Introducing ForestEye, a cutting-edge tool for local deforestation analysis
16 September 2024
RFUK is thrilled to announce the beta launch of ForestEye, an innovative web-based tool designed to provide precise, local analysis of deforestation. Developed by RFUK’s Mapping and Development team, ForestEye is set to transform the way deforestation is monitored, understood and addressed at the grassroots level.
ForestEye was conceived in response to increasing demands for detailed deforestation analysis from local partners in regions like Peru and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite the diverse contexts, these requests shared common goals: understanding deforestation rates, comparing these rates across different areas and identifying the underlying causes of forest loss.
Recognising the universal nature of these needs, our team developed ForestEye to provide a powerful solution that can offer rich, detailed deforestation insights at an extremely local level. This tool is designed to empower local communities, environmental organisations and government bodies by providing them with the data needed to monitor and combat deforestation effectively.
ForestEye is currently being tested on the frontline by forest defenders in Peru.
'This gives us the evidence we need to present to the authorities of deforestation and illegal mining activities. Normally they do not believe us, but with this we can show them the evidence,' said Pepe Torres Mayorga, Lead at the Forest Observatories of RFUK partner FENAMAD.
Key Features of ForestEye
High-resolution data
ForestEye integrates cutting-edge satellite data, including 10-metre resolution forest canopy disturbance data from the RADD dataset, updated every 8 days, and 30-meter resolution yearly forest change data from the Tropical Moist Forest dataset. These datasets allow users to track deforestation trends and changes in forest cover since 2000, providing crucial insights into forest degradation, deforestation and regrowth.

Local analysis
Unlike many deforestation mapping products that focus on regional or national level trends, ForestEye is designed for micro-level analysis on handheld devices. Users can zoom in on specific areas to monitor deforestation in near-real-time, making it an invaluable tool for local forest monitors and communities who need to protect their immediate surroundings.


Easy accessibility and usability
ForestEye is accessible via a web app, making it easy for users to explore and interpret the data, while its streamlined design makes it particularly suited for areas with weak internet access. The tool has been optimised to deliver only the necessary data chunks for the user's area of interest, ensuring efficient data transfer and a seamless user experience.
Extensible and customisable
Currently, ForestEye beta covers the Congo Basin and the Amazon rainforests, with the potential to extend to other regions such as Asian rainforests. Additional datasets, such as automated detection of illegal mining sites and recent road construction, are being explored to enhance the tool's capabilities further.
Integration with ForestLink
ForestEye will be incorporated into RFUK’s ForestLink system to complement and reinforce the work being done by forest monitors on the ground in the Congo Basin and Peru. Its remote-sensed deforestation data reinforces the work of forest guardians, highlights deforestation hotspots or trends that need further documentation or ground truthing and helps back-up their own observations with empirical proof. Used together these tools can become a formidable tool in the fight against deforestation.
Who Can Benefit from ForestEye?
Local communities and forest monitors
By providing a clear view of local deforestation activities, ForestEye helps communities protect their forests when security conditions or resource constraints make on-the-ground monitoring difficult. Combining ForestEye’s data with local knowledge can help in identifying and holding accountable those responsible for illegal activities.
Environmental monitoring organisations
Government agencies and NGOs can use ForestEye to monitor activities within forest concessions and assess the effectiveness of deforestation reduction initiatives.
Companies
Businesses committed to deforestation-free supply chains can use ForestEye to verify their suppliers' claims and ensure compliance.
Legal and enforcement agencies
ForestEye's data can serve as critical evidence in prosecuting illegal logging and mining operations, complementing on-the-ground reports gathered through our ForestLink programme.
The Road Ahead
ForestEye is still evolving. We are working on automating data processes, improving mobile access and integrating additional features such as AI-driven predictions of future forest loss. We invite our partners and the broader community to explore ForestEye, provide feedback and help us refine this tool to meet the needs of all stakeholders. We are planning to provide ForestEye for free to all forest defenders who wish to use it.
Explore the ForestEye web app today and join us in the fight against deforestation.
For further information or to schedule a demo, please contact Rory Hodgson.
Together, we can make a difference.
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