Topic: africa

RELEASE: WRI Names David Waskow to Lead Its International Climate Initiative

Daniel Melling — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:02:19 -0400

The World Resources Institute (WRI) announced today that David Waskow has joined the institute to lead its International Climate Initiative, within the Climate and Energy Program. Waskow will oversee the Institute’s work to advance ambitious national actions to reduce emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change. This includes working toward a strong, equitable, and effective global climate agreement within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Waskow will also lead WRI’s efforts to enhance international cooperation and catalyze national policies toward low-carbon pathways and increased climate resilience.

“David brings a breadth of knowledge and experience that will be extremely valuable in advancing international climate action,” said Jennifer Morgan, Director, Climate and Energy Program, World Resources Institute. “The next few years are a critical window to raise global ambition and cooperation on climate change. David’s insights and leadership will be a boon to our efforts to advance solutions that the world needs.”

Among these efforts is the Climate Justice Dialogue, a partnership led by WRI and the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, which provides a forum to discuss equity and develop ideas on how to operationalize climate actions in a way that safeguards environmental integrity, protects the most vulnerable populations, and creates the basis for greater cooperation among countries.

Waskow joins WRI from Oxfam America, where as the program director for climate change he worked to advance strategies to drive investment and capacity of poor and vulnerable communities to respond to a changing climate. He also directed policy work focusing on how emissions can be reduced in equitable ways and how to build resilience to climate impacts.

Prior to Oxfam, Waskow served as the international program director for Friends of the Earth, where he initiated their work on the impacts of climate change on global poverty. In addition, he oversaw the organization’s work on trade policy and international financial institutions.

“With global emissions on the rise and climate impacts becoming more apparent, this is an important moment to make progress on the climate crisis. Looking toward an international climate agreement by 2015, there’s much work to do,” said Waskow. “I am excited to join WRI, with its reputation as one of the most respected and influential organizations in this arena, and I look forward to working with my new colleagues to help raise ambition around international climate action.”

Waskow has testified before Congress on responses to climate change and on trade issues, and is a frequent go-to source for the media on climate finance. He has graduate degrees from the University of Chicago and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, and an undergraduate degree from Brown University.

WRI’s Climate and Energy Program is comprised of more than 50 staff, who are dedicated to conducting and facilitating independent, non-partisan research and analysis to advance effective domestic and international actions that reduce the threat of climate change.

RELEASE: Cutting Food Loss and Waste Will Benefit People and the Environment, Says New Study on World Environment Day

Michael Oko — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:44:29 -0400

From Australia to Afghanistan, New Research Spotlights Low-Cost Actions for Delivering Major Benefits for Development, Environment and Livelihoods

One out of every four calories produced by the global agricultural system is being lost or wasted, according to new analysis. This situation poses a serious challenge to the world’s ability to reduce hunger and meet the food needs of the rapidly-expanding global population.

Released on World Environment Day (WED), which this year carries the theme “Think.Eat.Save - Reduce Your Foodprint,” the new working paper, Reducing Food Loss and Waste, shows that more than half of the food lost and wasted in Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia occurs close to the fork—at the consumption stage. By contrast, in developing countries, about two-thirds of the food lost and wasted occurs close to the farm—after harvest and storage.

Reducing Food Loss and Waste was produced by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and draws on research from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The paper makes a range of recommendations, including the development of a food loss and waste protocol―a global standard for how to measure, monitor, and report food loss and waste. If what gets measured gets managed, then such a protocol could go a long way toward helping governments and companies implement targeted efforts to reduce food loss and waste.

“Beyond all the environmental benefits, reducing food loss and waste will save money for people and companies,” said Craig Hanson, Director of WRI’s People & Ecosystems Program and a co-author of the study. “The world needs urgent solutions to feed its growing population and reducing loss and waste is a critical piece toward a more sustainable food future.”

According to the study, which was released today in Mongolia, the global host of WED 2013, the world will need about 60 percent more food calories in 2050 compared to 2006 if global demand continues on its current trajectory. Halving current rates of food loss and waste, say the authors, would reduce this gap by a fifth. This would also result in major savings in water use, energy, pesticides and fertilizers, and would be a boost for global food security.

“It is an extraordinary fact that in the 21st century, close to 25 per cent of all the calories linked with growing and producing food are lost or wasted between the farm and the fork—food that could feed the hungry, food that has required energy, water and soils in a world of increasing natural resource scarcities and environmental concerns including climate change,” said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director.

“Yet within the challenge of food are the seeds of a more cooperative and sustainable future—in short, it is an issue that unites everyone today and generations to come. The menu of case studies and recommendations in this study provide national and community-led solutions that ally smart policies with traditional knowledge, modern science and common sense,” he added.

“Everyone—from farmers and food companies to retailers, shipping lines, packagers, hotels, restaurants and households—has a role to play, and, in doing so, can contribute to maximizing the opportunities of the Millennium Development Goals, eradicating inequalities in rich and poor countries alike, and laying the foundation of a more environmentally sustainable pathway for billions of people,” said Mr. Steiner.

From community food banks in Australia to the use of metal grain silos by farmers in Afghanistan, the WRI and UNEP study showcases simple, low-cost solutions for reducing food loss and waste that are already delivering significant environmental and economic benefits to communities around the globe. Replicating and expanding these initiatives could significantly reduce the 1.3 billion tons of food lost or discarded worldwide each year, and make major improvements to global resource efficiency.

The report shows, for example, that water used to produce lost or wasted food globally each year could fill 70 million Olympic-sized swimming pools, while the amount of cropland used to produce wasted food is equivalent to the size of Mexico. Some 28 million tons of fertilizer are used annually to grow this lost and wasted food. The inefficient use of fertilizers is linked to the growth of “dead” coastal zones around the globe and to climate change.

Separate analysis coordinated by the FAO to be published soon indicates that if food loss and waste were a country, it would be the third highest emitter of greenhouse gases after the United States and China.

Case studies highlighted in the report include:

United States: To reduce portion sizes and therefore the amount of food thrown away each day in their cafeterias, some universities have discontinued the use of trays and introduced “pay by weight” schemes and other incentives. One university found that after going “trayless,” it discarded almost 13 metric tons less food than in previous years, and conserved over 100,000 litres of water annually. Financial savings amounted to US $79,000 per year.

Afghanistan: Insufficient storage can be a major source of food loss for farmers in developing countries, where structures often do not keep produce in airtight conditions. A FAO project in Afghanistan provided metal silos to 18,000 rural households. Recipients of the silos soon reported higher net incomes due to lower food losses, which decreased from 15 to 20 percent to 1 to 2 percent per year.

Sri Lanka: Introducing studier plastic crates to replace bags or sacks previously used to transport food reduced vegetable losses by weight from 30 percent to 5 percent. A similar project in the Philippines using plastic crates increased the value of a kilogram of fruit and vegetables by 16 per cent.

Australia: The non-profit organization SecondBite collects food from farmers, retailers, and other donors and distributes it to community groups in need. Last year, SecondBite reused and redirected 3,000 tons of fresh food that would otherwise have been discarded.

Nigeria: The “zeer” evaporative cooler system, developed by a teacher in Nigeria, can preserve fruit and vegetables without refrigeration. The system costs less than US $2.00 and can hold up to 12 kilograms of produce. Tomatoes and guavas, which would last around two days without storage, last up to 20 days in a zeer.

The paper contains a number of more general recommendations, including:

Developing a common global standard for measuring and reporting food loss and waste by governments and the private sector;
Setting global, national, and corporate food loss and waste reduction targets on the order of 50 percent;
Doubling investment in reducing post-harvest losses in developing countries; and
Establishing agencies and organizations in developed countries tasked with reducing food waste.

In addition, UNEP is developing a food waste prevention and reduction tool kit with FAO and WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), together with experts, supermarkets, governments and other partners. The initiative will support governments, companies and cities to better assess their own levels of food waste, pinpoint areas in their businesses and communities where food is being needlessly wasted, and devise strategies to reduce this waste. The tool kit is expected to be available for widespread deployment before the end of 2013, and aims to underpin a transition to a less wasteful world.

World Environment Day
From the traditional knowledge of indigenous communities in remote rural areas, to major conferences in the fast-expanding capital Ulaanbaatar, issues around food security and sustainability are featured high on the agenda for World Environment Day (on 5 June) in the global host country Mongolia.

Events with the country’s ancient herding communities highlighted age-old techniques that have been used for centuries to preserve food and avoid waste. In the past, Mongolia’s traditional horsemen frequently relied on “borts” to sustain them over long journeys. The foodstuff consists of concentrated beef equal to the protein of an entire cow condensed and ground down to the size of a plate. This method of food preservation could produce a meal equivalent to several steaks when the protein was shaved into hot water to make soup.

In the run-up to World Environment Day, internet users have been submitting a host of traditional food-saving ideas and traditions via UNEP’s Facebook page. These include chuño from South America, which involves exposing potatoes to the freezing night air and hot daytime sun for five days, before trampling them to squeeze out any moisture. Chuño can last for several months, or even years.

Beyond Mongolia, thousands of people around the world are taking part in World Environment Day activities to highlight the need to consume and produce food more sustainably.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the capital city Sarajevo will host environmental experts in a series of events focused on engaging citizens on food waste and its environmental impact.

In China, Shanghai’s International Student Conference on Environment and Sustainability (ISCES) hundreds of students will debate and discuss the theme of “Food, Health and Sustainable Development.”

UNEP’s Geneva-based Regional Office for Europe is running a competition called “Love Your Leftovers,” where people can submit a recipe that they use to clean out the fridge. The competition will be judged by a top chef at the famous Cafe de la Paix in central Paris.

About World Environment Day (WED)
WED aims to be the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. WED activities take place year round but climax on 5 June. WED celebrations began in 1972 and have grown to become the one of the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action. The WED 2013 theme is in support on the Think.Eat.Save campaign. For more information on activities in the host country Mongolia, and on hundreds of other global events, visit the WED site at: www.unep.org/wed/

About the Think.Eat.Save. Reduce Your Foodprint campaign
The campaign harnesses the expertise of organizations such as FAO, WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), Feeding the 5,000 and other partners, including national governments, who have considerable experience targeting and changing wasteful practices. It aims to accelerate action and provide a global vision and information-sharing portal for the many initiatives currently underway around the world that aim to reduce food waste and food loss. Visit: www.thinkeatsave.org More examples of traditional techniques to preserve food and reduce waste are available here.

UNEP’s Resource Efficiency website is available here.

Notes to Editors: The new working paper Reducing Food Loss and Waste, is available at: www.wri.org and www.unep.org.

–

Read a blog post on the new paper, here.

Aqueduct Metadata Document: Orange-Senqu River Basin Study

Sarah Parsons — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:27:06 -0500

Summary

Prior to the creation of the global Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, indicators were developed and tested in a number of river basins worldwide. The results of the Orange-Senqu River Basin Study helped inform and shape the global Aqueduct Water Risk Framework. The Orange-Senqu River Basin study contains 14 indicators of water quantity, water variability, water quality, public awareness of water issues, access to water, and ecosystem vulnerability.

RELEASE: New Mapping Tool Provides Unprecedented Ability to Assess Water Risk

Lauren Zelin — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:08:10 -0500

Aqueduct provides companies with comprehensive, high-resolution picture of water risks worldwide.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) today launched a new online tool that maps water risk worldwide based on the most current, highest resolution data available. Companies, investors, and governments can use the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas to see how water stress will affect operations locally and globally, and help prioritize investments that will increase water security.

The online tool was developed by WRI, working with founding members of the Aqueduct Alliance, GE and Goldman Sachs, as well as Skoll Global Threats Fund, Shell, Bloomberg, Talisman Energy, Dow, United Technologies (UTC), DuPont, John Deere, Veolia Water, and the Dutch and Swedish governments.

The Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas is a customizable global map, based on 12 indicators of physical, regulatory, and reputational risk. In a user-friendly way, companies can now evaluate how water stress, flood occurrence, access to water, drought, and other issues may affect operations. Additionally, the global map can be tailored specifically for nine water-intense industry sectors - from oil and gas, to agriculture, to chemicals.

“Recent history is littered with companies that failed to anticipate emerging threats. Water scarcity is one such threat. Thankfully, forward-thinking business leaders are starting to get it. They understand that water risk is one of the top issues that they face,” said Andrew Steer, President, World Resources Institute. “This new platform will provide companies with comprehensive, high-resolution tools to measure water risk. It gives them an unprecedented ability to understand and better manage these risks.”

Companies have already been using earlier versions of the Aqueduct tool to understand how their operations and supply chains may be exposed to water risk. For example:

McDonalds has asked 353 of its global suppliers’ facilities to use Aqueduct to assess their local water risk;
Procter & Gamble, Owens-Corning, and AU Optronics have used Aqueduct to understand how local water supply, quality, and other risk factors may affect their global facilities, and to prioritize water efficiency and other investments;
Bank of America Merrill Lynch used Aqueduct to inform investors about water risks and opportunities in a recently released research report; and
Companies used Aqueduct to disclose and report on external water risk in the Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) 2012 Global Water Report.

“Aqueduct’s global water risk map provides an innovative tool and important step forward in understanding critical water issues,” said Kyung-Ah Park, Head of the Environmental Markets Group at Goldman Sachs. “Assessing risk is challenging, and even more so with complex issues like water. Aqueduct provides a much more complete picture of the water issues affecting business globally than we’ve had before.”

Through the Atlas, users can plot the locations that matter most to them – from facilities, to suppliers, to potential new markets or proposed power plants – and compare those locations’ potential exposure to water stress and risk. They can also review maps of individual indicators, such as seasonal variability, which may be highly important to their operations.

“GE knows first-hand that water scarcity is a major challenge in many parts of the world,” said Heiner Markhoff, President and CEO of GE Water. “We’re very pleased that Aqueduct’s new global water risk maps will enhance understanding of these risks in ways that enable society to address them more effectively.”

The release of the global Water Risk Atlas is the culmination of a three-year effort by WRI to create a peer-reviewed and robust methodology for mapping complex water security around the world.

“Aqueduct’s global water risk mapping information is a valuable tool for understanding and addressing the pressing global threat of water security,” said Sylvia Lee, Water Manager, Skoll Global Threats Fund. “We understand that water is not just an environmental issue, but a real and substantial risk to communities, economies, and businesses. The new global water risk maps make it easier than ever to research and understand where in the world these risks are greatest, and where action is most needed.”

On Thursday January 31, WRI is hosting a public webinar to showcase the new Aqueduct water risk mapping tool – see information below.

On February 8, water experts from leading companies will participate in the “Water: Emerging Risks and Opportunities Summit” co-hosted by GE Power & Water, Goldman Sachs, and WRI at Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York City. For more information, contact Kevin Smith from Goldman Sachs at kevin.m.smith@gs.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Aqueduct is holding a webinar at 11:00AM ET on Thursday January 31 to introduce the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas. To register, visit http://www.wri.org/event/2013/01/webinar-wris-aqueduct-global-water-risk-mapping-tool.

Forest Atlas of the Democratic Republic of Congo/L’Atlas Forestier Interactif de la République Démocratique du Congo

Sarah Parsons — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:21:39 -0500

Interactive Map/Carte Interactive

Desktop Mapping Application/Application de Bureau

Coming Soon/À Venir

GIS Data/Données SIG

Download all spatial data in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Atlas (shapefile and raster format in zip archives).

Télécharger les données spatiales de l’Atlas de la République Démocratique du Congo (formats shapefiles et rasters dans les archives .zip)

Latest Version/Dernière Version

(Complete) (ZIP archive)

Complete Atlases/Atlas Complets

Version 1 (ZIP archive)

Posters: Forest Land Allocation in Democratic Republic of Congo/Affection Forestière en République Démocratique du Congo

2011: French
2009: French
2008: French
2007: French

The Forest Atlas of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a living forest information system, which combines the use of remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and ground-truthing to monitor and sustainably manage forests. Through a combination of interactive mapping applications, posters, analytical reports, trainings, and outreach, the Atlas provides users with access to timely, accurate, and harmonized information about land-use allocation (forest concessions, protected areas, etc.) in the national forest estate through a user-friendly and publicly accessible format.

Through the Interactive Forest Atlas and capacity building of forest stakeholders in remote sensing, GIS, and forest information management, WRI and the Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Tourism (MECNT) are working together to improve the quality and availability of information in the forest sector to support transparent and participatory decision-making towards sustainable forest management in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

L’Atlas Forestier Interactif de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) est un système continu d’information forestière qui combine l’utilisation de la télédétection, les Systèmes d’Information Géographique (SIG) et les vérifications de terrain pour le suivi et la gestion durable des forêts. A travers ses produits constitués de cartes interactives, posters et rapports analytiques, l’Atlas donne aux utilisateurs l’accès à une information actualisée, précise et harmonisée sur l’allocation des terres (concessions forestières, aires protégées, etc.) dans le domaine forestier de l’Etat sous un format convivial et accessible au public.

A travers l’Atlas Forestier Interactif et le renforcement des capacités des acteurs du secteur forestier en télédétection, en Système d’Information Géographique (SIG) et en gestion de l’information forestière, WRI et le Ministère de l’Environnement, Conservation de la Nature et Tourisme (MECNT) travaillent de concert afin d’améliorer la qualité et la disponibilité de l’information dans le secteur forestier en appui à une prise de décision informée et participative pour une gestion durable des forêts en République Démocratique du Congo.

ADVISORY: WRI's Stories to Watch 2013

James Anderson — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:03:26 -0500

WRI will host its 10th annual Stories to Watch event on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Dr. Andrew Steer, WRI’s President & CEO, will present insights into the big environmental and international development trends and events that will affect people and the planet in 2013.

Topics will likely include: What will the Obama Administration do to address climate and energy? How will China’s new leadership advance its goal of “ecological progress”? What countries will emerge on the forefront of sustainability? And, how will financial constraints impact businesses seeking to shift to a more sustainable pathway?

A continental breakfast will be served.

WHAT
World Resources Institute’s Stories to Watch 2013

WHO
Dr. Andrew Steer, President & CEO, World Resources Institute.

Dr. Steer is a leading expert on economic development and environmental issues. He has three decades of experience working on international development and on the front lines in Asia and Africa, and at a senior level in international policy roles.

WHERE
National Press Club
Holeman Lounge
529 14th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20045

CALL-IN INFO
USA (Toll Free): (866) 803-2143
International (Toll): + 1 (210) 795-1098

Access code: “WRI”

WHEN
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
9:00 - 10:30 a.m. ET

Use #STW2013 on Twitter.

RSVP required to press@wri.org

Forest Atlas of Central African Republic/L’Atlas Forestier de la République Centrafricaine

Sarah Parsons — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 20:06:13 -0500

Interactive Map/Carte Interactive

Carte Interactive/Interactive Map

Desktop Mapping Application

Coming Soon

GIS Data

Download all spatial data in the Congo Atlas (shapefile and raster format in zip archives).

Latest Version

2009 (Complete) (ZIP archive, 840.1 Mb)

Complete Atlas

Version 1, 2009 (ZIP archive)

Posters: L’Affectation Forestiere en Republique Centrafricaine

2009: French
2008: French

The Forest Atlas of Central African Republic is a living forest information system, which combines the use of remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and ground-truthing to monitor and manage forests. Through a combination of interactive mapping applications, posters, analytical reports, trainings, and outreach, the Atlas provides users with access to timely, accurate, and harmonized information about land use allocation (forest concessions, protected areas, etc.) in the national forest estate through a user-friendly and publicly accessible format.

Through the Interactive Forest Atlas and capacity-building of forest stakeholders in remote sensing, GIS, and forest information management, WRI and the Ministry of Waters, Forests, Hunting and Fishing (MEFCP) are working together to improve the quality and availability of information in the forest sector to support transparent and participatory decision-making towards sustainable forest management in Central African Republic.

L’Atlas Forestier Interactif de la République Centrafricaine est un système continu d’information forestière qui combine l’utilisation de la télédétection, les Systèmes d’Information Géographique (SIG) et les vérifications de terrain pour le suivi et la gestion des forêts. A travers ses produits constitués de cartes interactives, de posters, de rapports analytiques, l’Atlas donne aux utilisateurs un accès à une information actualisée, précise et harmonisée sur l’allocation des terres (concessions forestières, aires protégées, etc.) dans le domaine forestier de l’Etat sous un format convivial et accessible au public.

A travers l’Atlas Forestier Interactif et le renforcement des capacités des acteurs du secteur forestier en télédétection, en Système d’Information Géographique (SIG) et en gestion de l’information forestière, WRI et le Ministère des Eaux, Forêts, Chasse et Pêche (MEFCP) travaillent de concert afin d’améliorer la qualité et la disponibilité de l’information dans le secteur forestier en appui à une prise de décision informée et participative pour une gestion durable des forêts en République Centrafricaine.

Coming Soon: Global Forest Watch 2.0

James Anderson — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:03:32 -0500

Welcome to the home of Global Forest Watch 2.0, a powerful near real-time forest monitoring system that unites satellite technology, data sharing, and human networks around the world to fight deforestation.

GFW 2.0 is currently under development, and will launch in late 2013.

Read more below, and email gfw2@wri.org to participate in the pilot testing period or be notified when GFW 2.0 launches. Please note that as we prepare for the launch, the original Global Forest Watch website has been redirected to this page.

Watch a Short Preview of Global Forest Watch 2.0 at the UN Forum on Forests 10, in Istanbul.

Watch the full version here

Speakers:

Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Forestry, Indonesia
Kerri-Ann Jones, Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General, United Nations
Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility
Tim Christophersen, Senior Program Officer, Forests and Climate Change, UNEP
Nigel Sizer, Director, Global Forests Initiative, World Resources Institute

Photo by David Gilbert

WHY FORESTS, WHY NOW?

Forests provide food jobs, raw materials, climate benefits and more. But without clear, up-to-date information, governments, companies and communities lack the tools to monitor and manage these resources.

We can track a company’s financial information daily, but information about forests is often years out of date.

Deforestation continues today in part because by the time satellite images are available, analyzed, and shared, the forest clearing is long done. The illegal loggers have moved on; cattle are already grazing amidst stumps; the oil palm plantation has been established. We simply find out too late.

New technologies can overcome these challenges

Fortunately, a convergence of technologies and human networks offers the ability to address these challenges for the first time:

Advances in satellite and remote sensing technology, including the launch of NASA’s Landsat 8 in early 2013, and new private systems, enable higher spatial resolution analysis and much more rapid updates of information. This has enabled the development of near-real-time forest cover change detection.
Brazilian partner IMAZON, is making its Amazon Alert System available through GFW 2.0, and also the DETER system which is innovating in detection of forest degradation. Brazil has seen a remarkable drop in deforestation in the Amazon of almost 80 percent partly due to improved linked to more effective use of satellite imagery.
Cloud computing and open source software can now be used to rapidly process and interpret large volumes of satellite data at low cost by utilizing clusters of servers scattered around the world. Google Earth Engine’s team is partnered with Global Forest Watch 2.0 to optimize easy access to cloud computing-based forest cover information.
High speed internet connectivity enables sending data and forest maps processed in North America, Europe, or Singapore to laptops and mobile phones in Jakarta, Kinshasa, Lima, Vladivostok, and other corners of the globe.
Smartphones are more common than ever and can be used by anyone in the field to download maps and satellite images, as well as upload GPS coordinates and photographs from the ground.
Crowdsourcing using simple web interfaces can empower thousands if not millions of people to gather and share information, participate in forest monitoring, and hold decision-makers accountable. • Social media outlets are creating a flat, networked world in which information travels fast, communities self-organize, and people get mobilized.

ABOUT GLOBAL FOREST WATCH 2.0

These enhanced technologies and social movements are the foundation for Global Forest Watch 2.0. GFW 2.0 will unite a near-real-time deforestation alert system, complementary satellite imagery and monitoring systems, WRI’s data-rich collection of maps, mobile technology, and a networked world to create never-before-possible transparency for faraway forests.

The platform is currently under development, and will be launched in late 2013.

This powerful new platform will enable responsible companies, NGOs, the media, and progressive government leaders to hold those responsible accountable for forest management.

GFW 2.0 can be useful to multiple groups of users involved with the sustainable management of forests:

Buyers of sustainable commodities. GFW 2.0 will enable buyers of sustainably sourced commodities―such as certified timber, palm oil, soya, and beef―to confirm adherence to or violations of supplier commitments to “no deforestation,” “no clearing of high conservation value forest,” and related criteria.
Suppliers of sustainable commodities. GFW 2.0 will help suppliers of sustainable commodities prove to buyers, investors, governments, and NGOs that their commodities are adhering to best forest management practices, national laws, criteria of the relevant commodity roundtables, or investor lending conditions.
Governments. GFW 2.0 is designed to help progressive elements in governments better enforce sustainable forest management and forest protection laws. GFW 2.0 is also designed to be a trusted, independent, and user-friendly way to help investors in REDD+ and other forest conservation projects monitor performance and hold countries accountable to their commitments on greenhouse gas emission reductions and forest conservation.
Conservation and community organizations. GFW 2.0 will enable NGOs dedicated to forest conservation, indigenous rights, and forest communities to identify deforestation hotspots as they arise and quickly mobilize action to curtail further clearing.
The media. GFW 2.0 will enable local, national, and international media to ring the alarm bell on deforestation hotspots around the globe at a pace never-before-possible, and thereby put pressure on governments, companies, and others to curtail forest conversion and illegal logging in time

Applying new technology

GFW 2.0 combines satellites, new algorithms, cloud computing, mobile phone technologies, and WRI databases to connect images, maps, photos, and data with forest clearing alerts ultimately within two weeks of significant deforestation occurring.

Because GFW 2.0 will be powered by Google Earth Engine and Earth Builder, it will bring to target users a seamless experience of the best technology offered by WRI, Google, and their partners, as Bloomberg does for the world’s vast, complex array of financial information.

Mobilizing human networks

GFW 2.0 will mobilize networks of people to ensure sustainable management of forests and greater forest conservation. Global Forest Watch “anchor” NGOs in each priority country or region, will actively use and contribute content in an open-source, network model.

These groups will include ScanEx and its non-profit affiliate Transparent World in Russia, Imazon in Brazil and their Amazon-wide network of partners across the seven neighboring countries, the Observatoire Satellital des Forêts d’Afrique Centrale (OSFAC) which covers the Central Africa region. More partners in Canada, China, Europe, and the United States are joining every day.

Watch a Sneak Peek of GFW 2.0 presented at Rio+20

Video streaming by Ustream

Speakers:

Carlos Souza Jr., Senior Researcher, IMAZON
Charles Barber, Forest Division Chief, Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science, U.S. Department of State
Rebecca Moore, Google
Nigel Sizer, Director, Global Forest Initiative, World Resources Institute

Watch UNEP’s press conference featuring GFW 2.0 at COP18 in Doha

Speakers:

Mr. Heru Prasetyo, Deputy I, Presidential Delivery Unit on Development Monitoring and Oversight, Government of Indonesia
Tim Christophersen, Senior Programme Officer, Forests and Climate Change, UNEP
Jane Feehan, Natural Resources Specialist, European Investment Bank
Nigel Sizer, Director, Global Forest Initiative, World Resources Institute

Watch a Sneak Peek of Global Forest Watch 2.0 at the U.S. Pavilion, COP18 in Doha

Video streaming by Ustream

Speakers:

Nigel Sizer, Director, Forests Initiative, World Resources Institute
Nirarta “Koni” Samadhi, Head of REDD+ Task Force Working Group on Moratorium Monitoring, Presidential Work Unit on Monitoring and Development Oversight (UKP4), Government of Indonesia
Per Fredrik Ilsaas Pharo, Director, International Climate and Forest Initiative, Norwegian Ministry of the Environment, Government of Norway
Tim Christophersen, Senior Program Officer, Forests and Climate Change, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Read more about WRI’s forest work here.

COP 18: Doha

Kevin Lustig — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:09:59 -0400

WRI Experts at COP 18

WRI Events at COP 18

COP 18 Commentary

From November 26 to December 7, 2012, the United Nations will host the 18th Conference of the Parties (COP) in Qatar.

WRI experts will be in attendance at this latest meeting under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to help inform the talks. Here, you can find a variety of materials from the World Resources Institute that shed light on key areas of international climate policy.

WRI Resources for COP 18

Cameroon Forest Land Allocation 2009

Kevin Lustig — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:12:51 -0400

Cameroon Forest Land Allocation 2007

Kevin Lustig — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:10:23 -0400

Cameroon Forest Land Allocation 2006

Kevin Lustig — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:08:36 -0400

Cameroon Forest Land Allocation 2004

Kevin Lustig — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:06:34 -0400

Interactive Forest Atlas of Cameroon (version 3.0)

Sarah Parsons — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:20:28 -0400

The Interactive Forest Atlas of Cameroon is a living forest information system hosted in the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) and supported by a joint team including members from MINFOF and the World Resources Institute (WRI). Built on a geographic information system (GIS) platform, the Atlas provides unbiased and up-to-date information on the Cameroonian forest sector. One of its main objectives is to strengthen forest management and land use planning by bringing all major land use categories onto the same standardized platform. While the underlying Forest Atlas database is kept up-to-date as new information becomes available, periodic publications of the data and database are made publicly available through the Atlas report, poster, and mapping application.

This report and associated material is the third in a series of Interactive Forest Atlases of Cameroon. It provides the reader with the land use allocation and land cover types in the National Forest Estate through June 2011, recent trends in production forests, and an expanded discussion of recent developments with community forests. Updated information on protected areas and the public and private road network is also featured, along with preliminary information about mining concessions likely to affect Cameroon’s forests. Additionally, this report highlights several practical examples of its uses and outlines future directions and applications of the Atlas.

À PROPOS DE CETTE PUBLICATION

L’Atlas forestier interactif du Cameroun est un système d’information forestière opérant en continu hébergé par le Ministère des Forêts et de la Faune (MINFOF) et géré par une équipe conjointe composée de représentants du MINFOF et du World Resources Institute (WRI). Basé sur le Système d’Information Géographique (SIG), l’Atlas fournit des informations objectives et actualisées sur le secteur forestier camerounais. L’un des objectifs principaux de l’Atlas est celui de renforcer la gestion forestière et la planification de l’affectation des terres en réunissant sur une plate-forme unique les principales catégories d’affectation. L’équipe conjointe MINFOF-WRI actualise la base de données de l’Atlas forestier au fur et à mesure que de nouvelles informations deviennent disponibles et les publie périodiquement sous formes de rapport, posters et application cartographique.

Le présent rapport représente la troisième version de la série d’Atlas forestiers interactifs du Cameroun. Il fournit au lecteur des informations sur les affectations et les types d’occupation des terres dans le Domaine Forestier National jusqu’au mois de juin 2011. Il donne également un aperçu sur les tendances récentes de l’évolution des forêts de production, ainsi que des développements récents dans le domaine de la foresterie communautaire. Il offre en plus les données actualisées sur les aires protégées et le réseau routier public et privé, et donne de façon subsidiaire des informations préliminaires sur les concessions minières susceptibles d’empiéter sur le domaine forestier. En fin, ce rapport met en exergue des exemples pratiques d’utilisation de l’Atlas et donne un aperçu de ses orientations et applications futures.

Cameroon Logging Titles and Protected Areas (1992 - 2007)

Kevin Lustig — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:27:29 -0400