partners push forward, they remain dedicated to empowering more communities and ensuring that the voices and expertise of Indigenous Peoples are at the forefront of forest conservation efforts.</p>



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<p><em>Hace una década, el lanzamiento de Global Forest Watch (GFW) marcó un hito de responsabilidad y transparencia en el monitoreo y protección de nuestros bosques a nivel mundial. Para celebrar estos 10 años de impacto, nuestra serie <strong>"Voces de Global Forest Watch"</strong> destacará los logros de quienes han sido parte de esta gran iniciativa. Te invitamos a leer, ver y compartir las historias de líderes excepcionales que han jugado un rol fundamental en la protección de nuestros bosques.&nbsp;</em></p>



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<p><strong>"[Las comunidades indígenas] dicen que antes cazaban animales y peces, ahora dicen que “cazan” la deforestación a través de alertas integradas de deforestación."</strong> - Wendy Pineda, Gerente General de Proyectos de Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) en Perú. </p>



<p>Este sentimiento capta la esencia de cómo los pueblos indígenas de la Amazonía peruana están utilizando tecnología de punta para defender su territorio.&nbsp;</p>



<p>RFUS, socio de Global Forest Watch desde 2016, ha sido fundamental en la capacitación de monitores forestales, particularmente en la región peruana de Loreto.&nbsp;Su trabajo apoya a los pueblos indígenas en la defensa de sus derechos y territorios, y su alianza con GFW ha generado resultados sorprendentes&nbsp;en la conservación de los bosques en la región. Por ejemplo, un estudio de 2021&nbsp;reveló que las comunidades que utilizaron las herramientas de GFW lograron reducir la deforestación en un&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2015171118" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">un 52% en el primer año.</a>&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-uses-GFW-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17848"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Desde<strong>el </strong>2016, Rainforest Foundation US <strong>utiliza </strong>herramientas de Global Forest Watch con resultados significativos en la lucha contra la deforestación en los territorios de los pueblos indígenas.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Wendy Pineda, especialista en tecnología geoespacial, técnicas de ingeniería y gestión de proyectos, ha sido fundamental en la creación de metodologías participativas de capacitación&nbsp;para estas comunidades. Gracias a su trabajo, monitores comunitarios han aprendido a usar la aplicación Forest Watcher para identificar y verificar la deforestación, cuyos resultados positivos iniciales como piloto en Ucayali impulsaron la expansión del proyecto a Loreto, como se detalla en el estudio de 2021. &nbsp;</p>



<p>Junto con el Servicio Nacional de Áreas Protegidas del Perú (SERNANP), la RFUS y las comunidades locales&nbsp;utilizaron las alertas GLAD para detectar y detener la tala ilegal y el cultivo de coca en la zona de amortiguamiento&nbsp;el Parque Nacional Sierra Divisor. Posteriormente, RFUS extendió el entrenamiento de campo utilizando alertas GLAD y Forest Watcher a Loreto. Los datos recopilados en Ucayali en Loreto por el monitoreo comunitario sirvieron de base para procesar a los responsables antes las agencias gubernamentales peruanas.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Actualmente, RFUS trabaja con cerca de 200 hombres y mujeres indígenas que utilizan GFW para monitorear sus territorios y prevenir la pérdida de bosques&nbsp;y recursos críticos.&nbsp;Muchas comunidades ahora cuentan con sus propios planes de manejo&nbsp;territorial.&nbsp;Además, RFUS ha promovido la participación de las mujeres&nbsp;en la tecnología mediante la implementación de un programa de género e inclusión social, lo que permite que más mujeres se conviertan en monitores y capacitadoras.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mirian-Sanchez-San-Jose-de-Pacache-community-Peru.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17849"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">La monitora forestal Mirian Sánchez capacita a mujeres de la comunidad San José de Pacache, Perú, en el uso de tecnología para la protección del bosque.</figcaption></figure>



<p>El éxito de estas comunidades para gestionar su territorio les ha permitido acceder a programas como el <a href="https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minam/noticias/23055-comunidades-indigenas-usan-herramientas-tecnologicas-para-el-control-de-las-actividades-ilegales-que-impactan-en-el-bosque" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pago Condicional por Servicios Ecosistémicos de Perú</a>, lo que les brinda un apoyo económico adicional para continuar con sus esfuerzos de monitoreo.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Wendy destaca la importancia que ha tenido la democratización de la tecnología: "Ahora que [GFW] ha sido capaz de democratizar la información (imágenes satelitales, datos), esta información puede ser [utilizada] por cualquier hombre o mujer indígena". Este cambio permite a las comunidades indígenas gestionar de forma independiente sus territorios y comprender mejor el valor de sus bosques en la lucha contra el cambio climático y la conservación de la biodiversidad.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Con este <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help/forest-watcher/webinars/beyond-satellite-monitoring-impacts-on-the-lives-of-indigenous-communities-in-the-peruvian-amazon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">punto de inflexión</a>&nbsp;más miembros de las comunidades se han convertido en expertos en tecnología. "Hay muchos casos icónicos de éxito de los pueblos indígenas utilizando las herramientas de GFW", dijo Wendy. Por ejemplo, la instalación de centros de información tecnológica que brindan acceso a alertas tempranas de deforestación e incendios forestales, ayudando a las comunidades a&nbsp;respaldar reclamos legales y judiciales con investigaciones sólidas.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/RFUS-Peru-Alto-Napo-2048x1365.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17850"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">El equipo de Rainforest Foundation US Perú, dirigido por Wendy Pineda, llega a una comunidad indígena asociada en la región del Alto Napo de la Amazonía peruana.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Sin embargo, el monitoreo forestal también presenta riesgos y desafíos. Si bien la tecnología brinda más herramientas e información para garantizar sus derechos, esta visibilidad también expone a los defensores ambientales a mayores riesgos. "En ese sentido, tenemos que empezar a pensar en cómo estas tecnologías también pueden proteger a los defensores del medio ambiente", dijo Wendy.&nbsp;</p>



<p>RFUS sigue ampliando su alcance y actualmente trabaja con 59 comunidades en las cuencas de los ríos Napo, Bajo Amazonas y Ucayali para establecer nuevos centros de información satelital. Asimismo, la organización continúa fortaleciendo los sistemas de monitoreo forestal existentes, mejorando el acceso a información satelital, internet y equipos especializados. Estos centros permiten que los instructores indígenas desarrollen sus capacidades para capacitar a los guardianes forestales y replicar estas capacitaciones en otras comunidades.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Al reflexionar sobre los logros de RFUS, Wendy destaca la importancia de un apoyo constante y de la innovación tecnológica. "Nuestros esfuerzos muestran que cuando las comunidades indígenas están equipadas con las herramientas adecuadas, se convierten en formidables defensoras de sus bosques", afirma. Orientados hacia nuevos logros, RFUS&nbsp;y sus aliados seguirán trabajando para empoderar a más comunidades y garantizar que las voces y conocimientos de los pueblos indígenas estén a la vanguardia en la conservación forestal.&nbsp;</p>



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Voces de Global Forest Watch: Wendy Pineda, Rainforest Foundation US 

As part of our Voices of Global Forest Watch series, learn about Wendy Pineda's work in Peru with Rainforest Foundation US

Voices of GFW: Wendy Pineda, Rainforest Foundation US

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amazon | Global Forest Watch Blog

Jessica Webb

Peter Veit

<p>The Saamaka, an Afro-descendent tribal community, reside deep in the heart of Suriname’s Amazonian rainforest. They’ve maintained their plots of land and small farms for generations, relying on the bounty of fruits, nuts and medicines the surrounding tropical forest provides. &nbsp;</p>



<p>But lately, their forested territory has seen unwelcome visitors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A logging company began bulldozing a road right through the Saamaka’s forest in early 2023. While the Suriname government sanctioned the logging concession, it came without the Saamaka’s consent, despite a 2007 ruling from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights requiring their approval for such projects. The road is just the latest threat facing the Saamaka’s land, on top of flooding from hydropower dams and water pollution from nearby mining operations. &nbsp;</p>



<p>&nbsp;“We are losing our very way of life — our food, our water, our land,” said Hugo Jabini, a community leader and spokesperson for the Saamaka. “We can no longer afford to be invisible.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="455" height="342" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/HugoPPT3.jpg" alt="Saamaka leader Hugo Jabini leads a kuutu, a meeting of Saamakan communities." class="wp-image-16456"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hugo Jabini leads a kuutu, a meeting of Saamakan communities.&nbsp;</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>The Saamaka’s story is a common one. Indigenous Peoples and local communities hold some of the most pristine and resource-rich lands in the world — areas highly coveted by mining and logging companies and other profiteers.&nbsp; Land grabs and other threats are especially severe in places where the government does not recognize communities’ land rights, or where anti-deforestation and other laws are weak or poorly enforced. It’s the reason many Indigenous Peoples and local communities often take land monitoring into their own hands — and some are now using digital tools to do it.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Freely available satellite imagery and data from sites like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/">Global Forest Watch</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.landmarkmap.org/data/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LandMark</a>&nbsp;provide near-real-time information that tracks deforestation and land degradation. Indigenous and local communities are increasingly using tools like this to gather evidence that deforestation and degradation are happening on their lands, build their case against illegal activities and take legal action to prevent it from continuing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Three examples from Suriname, Indonesia and Peru illustrate a growing trend in fighting land rights violations with data.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">In Suriname, Deforestation Data Reveals Threats to the Saamaka’s Land Rights &nbsp;</h2>



<p>In 2007, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights compelled the government of Suriname to recognize the traditional land rights of the Saamaka and other Indigenous and community groups in Suriname. &nbsp;Yet satellite data from Global Forest Watch shows that since the judgment in 2007, tree cover loss actually increased in the Saamaka’s lands, largely from logging and mining activities. Tree cover loss inside government-granted logging concessions in and surrounding the Saamaka territory totaled 44,700 hectares, a 5.5% loss in tree cover from 2001-2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



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<p>Monthly satellite images from March 2023 to October 2023 show the gradual construction of a road being carved through the heart of the Saamaka territory and leading to a government-granted logging concession. The Saamaka say the road was constructed without their knowledge or consent.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1226" height="531" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Suriname-logging-road.gif" alt="Gif of road construction progress through the Saamaka’s forested territory. March-October 2023" class="wp-image-16455"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Road construction progresses through the Saamaka’s forested territory. Source: Planet imagery on Global Forest Watch.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Armed with this data and imagery, Jabini and seven other representatives from Suriname’s Indigenous and local communities traveled more than 2,500 miles to Washington, D.C., presenting their evidence to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in November 2023. Jabini hopes the commission will reopen its court case against the Suriname government to strengthen traditional land rights.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We are not here to fight the government; we are just fighting for our rights,” Jabini said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">In Indonesia, Indigenous Peoples Use Satellite Data to Track and Report Illegal Timber &nbsp;</h2>



<p>In the eastern-most edges of Indonesia lies an archipelago of 832 islands containing some of the country’s most pristine remaining rainforests. The Aru Islands are home to more than 60,000 Indigenous Aruese, who speak 14 different tribal languages. Their lives are deeply intertwined with the forests they call home, hunting deer, harvesting tree gum, and maintaining a strong spiritual connection with the forests believed to harbor the souls of their ancestors.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="965" height="651" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/aru-islands-2.jpg" alt="Indonesia’s Aru Islands" class="wp-image-16458" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/aru-islands-2.jpg 965w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/aru-islands-2-768x518.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 965px) 100vw, 965px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Indonesia’s Aru Islands hold some of the country’s most pristine rainforests and are home to more than 60,000 Indigenous Aruese. Photo by Forest Watch Indonesia.</figcaption></figure>



<p>As forests in more easily accessible areas of Indonesia such as Java and Borneo have been cleared, increasing pressure for valuable timber species and land for growing crops like sugar has reached the shores of the Aru Islands. Aru Indigenous Peoples and&nbsp;<a href="https://fwi.or.id/en/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI),</a>&nbsp;a civil society organization, have been working together to monitor, document and halt illegal logging using satellite data.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/data-and-research/early-warning-systems-for-deforestation-an-explainer/">deforestation alerts</a>&nbsp;from Global Forest Watch, FWI conducts desk analyses to identify priority locations for forest monitoring. They train Aru Forest Monitors on how to navigate to areas of forest where satellites detected recent clearings, using the&nbsp;<a href="https://forestwatcher.globalforestwatch.org/">Forest Watcher mobile app</a>. They also document evidence of deforestation with the app by taking photos and recording written or audio observations of the causes of the clearing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Forest Monitors then continually track the extraction of timber from these deforestation sites, oftentimes following the wood to local ports, photographing identifiable information of ships containing illegally harvested timber, and transmitting this information to FWI. The organization then synthesizes the information and passes it to Indonesian authorities, who can then intercept the ships when they dock in Java before reaching international waters. In February 2019, the evidence that Indigenous Forest Monitors documented prompted the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry to seize 38 containers of illegally harvested timber. High-profile examples like this can serve as a deterrent for future illegal logging.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Indigenous Communities in Peru Deploy Technology to Reduce Illegal Deforestation and Strengthen Land Rights</h2>



<p>A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/people/indigenous-forest-monitors-reduce-deforestation/">two-year study</a>&nbsp;in the Northeastern Amazon region of Peru found that communities who used satellite-based forest monitoring technologies and data significantly reduced deforestation on their lands.</p>



<p>Equipped with deforestation alerts accessed from Forest Watcher and Global Forest Watch, forest monitors representing 36 local communities patrolled their ancestral lands. They documented evidence of encroachment from illicit coca plantations and illegal logging, using satellite imagery, photos, written documentation and drone footage. The monitors presented this information in community assemblies to collectively determine what action to take. Depending on the situation, they then either asked the invaders to leave by showing evidence that they had crossed over into community lands, or submitted documentation to Peruvian law enforcement, who then followed up with official field investigations.&nbsp;</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="455" height="607" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/p_paisa_20150105_113737-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16459"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A community monitor in Remanso del Amazonas identifies early warning signs of deforestation. Photo by Beder Olortegui.</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Ultimately, the communities that used forest monitoring technologies reduced deforestation in their territories by 52% in the first year and an additional 21% in the second year, as compared to a similar number of communities in a control group. The communities using monitoring technologies also reported higher satisfaction with forest governance.</p>



<p>Since the study concluded, communities with experience using monitoring technologies are now training communities in the control group to do the same. The communities who succeeded in reducing deforestation have also received direct payments from the&nbsp;<a href="https://rainforestfoundation.org/our-work/approaches/rainforest-alert/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Rainforest Foundation US’s Rainforest Alert program</a>, a payment system for keeping forests conserved.</p>



<p>Most recently, some communities allocated that funding towards strengthening and expanding legal recognition of their ancestral lands. Community land titling in Peru is a slow and bureaucratic process. With the funds, communities were able to georeference the limits of their lands; contract soil analysts, lawyers and Geographic Information System (GIS) specialists; and petition the government for land titles. They succeeded in obtaining titles to their territories in just 10 months – a process that normally takes years or even decades.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Open Data Supports Communities, but More Secure Land Rights Are Essential&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Satellite data and imagery are critical tools because they provide transparent, independent evidence of suspected violations. They allow communities to rapidly monitor and document forest disturbances over large areas and long periods of time at low cost, thus reducing expensive field patrols. Moreover, much of the monitoring and documentation can be done remotely from the safety of a laptop, without risking face-to-face confrontation with encroachers. This is especially important because environmental defenders face growing threats. In 2022, at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/environmental-activists/standing-firm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">177 environmental defenders were killed</a>, 36% of whom were Indigenous.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Given the power of satellite data to help communities protect their land rights, data creators and managers need to ensure that communities continue to have access to open data and technology. Communities also need support in data use, including tailored&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/grants-and-fellowships/about/">training resources</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/grants-and-fellowships/about/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">financial support</a>&nbsp;and facilitating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help/map/webinars/webinar-strengthening-the-role-of-indigenous-youth-in-forest-protection-perspectives-from-latin-america/">sharing of experiences</a>.</p>



<p>However, while satellite data helps communities document and take action on illegal deforestation and related infractions, governments ultimately need to recognize and enforce Indigenous Peoples’ and communities’ land rights. Stronger and more secure land rights — with higher penalties for infractions — are more likely to deter illegal activity from occurring in the first place, or at least ensure a swift and decisive end to violations.</p>



<p>Indigenous Peoples and local communities have stewarded their lands and natural resources for centuries. Though more secure land rights are ultimately needed, satellite data can help them manage threats to their lands now and conserve their homes for generations to come.</p>



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Originally appeared on <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/indigenous-peoples-local-communities-use-satellite-data-deforestation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WRI Insights</a>. 
 

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

<p>The Saamaka, an Afro-descendent tribal community, reside deep in the heart of Suriname’s Amazonian rainforest. They’ve maintained their plots of land and small farms for generations, relying on the bounty of fruits, nuts and medicines the surrounding tropical forest provides. &nbsp;</p>



<p>But lately, their forested territory has seen unwelcome visitors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A logging company began bulldozing a road right through the Saamaka’s forest in early 2023. While the Suriname government sanctioned the logging concession, it came without the Saamaka’s consent, despite a 2007 ruling from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights requiring their approval for such projects. The road is just the latest threat facing the Saamaka’s land, on top of flooding from hydropower dams and water pollution from nearby mining operations. &nbsp;</p>



<p>&nbsp;“We are losing our very way of life — our food, our water, our land,” said Hugo Jabini, a community leader and spokesperson for the Saamaka. “We can no longer afford to be invisible.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/HugoPPT3.jpg" alt="Saamaka leader Hugo Jabini leads a kuutu, a meeting of Saamakan communities." class="wp-image-16456"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hugo Jabini leads a kuutu, a meeting of Saamakan communities.&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>



<p>The Saamaka’s story is a common one. Indigenous Peoples and local communities hold some of the most pristine and resource-rich lands in the world — areas highly coveted by mining and logging companies and other profiteers.&nbsp; Land grabs and other threats are especially severe in places where the government does not recognize communities’ land rights, or where anti-deforestation and other laws are weak or poorly enforced. It’s the reason many Indigenous Peoples and local communities often take land monitoring into their own hands — and some are now using digital tools to do it.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Freely available satellite imagery and data from sites like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/">Global Forest Watch</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.landmarkmap.org/data/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LandMark</a>&nbsp;provide near-real-time information that tracks deforestation and land degradation. Indigenous and local communities are increasingly using tools like this to gather evidence that deforestation and degradation are happening on their lands, build their case against illegal activities and take legal action to prevent it from continuing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Three examples from Suriname, Indonesia and Peru illustrate a growing trend in fighting land rights violations with data.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">In Suriname, Deforestation Data Reveals Threats to the Saamaka’s Land Rights &nbsp;</h2>



<p>In 2007, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights compelled the government of Suriname to recognize the traditional land rights of the Saamaka and other Indigenous and community groups in Suriname. &nbsp;Yet satellite data from Global Forest Watch shows that since the judgment in 2007, tree cover loss actually increased in the Saamaka’s lands, largely from logging and mining activities. Tree cover loss inside government-granted logging concessions in and surrounding the Saamaka territory totaled 44,700 hectares, a 5.5% loss in tree cover from 2001-2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/15824378?240776"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div>



<p>Monthly satellite images from March 2023 to October 2023 show the gradual construction of a road being carved through the heart of the Saamaka territory and leading to a government-granted logging concession. The Saamaka say the road was constructed without their knowledge or consent.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Suriname-logging-road.gif" alt="Gif of road construction progress through the Saamaka’s forested territory. March-October 2023" class="wp-image-16455"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Road construction progresses through the Saamaka’s forested territory. Source: Planet imagery on Global Forest Watch.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Armed with this data and imagery, Jabini and seven other representatives from Suriname’s Indigenous and local communities traveled more than 2,500 miles to Washington, D.C., presenting their evidence to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in November 2023. Jabini hopes the commission will reopen its court case against the Suriname government to strengthen traditional land rights.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We are not here to fight the government; we are just fighting for our rights,” Jabini said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">In Indonesia, Indigenous Peoples Use Satellite Data to Track and Report Illegal Timber &nbsp;</h2>



<p>In the eastern-most edges of Indonesia lies an archipelago of 832 islands containing some of the country’s most pristine remaining rainforests. The Aru Islands are home to more than 60,000 Indigenous Aruese, who speak 14 different tribal languages. Their lives are deeply intertwined with the forests they call home, hunting deer, harvesting tree gum, and maintaining a strong spiritual connection with the forests believed to harbor the souls of their ancestors.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/aru-islands-2.jpg" alt="Indonesia’s Aru Islands" class="wp-image-16458"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Indonesia’s Aru Islands hold some of the country’s most pristine rainforests and are home to more than 60,000 Indigenous Aruese. Photo by Forest Watch Indonesia.</figcaption></figure>



<p>As forests in more easily accessible areas of Indonesia such as Java and Borneo have been cleared, increasing pressure for valuable timber species and land for growing crops like sugar has reached the shores of the Aru Islands. Aru Indigenous Peoples and&nbsp;<a href="https://fwi.or.id/en/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI),</a>&nbsp;a civil society organization, have been working together to monitor, document and halt illegal logging using satellite data.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/data-and-research/early-warning-systems-for-deforestation-an-explainer/">deforestation alerts</a>&nbsp;from Global Forest Watch, FWI conducts desk analyses to identify priority locations for forest monitoring. They train Aru Forest Monitors on how to navigate to areas of forest where satellites detected recent clearings, using the&nbsp;<a href="https://forestwatcher.globalforestwatch.org/">Forest Watcher mobile app</a>. They also document evidence of deforestation with the app by taking photos and recording written or audio observations of the causes of the clearing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Forest Monitors then continually track the extraction of timber from these deforestation sites, oftentimes following the wood to local ports, photographing identifiable information of ships containing illegally harvested timber, and transmitting this information to FWI. The organization then synthesizes the information and passes it to Indonesian authorities, who can then intercept the ships when they dock in Java before reaching international waters. In February 2019, the evidence that Indigenous Forest Monitors documented prompted the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry to seize 38 containers of illegally harvested timber. High-profile examples like this can serve as a deterrent for future illegal logging.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Indigenous Communities in Peru Deploy Technology to Reduce Illegal Deforestation and Strengthen Land Rights</h2>



<p>A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/people/indigenous-forest-monitors-reduce-deforestation/">two-year study</a>&nbsp;in the Northeastern Amazon region of Peru found that communities who used satellite-based forest monitoring technologies and data significantly reduced deforestation on their lands.</p>



<p>Equipped with deforestation alerts accessed from Forest Watcher and Global Forest Watch, forest monitors representing 36 local communities patrolled their ancestral lands. They documented evidence of encroachment from illicit coca plantations and illegal logging, using satellite imagery, photos, written documentation and drone footage. The monitors presented this information in community assemblies to collectively determine what action to take. Depending on the situation, they then either asked the invaders to leave by showing evidence that they had crossed over into community lands, or submitted documentation to Peruvian law enforcement, who then followed up with official field investigations.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/p_paisa_20150105_113737-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16459"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A community monitor in Remanso del Amazonas identifies early warning signs of deforestation. Photo by Beder Olortegui.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Ultimately, the communities that used forest monitoring technologies reduced deforestation in their territories by 52% in the first year and an additional 21% in the second year, as compared to a similar number of communities in a control group. The communities using monitoring technologies also reported higher satisfaction with forest governance.</p>



<p>Since the study concluded, communities with experience using monitoring technologies are now training communities in the control group to do the same. The communities who succeeded in reducing deforestation have also received direct payments from the&nbsp;<a href="https://rainforestfoundation.org/our-work/approaches/rainforest-alert/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Rainforest Foundation US’s Rainforest Alert program</a>, a payment system for keeping forests conserved.</p>



<p>Most recently, some communities allocated that funding towards strengthening and expanding legal recognition of their ancestral lands. Community land titling in Peru is a slow and bureaucratic process. With the funds, communities were able to georeference the limits of their lands; contract soil analysts, lawyers and Geographic Information System (GIS) specialists; and petition the government for land titles. They succeeded in obtaining titles to their territories in just 10 months – a process that normally takes years or even decades.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Open Data Supports Communities, but More Secure Land Rights Are Essential&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Satellite data and imagery are critical tools because they provide transparent, independent evidence of suspected violations. They allow communities to rapidly monitor and document forest disturbances over large areas and long periods of time at low cost, thus reducing expensive field patrols. Moreover, much of the monitoring and documentation can be done remotely from the safety of a laptop, without risking face-to-face confrontation with encroachers. This is especially important because environmental defenders face growing threats. In 2022, at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/environmental-activists/standing-firm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">177 environmental defenders were killed</a>, 36% of whom were Indigenous.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Given the power of satellite data to help communities protect their land rights, data creators and managers need to ensure that communities continue to have access to open data and technology. Communities also need support in data use, including tailored&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/grants-and-fellowships/about/">training resources</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/grants-and-fellowships/about/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">financial support</a>&nbsp;and facilitating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help/map/webinars/webinar-strengthening-the-role-of-indigenous-youth-in-forest-protection-perspectives-from-latin-america/">sharing of experiences</a>.</p>



<p>However, while satellite data helps communities document and take action on illegal deforestation and related infractions, governments ultimately need to recognize and enforce Indigenous Peoples’ and communities’ land rights. Stronger and more secure land rights — with higher penalties for infractions — are more likely to deter illegal activity from occurring in the first place, or at least ensure a swift and decisive end to violations.</p>



<p>Indigenous Peoples and local communities have stewarded their lands and natural resources for centuries. Though more secure land rights are ultimately needed, satellite data can help them manage threats to their lands now and conserve their homes for generations to come.</p>



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Originally appeared on <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/indigenous-peoples-local-communities-use-satellite-data-deforestation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WRI Insights</a>. 
 

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

Communities Are Using Satellite Data to Fight Deforestation

carbon

carbon | Global Forest Watch Blog

Indigenous Peoples &amp; Local Communities

Indigenous Peoples &amp; Local Communities | Global Forest Watch Blog

David Gibbs

Indigenous Forests Are Some of the Amazon’s Last Carbon Sinks

New research shows that forests managed by Indigenous people in the Amazon are net carbon sinks, while forests outside Indigenous lands are a carbon source.

Indigenous Forests Are Some of the Amazon’s Last Carbon Sinks | Forest Insights | Global Forest Watch Blog

Kai Kresek

<p>Nearly <a href="http://www.forestpeoples.org/sites/fpp/files/publication/2012/05/forest-peoples-numbers-across-world-final_0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">500 million people</a> around the world live in and depend on forests, making these groups key to sustainable management of forests. Unfortunately, many local and indigenous communities often struggle with visibility and proper government acknowledgement of this role.</p>



<p>Data from <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.landmarkmap.org/" target="_blank">LandMark</a>, recently added to <a href="https://blog.globalforestwatch.org/people/geospatial-data-indigenous-community-land-forest-management?utm_source=GFWBlog&utm_medium=Hyperlink&utm_campaign=GFW&utm_content=LandMark_4_2020" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Global Forest Watch (opens in a new tab)">Global Forest Watch</a> (GFW), can help bring the role of communities to the forefront of forest management. This data documents more than 136,000 indigenous and community lands, underscoring their importance for biodiversity conservation and climate change and allowing for deeper insights into the impacts of forest loss within these communities.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Indigenous Peoples are leaders
in protecting carbon and biodiversity strongholds </strong></h3>



<p>The significance of indigenous and community lands as carbon sinks (<a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2018/09/safeguarding-carbon-stored-indigenous-and-community-lands-essential-meeting-climate" target="_blank">approximately 17%</a> of the world’s total aboveground biomass) and biodiversity havens (roughly 16% of the world’s intact forest landscapes) cannot be overstated.  </p>



<p>Often indigenous territories also overlap
with wildlife reserves, as in the case of the Siona people of Ecuador. Located
in the northeast Amazonian region, the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve was established
in 1979 to protect thousands of species including Amazonian river dolphins, manatees, giant anacondas, ten species of
monkey and over 580 species of birds. The Siona people’s tenure on the land
long predates the reserve, but now many community members participate in the
ecotourism industry that has sprung up around it, working as guides, boat
drivers and cooks in addition to maintaining their traditional practices. </p>



<p>As pressure for land has increased and environmental law enforcement remains under-resourced, encroachment from illegal loggers and poachers is increasing. The Siona, with support from local NGOs, now monitor the reserve for recent deforestation activity and other threats, using the Forest Watcher mobile app and other monitoring technologies.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Legal acknowledgement is critical to protect both forests and rights</strong></h3>



<p>Analysis of tree cover loss in Brazil and Peru highlights indigenous communities’ important role as forest stewards, showing that from 2013 to 2018, the percent of total tree cover lost within indigenous and community lands was much lower than the rest of the country.</p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="tree cover loss in Brazil and Peru Ingigenous lands" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20.04.07_Tree-Cover-Loss-Lower-in-Brazil_Peru_v3.png" width="100%"></div>



<p>However, lack of legal recognition can jeopardize communities’ abilities to sustainably manage their land. It is estimated that as much as 50% of the world’s land is held by Indigenous Peoples and local communities, but only 10% is legally recognized by governments. According to LandMark data, the percent increase in average tree cover loss between the period 2013 to 2018, was 1.6 times higher globally in lands that were not legally acknowledged. A <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wri.org/publication/climate-benefits-tenure-costs" target="_blank">recent study</a> also showed that secure land tenure for indigenous communities <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2016/08/indigenous-land-rights-how-far-have-we-come-and-how-far-do-we-have-go" target="_blank">lays a better foundation</a> for conservation and sustainable forest management.</p>



<p>In an effort to acknowledge communities’ rights to make sustainable use of their lands, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wri.org/our-work/top-outcome/democratic-republic-congo-enables-forest-based-communities-secure-land-rights" target="_blank">signed a decree</a> in 2016 that allocated rights to forest-dependent communities to manage areas of up to 50,000 hectares free of charge. These communities may manage these areas for a range of sustainable uses, such as ecotourism, conservation, small-scale timber extraction, subsistence agriculture, or non-timber forest products. There are now over 60 titled <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2018/06/democratic-republic-congo-3-essentials-making-community-forestry-work" target="_blank">community forests</a>, 34 of which are represented on GFW, the DRC Forest Atlas and Landmark.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Geospatial data
raises the profile of forested communities</strong></h3>



<p>Transparent and accurate
geospatial data can play a key role in the acknowledgement of indigenous and
local communities and their inclusion in forest management decisions.</p>



<p>In the Tupi Monde corridor of Brazil, a 3.5 million hectare strip of forested land on the border of&nbsp;Rondonia&nbsp;and Mato Grosso, an estimated 6,000 indigenous people from the Cinta Larga, Zoró, Paiter&nbsp;Suruí, Arara and Gavião nationalities are attempting to defend their homes from the advancing “<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/4385/deforestation-patterns-in-the-amazon" target="_blank">arc of deforestation</a>”. The <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://idesam.org/en/o-idesam/" target="_blank">Institute of Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Amazon</a> (IDESAM), has been working with these communities to raise awareness of the threats they are facing by using tree cover loss data, deforestation alerts and satellite imagery to track instances of loss and shed light on what is driving them. Their reports, along with testimonials from Indigenous Peoples affected by the loss, are distributed to government officials and the media in quarterly <a href="https://idesam.org/publicacao/boletim-desmatamento-tupi-monde-3.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">deforestation bulletins</a>. By presenting satellite-based evidence of how deforestation is impacting their territories the intent is to influence policymakers to strengthen land protections. </p>



<p>Not only can this data raise the visibility of communities in the eyes of government and media, it can also help indigenous communities communicate with each other. In the case of the Siona people, who’s territory was split into three separate lands across Ecuador and Colombia during the rubber boom of the 19<sup>th</sup> century, this data has facilitated recent efforts to bring their territories closer together culturally and politically. Siona leaders are able to view and understand deforestation trends and threats across all three communities, enabling a more holistic understanding of land use dynamics in their territories and a more coordinated response in advocating for land rights.</p>



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<p>The LandMark data is still an incomplete representation of the thousands of local and indigenous communities around the world, currently covering only about 12.4% of the <a href="https://rightsandresources.org/wp-content/uploads/GlobalBaseline_web.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">estimated 50% of global land</a> that is collectively held by communities. As the LandMark dataset expands to include more data, it will continue to bolster the voices of these communities with the power of geospatial data.</p>



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If you know of additional indigenous or community land maps to add to Landmark and GFW, please contact info@landmarkmap.org
<p></p>

BANNER PHOTO:Members of the Siona community test out the Forest Watcher mobile app during a training in Cuyabeno, Ecuador. Jessica Webb/WRI. 
 

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Geospatial Data Brings Indigenous and Community Lands to the Forefront of Forest Management

<p>Nearly <a href="http://www.forestpeoples.org/sites/fpp/files/publication/2012/05/forest-peoples-numbers-across-world-final_0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">500 million people</a> around the world live in and depend on forests, making these groups key to sustainable management of forests. Unfortunately, many local and indigenous communities often struggle with visibility and proper government acknowledgement of this role.</p>



<p>Data from <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.landmarkmap.org/" target="_blank">LandMark</a>, recently added to <a href="https://blog.globalforestwatch.org/people/geospatial-data-indigenous-community-land-forest-management?utm_source=GFWBlog&amp;utm_medium=Hyperlink&amp;utm_campaign=GFW&amp;utm_content=LandMark_4_2020" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Global Forest Watch (opens in a new tab)">Global Forest Watch</a> (GFW), can help bring the role of communities to the forefront of forest management. This data documents more than 136,000 indigenous and community lands, underscoring their importance for biodiversity conservation and climate change and allowing for deeper insights into the impacts of forest loss within these communities.</p>



<h3><strong>Indigenous Peoples are leaders
in protecting carbon and biodiversity strongholds </strong></h3>



<p>The significance of indigenous and community lands as carbon sinks (<a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2018/09/safeguarding-carbon-stored-indigenous-and-community-lands-essential-meeting-climate" target="_blank">approximately 17%</a> of the world’s total aboveground biomass) and biodiversity havens (roughly 16% of the world’s intact forest landscapes) cannot be overstated.  </p>



<p>Often indigenous territories also overlap
with wildlife reserves, as in the case of the Siona people of Ecuador. Located
in the northeast Amazonian region, the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve was established
in 1979 to protect thousands of species including Amazonian river dolphins, manatees, giant anacondas, ten species of
monkey and over 580 species of birds. The Siona people’s tenure on the land
long predates the reserve, but now many community members participate in the
ecotourism industry that has sprung up around it, working as guides, boat
drivers and cooks in addition to maintaining their traditional practices. </p>



<p>As pressure for land has increased and environmental law enforcement remains under-resourced, encroachment from illegal loggers and poachers is increasing. The Siona, with support from local NGOs, now monitor the reserve for recent deforestation activity and other threats, using the Forest Watcher mobile app and other monitoring technologies.</p>



<h3><strong>Legal acknowledgement is critical to protect both forests and rights</strong></h3>



<p>Analysis of tree cover loss in Brazil and Peru highlights indigenous communities’ important role as forest stewards, showing that from 2013 to 2018, the percent of total tree cover lost within indigenous and community lands was much lower than the rest of the country.</p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="tree cover loss in Brazil and Peru Ingigenous lands" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20.04.07_Tree-Cover-Loss-Lower-in-Brazil_Peru_v3.png" width="100%"></div>



<p>However, lack of legal recognition can jeopardize communities’ abilities to sustainably manage their land. It is estimated that as much as 50% of the world’s land is held by Indigenous Peoples and local communities, but only 10% is legally recognized by governments. According to LandMark data, the percent increase in average tree cover loss between the period 2013 to 2018, was 1.6 times higher globally in lands that were not legally acknowledged. A <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wri.org/publication/climate-benefits-tenure-costs" target="_blank">recent study</a> also showed that secure land tenure for indigenous communities <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2016/08/indigenous-land-rights-how-far-have-we-come-and-how-far-do-we-have-go" target="_blank">lays a better foundation</a> for conservation and sustainable forest management.</p>



<p>In an effort to acknowledge communities’ rights to make sustainable use of their lands, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wri.org/our-work/top-outcome/democratic-republic-congo-enables-forest-based-communities-secure-land-rights" target="_blank">signed a decree</a> in 2016 that allocated rights to forest-dependent communities to manage areas of up to 50,000 hectares free of charge. These communities may manage these areas for a range of sustainable uses, such as ecotourism, conservation, small-scale timber extraction, subsistence agriculture, or non-timber forest products. There are now over 60 titled <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2018/06/democratic-republic-congo-3-essentials-making-community-forestry-work" target="_blank">community forests</a>, 34 of which are represented on GFW, the DRC Forest Atlas and Landmark.</p>



<h3><strong>Geospatial data
raises the profile of forested communities</strong></h3>



<p>Transparent and accurate
geospatial data can play a key role in the acknowledgement of indigenous and
local communities and their inclusion in forest management decisions.</p>



<p>In the Tupi Monde corridor of Brazil, a 3.5 million hectare strip of forested land on the border of&nbsp;Rondonia&nbsp;and Mato Grosso, an estimated 6,000 indigenous people from the Cinta Larga, Zoró, Paiter&nbsp;Suruí, Arara and Gavião nationalities are attempting to defend their homes from the advancing “<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/4385/deforestation-patterns-in-the-amazon" target="_blank">arc of deforestation</a>”. The <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://idesam.org/en/o-idesam/" target="_blank">Institute of Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Amazon</a> (IDESAM), has been working with these communities to raise awareness of the threats they are facing by using tree cover loss data, deforestation alerts and satellite imagery to track instances of loss and shed light on what is driving them. Their reports, along with testimonials from Indigenous Peoples affected by the loss, are distributed to government officials and the media in quarterly <a href="https://idesam.org/publicacao/boletim-desmatamento-tupi-monde-3.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">deforestation bulletins</a>. By presenting satellite-based evidence of how deforestation is impacting their territories the intent is to influence policymakers to strengthen land protections. </p>



<p>Not only can this data raise the visibility of communities in the eyes of government and media, it can also help indigenous communities communicate with each other. In the case of the Siona people, who’s territory was split into three separate lands across Ecuador and Colombia during the rubber boom of the 19<sup>th</sup> century, this data has facilitated recent efforts to bring their territories closer together culturally and politically. Siona leaders are able to view and understand deforestation trends and threats across all three communities, enabling a more holistic understanding of land use dynamics in their territories and a more coordinated response in advocating for land rights.</p>



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<p>The LandMark data is still an incomplete representation of the thousands of local and indigenous communities around the world, currently covering only about 12.4% of the <a href="https://rightsandresources.org/wp-content/uploads/GlobalBaseline_web.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">estimated 50% of global land</a> that is collectively held by communities. As the LandMark dataset expands to include more data, it will continue to bolster the voices of these communities with the power of geospatial data.</p>



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If you know of additional indigenous or community land maps to add to Landmark and GFW, please contact info@landmarkmap.org
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BANNER PHOTO:Members of the Siona community test out the Forest Watcher mobile app during a training in Cuyabeno, Ecuador. Jessica Webb/WRI. 
 

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Local and indigenous communities are invaluable players in the fight against deforestation. Data from LandMark makes clear their vital role.

Geospatial Data Brings Indigenous and Community Lands to the Forefront of Forest Management | Users In Action | Global Forest Watch Blog