Our Approach

We are strengthening global monitoring of commodity-driven forest loss and advancing restoration across the globe. Learn more about how we plan to work together with partners and stakeholders to achieve this and create a shared data ecosystem.

Aligning on Foundational Data Gaps

The Forest Data Partnership brings together a global community of companies and organizations to collectively improve land use data. We align stakeholders to reach consensus around key data sets in the ever-expanding landscape of forest monitoring data and identify critical data gaps.

Initial focus areas:

  • Cocoa in West Africa

  • Palm Oil in Southeast Asia

  • Cattle and Soy in the Amazon Basin

  • Restoration Globally

Coffee trees.
Aerial view of soybean field.
Aerial view of palm oil plantation.

Who are we aligning?

  • Actors across supply chains and financial sectors 

  • Governments in producer and consumer countries

  • Civil society

  • Technology and service providers

  • Local and place-based affected stakeholders

Clearcut forest area.
Community group harvesting crops in a row.

We work with you to compile, harmonize and mobilize the best available data using the ensemble method, a machine learning technique that combines several base models to produce an optimal, predictive model. Our ensemble includes the best available data sets, benefiting from diverse inputs.

Innovating Demand-Driven Approaches

Connected data points icon.

If you have field, ground or training data, we can use it to train the ensemble, improving predictions in your area of interest.

Layered map with dropped pin icon.

If you have map products to contribute to the ensemble, our custom pipeline will illuminate where your model is the strongest.

Documents into network icon.

Through our network of trusted observers, we conduct field inventories to train and validate our ensemble or use crowd-sourced open data.

We use publicly available processing tools and platforms in the cloud to allow any user to access this open data and bring it into their own systems.

Deploying Data Delivery Mechanisms

How to Get Involved

  • Companies of all sizes and sectors, anywhere in the world and at any stage in their sustainability journey, can get involved with the Forest Data Partnership by signing up as a supporter; joining a global business community that will help by sharing knowledge; advocating for the goals of the Partnership; and as beta testers of the cutting-edge data solutions we will deploy.

  • The Forest Data Partnership aims to build consensus amongst relevant stakeholders on key data challenges and around innovations to address these challenges. You can get involved by signing up here. You will be invited to strategic consultations and events and have the chance to provide feedback on projects as they evolve.

  • Be part of the movement to create a consistent geospatial data ecosystem and contribute to the efforts of the Forest Data Partnership. Through the Innovate process, we build data-driven approaches to harmonize existing data, as well as develop new approaches and novel data where necessary. To participate, sign up to receive invitations to upcoming forums and other events, and to stay updated on developments.

  • The Forest Data Partnership pursues an inclusive multi-stakeholder approach and highly values input from stakeholders from all sectors of society. You can get involved by signing up to receive invitations to upcoming forums and strategic consultations, and by providing feedback on projects as they evolve.