Have there been challenges as well and if so, what turned out to be the biggest one?

“Resource Watch’s global trusted datasets and visualizations have been used by NGOs and journalists across the world. However, over the years we learned from our engagement with local organizations that they at times need specific local datasets, for example on restoration or conservation. To meet this need we undertook the development of a set of features for Resource Watch with input from partners across the DOB Ecology network. This will enable local organizations to combine their own datasets with our global data catalog to thereby monitor their local community more effectively.”

We face a cascade of global crisis around biodiversity, natural resources, and climate: do we have any reasons to be optimistic? Or, put differently: where do you think progress lies in tackling these crises?

“We have better technologies now than ever to monitor the current challenges to our planet and to measure the effects of potential solutions across for example land use, restoration and oceans. During the past ten years, we have witnessed a revolution in forest monitoring and continue to see progress thanks to advancement in remote sensing and satellite imagery. Until recently satellite imagery would only provide limited insights about the vast amount of restoration efforts that are being developed outside of forests. Thanks to new machine learning technology Resource Watch was able to publish new data on tree growth outside forests, which will empower NGOs to monitor progress from current restoration efforts and hold governments accountable to restoration targets. Resource Watch plays a key role in making these technological advancements freely available on an accessible platform, so that users can focus on advocating for equitable environmental interventions and turn data into action on the ground.”