FORESTLINK

REAL TIME MONITORING
Real-time community-based monitoring is a tool that connects local people with national law enforcement in an effort to stop illegal logging and deforestation. Using our bespoke ForestLink system, forest communities can send alerts and evidence of a number of threats to the forest, even in remote areas with no mobile connectivity. Our ForestLink system can be used to address a wide range of threats, including illegal logging, illegal mining and oil spills.

This project is currently supporting over 30 communities across Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana and Peru. Nearly 80 local observers have already been trained by the Rainforest Foundation UK and its local partners.
HOW IT WORKS

1

Information is collected using a tablet computer or smartphone by members of a local community.

2

Using a bespoke app, the information is coded and then transmitted to an online repository via a satellite modem transmitter.

3

The information is stored in a central geographical database where it can be accessed and analysed by experts and/or automatically re-broadcast for in-field verification of the reports. The incident reports can be searched for numerous variables, such as the name of company involved, type of infraction etc.

4

The verification stage allows for collection of additional information about any given incident reported; for instance on the approximate date when it took place, whether it is isolated or a regular occurrence, its author, possible causes and observed impacts and for documenting it visually. The verifier could also assess how the information should be acted on by enforcement agencies.

5

Once verified, information would to be sent on to enforcement or other agencies.

1
COLLECT
2
TRANSMIT
3
STORE
4
VERIFY
5
ACT!