Amidst the global crises of land degradation and deforestation, forest and landscape restoration (FLR) provides solutions for resilient landscapes that benefit human well-being, local livelihoods and the environment. A vital component of efficacious FLR activities is monitoring, in addition to project planning, implementing and financing. Monitoring allows for the verification of successful restorative efforts by providing evidence of progress, achievements and impact in relation to targets. It facilitates the updating of investors and reporting on commitments at various levels.

To promote monitoring for fruitful FLR, FAO’s Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism (FLRM) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) are pleased to share the recent release of the publication “Mapping Together: A Guide to Monitoring Forest and Landscape Restoration Using Collect Earth Mapathons” in French. This publication serves as a guide for stakeholders to evaluate their tree-based restoration progress (albeit outside of forests) according to national and global restoration goals. Instructing readers on the use of Open Foris’ Collect Earth as a monitoring tool, the guide presents the eight key steps to conducting a mapathon (i.e. group-mapping events). It also presents four case studies exemplifying the use of Collect Earth in the unique contexts of El Salvador, Ethiopia, India and Rwanda.

The Open Foris initiative created Collect Earth, an open-source data collection tool that combines satellite images with local knowledge. Collect Earth has the capacity to include a landscape’s appearance pre-restoration for clear progress mapping, as it utilizes both past and present satellite imagery. Moreover, the mapathons are carried out in coordination with local communities and experts of the landscape to answer critical questions and gather data. Local experts thus own the resulting maps, of which boast accuracy and evolve continuously.

Previously published for the continuous collaboration between the FLRM and the WRI is “The Road to Restoration: A Guide to Identifying Priorities and Indicators for Monitoring Forest and Landscape Restoration”. As an adaptation of this publication, the e-learning course "Monitoring forest and landscape restoration" was launched to build the capacity of practitioners to design, plan and implement FLR monitoring systems. Both the publication and e-learning versions of this monitoring guide are available in English, French and Spanish for a wide reach across global communities. To facilitate the decision-making process on the selection of indicators for monitoring restoration, the FLRM and WRI also developed the web application Assessment, Understanding and Reporting of Restoration Actions (AURORA). This application helps users to choose indicators and track progress as they monitor their restoration projects, tailoring their needs according to their goals.

French and English readers alike are invited to read the guide “Mapping Together” to enjoy the advantages of monitoring with Collect Earth in their tree-based restoration. 

To download the publication, please click here.

 Katie Reytar (WRI), Rene Zamora Cristales (WRI) and Carolina Gallo Granizo (FAO)