A new high-resolution dataset on Global Forest Watch reveals where forest roads are opening up in the Congo Basin. Using satellite imagery and AI, it maps roads first detected from 2019 onward and combines them with historical data back to 1976, offering an unprecedented view of road expansion across the region. Explore the <a href="https://gfw.global/82nKz4">dataset</a> and read <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/data-and-tools/congo-basin-forest-road-mapping/?utm_medium=notification&#038;utm_source=gfwnoticeboard&#038;utm_campaign=loggingroads">our blog</a> to learn about the data and how tracking these roads can help monitor forest usage and fragmentation.

New on GFW: Congo Basin forest roads update

Data &amp; Tools

Data &amp; Tools | Global Forest Watch Blog

Congo Basin

Congo Basin | Global Forest Watch Blog

logging

logging | Global Forest Watch Blog

mapping

mapping | Global Forest Watch Blog

Anika Berger

Bart Slagter

Sarah Carter

In Congo Basin forests, a new road can cause big changes. What may start as a single narrow path can start a cascade of disturbances by opening up access to intact forest, making it vulnerable to agricultural expansion, mining, logging, poaching and other threats. Tracking these roads is an important step in reducing their impact on forests, yet these roads — often unpaved, temporary and quickly overgrown — can be difficult to detect.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1363" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CIFOR-ICRAF-Wood-truck-Cameroon_Ollivier-Girard.jpg" alt="Wood truck near the village of Ngon. District of Ebolowa, Cameroon. Photo credit: Ollivier Girard/CIFOR." class="wp-image-20073" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CIFOR-ICRAF-Wood-truck-Cameroon_Ollivier-Girard.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CIFOR-ICRAF-Wood-truck-Cameroon_Ollivier-Girard-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CIFOR-ICRAF-Wood-truck-Cameroon_Ollivier-Girard-768x511.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CIFOR-ICRAF-Wood-truck-Cameroon_Ollivier-Girard-1536x1022.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wood truck near the village of Ngon. District of Ebolowa, Cameroon. Photo credit: Ollivier Girard/CIFOR.</figcaption></figure>



A <a href="https://gfw.global/kkkquy">new, high-resolution data set</a> on Global Forest Watch (GFW) helps to close this gap by providing the most comprehensive view to date of forest road development in the Congo Basin. This updated data set builds on recent research that uses <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425724004061#bb0225" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">satellite imagery and AI to map forest roads</a> in unprecedented detail, identifying roads first detected from 2019 onward and integrating them with a historical archive of road data extending from 2018 back to 1976. Together, this offers decades of insight into how roads have expanded across one of the world’s most vital tropical forest regions.



This release comes at a critical moment. Road expansion, particularly associated with selective logging, can lead to serious <a href="https://gfr.wri.org/forest-condition-indicators/forest-degradation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest degradation</a> by fragmenting habitats, increasing carbon emissions and opening previously intact areas to further clearing. Data tracking road development can support verification of logging legality, as well as monitor mining encroachment and agricultural expansion.



In the Congo Basin, there is strong and growing demand for this type of data from government ministries, civil society organizations and forest monitoring initiatives. With technological developments such as this AI-powered approach, we are able to automatically track in high detail where and when road networks expand, meeting demands for valuable information needed by those who monitor forest change in near-real-time.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/congobasinroads_fast.gif" alt="Congo Basin forest roads data set overlaid on satellite imagery in Republic of the Congo" class="wp-image-20078"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Forest roads visible in Sentinel-2 satellite imagery can later disappear as vegetation regrows, but the Congo Basin forest roads data set&nbsp;retains&nbsp;a record of these roads even after they are no longer visible in imagery.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why do forest roads matter?</h2>



Forest roads are often the first physical footprint of industrial activity in tropical forests. Most of the roads in the Congo Basin are unpaved, and only temporarily used for selective logging, which entails harvesting valuable and mature trees while leaving the majority of the forest intact. While forest products benefit regional economies, some extractive practices are more detrimental than others. In tropical forests, selective logging can be part of a sustainable management regime if done with care, compared to clear cutting and establishing timber plantations.



However, the impact of logging roads<a href="https://ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/usys/ites/ecosystem-management-dam/documents/EducationDOC/TRF_DOC/Reading/Laurance_2009.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> can be long-lasting</a>. Clearing forest corridors for road construction is the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331479711_Reduced-impact_logging_for_climate_change_mitigation_RIL-C_can_halve_selective_logging_emissions_from_tropical_forests" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">largest source of carbon emissions</a> associated with selective logging in Congo Basin countries, and also contributes to habitat fragmentation, soil disturbance, edge effects and increased fire risk.



The impacts of logging roads often extend well beyond the initial harvest. When roads remain accessible after logging, they can leave remote forests vulnerable to <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317802710_Impacts_of_logging_roads_on_tropical_forests" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unauthorized activities</a> such as agricultural expansion, mining, hunting and unregulated logging. In recent decades, road networks have increasingly expanded into <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/worlds-last-intact-forests-increasingly-fragmented" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intact forest landscapes</a>, which are identified as having little or no prior human influence. The <a href="https://www.wur.nl/en/news/road-networks-stretch-congo-basin-forests-satellites-and-ai-help-monitor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">latest data indicates</a> that almost a quarter of Congo Basin forest roads are located in forests that were mapped as intact as of 2016.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What does the new Congo Basin forest roads data show?</h2>



Monitoring forest roads is important but challenging. Without knowing where these roads are and how they’re changing over time, it’s impossible to assess their impacts or know what actions need to be taken. Many logging roads are narrow and vegetation grows back quickly after harvest, making them difficult or impossible to detect without the use of radar and optical satellite imagery. Especially in the densely cloud-covered Congo Basin, transient roads going unnoticed pose a major risk.



The new forest roads data set provides highly detailed mapping of road development in tropical rainforests across six Congo Basin countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Republic of Congo.



Key features include:



<ul>
<li>Updated road detection from 2019 onward, using AI and both optical and radar-based satellite imagery to map transient forest roads that often go undetected in conventional road data sets, with roads attributed by detection year and viewable by time range on GFW.</li>



<li>A long-term historical archive, combining the new data with earlier road maps created from satellite imagery going from 2018 back to 1976.</li>



<li>Improved coverage and consistency, offering users a single, integrated data set rather than multiple sources.</li>
</ul>



Prior to this change, GFW hosted a Congo Basin logging roads data set that was last updated in 2014. That data set was produced through a crowdsourcing effort from the Logging Roads initiative led by Moabi, GFW and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. Volunteers used satellite imagery and OpenStreetMap-based tools to manually trace roads and estimate when they appeared. While groundbreaking at the time, the data set covered a limited time period and was difficult to update.



In subsequent years, researchers <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0310-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manually updated</a> the data set through 2018 and integrated it with an earlier road inventory that had <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1141057" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">digitized roads</a> from more than 300 Landsat images collected between 1976 and 2003, creating a comprehensive archive of roads data.



The new data combines the hand-digitized data with a new AI-based approach to offer a more complete and current picture of forest road expansion across the region.



Users can view the Congo Basin forest roads data on the GFW map by selecting the <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/?map=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%3D&mapMenu=eyJtZW51U2VjdGlvbiI6ImRhdGFzZXRzIiwiZGF0YXNldENhdGVnb3J5IjoibGFuZFVzZSJ9">Congo Basin forest roads layer</a> in the Land Use data sets section under Infrastructure.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1310" height="788" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/congobasinroads.png" alt="Screenshot of Forest roads in the Congo Basin (1976 to 2024)" class="wp-image-20079" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/congobasinroads.png 1310w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/congobasinroads-1024x616.png 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/congobasinroads-768x462.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1310px) 100vw, 1310px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Forest roads in the Congo Basin (1976 to 2024), with older data shown in darker brown and newly detected roads highlighted in bright gold.</figcaption></figure>



Additionally, the data will be integrated into national <a href="https://www.wri.org/initiatives/forest-atlases" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forest Atlases</a>, which combine government information with independent monitoring tools to support transparent forest management.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How was the data created?</h2>



We mapped roads from 2019 onward using an advanced deep learning model <a href="https://www.wur.nl/en/news/road-networks-stretch-congo-basin-forests-satellites-and-ai-help-monitor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">developed by Wageningen University & Research and The Nature Conservancy</a>, based on both Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. The imagery uses radar sensors that can “see through” clouds, which allows for road detections even during the Congo Basin’s frequent rainy seasons. The automated algorithm processed thousands of satellite images and was designed to be continuously updated.



To extend the data set further back in time, the new road data was merged with <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0310-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">historical maps</a> that include the <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1141057" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manually digitized roads</a> from Landsat imagery covering 1976–2003 and crowdsourced mapping efforts. While detection methods differ, together they provide a valuable long-term archive of forest access and fragmentation.



As with most large-scale data sets, there are important caveats that users should be aware of:



<ul>
<li>Not all forest roads are associated with selective logging, although many mapped roads are linked to logging activities. The <a href="https://gfw.global/OQbmTK">logging concessions layer</a> on the GFW map can provide further context.</li>



<li>The data set does not indicate the legality of roads or associated activities.</li>



<li>Road widths are not shown to scale, and the data does not show whether a road is still in use (for example, some roads may have overgrown since they were detected).</li>



<li>Additionally, overlap between older and newer roads may indicate the reopening of older roads. This may be of interest to users investigating selective logging activities because a road reopening can indicate that a new harvest cycle has started at a location where old, overgrown logging roads are being reopened and reused (which generally has <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1365-2664.12661" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">less environmental impact</a> than constructing entirely new ones). However, note that reopened roads may not perfectly align with new roads on the map, since new roads (2019 onward) were mapped with more spatial precision than old roads.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How can the data be used?</h2>



The updated forest roads data set supports a wide range of applications:



<ul>
<li>Forest monitoring and law enforcement: Users can track where new roads appear inside or outside <a href="https://gfw.global/OQbmTK">logging concessions</a>, helping to flag potential illegal activity and support patrol planning.</li>



<li>Concession oversight: Governments and civil society organizations can assess whether road development aligns with approved logging plans and schedules. Detailed logging road maps can also be used to evaluate and potentially reduce the impact of selective logging activities.</li>



<li>Research and analysis: Researchers can use the long-term archive to study logging trends, infrastructure persistence and the carbon implications of new versus reopened roads, as well as the relationship between roads, degradation and deforestation.</li>



<li>Conservation and land-use planning: By revealing patterns of access and fragmentation, the data set can inform broader efforts to protect intact forest landscapes and protected areas.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1310" height="788" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/congobasinroads_v2.png" alt="Screenshot of Forest roads in the Congo Basin in Republic of Congo" class="wp-image-20080" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/congobasinroads_v2.png 1310w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/congobasinroads_v2-1024x616.png 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/congobasinroads_v2-768x462.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1310px) 100vw, 1310px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The forest roads data set provides context to forest change data such as near-real-time disturbance alerts, informing users what may be driving forest change. For example, recent disturbance alerts occurring near forest roads in intact forest landscapes highlight areas where access infrastructure and potential logging operations may be contributing to the reduction of previously intact forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What’s next for forest road monitoring data?</h2>



By combining cutting-edge AI with decades of historical mapping, this new forest roads data set offers an unprecedented view of how access has shaped the Congo Basin’s forests over time. As road expansion continues to impact forests, having timely, transparent and accessible data is essential for effective monitoring and action.



Moving forward, we plan to update the data set annually to support continued monitoring of road expansion across the region. In the future, we may apply these methods to map roads in other regions such as the Amazon and Southeast Asian rainforests.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Access the data: The data set is <a href="https://gfw.global/kkkquy">now available on GFW</a> as well as the <a href="https://www.wri.org/initiatives/forest-atlases" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forest Atlases</a> where it complements existing forest disturbance data, such as <a href="https://gfw.global/qfkEaG">drivers of disturbance alerts</a> and <a href="https://gfw.global/RIZqAn">tree cover loss by dominant driver</a>, by adding spatial detail on logging-related access and infrastructure, helping users better understand forest change in the Congo Basin.



<style type="text/css"></style>

Mapping Forest Roads in the Congo Basin in Unprecedented Detail with AI

In Congo Basin forests, a new road can cause big changes. What may start as a single narrow path can start a cascade of disturbances by opening up access to intact forest, making it vulnerable to agricultural expansion, mining, logging, poaching and other threats. Tracking these roads is an important step in reducing their impact on forests, yet these roads — often unpaved, temporary and quickly overgrown — can be difficult to detect.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CIFOR-ICRAF-Wood-truck-Cameroon_Ollivier-Girard.jpg" alt="Wood truck near the village of Ngon. District of Ebolowa, Cameroon. Photo credit: Ollivier Girard/CIFOR." class="wp-image-20073"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wood truck near the village of Ngon. District of Ebolowa, Cameroon. Photo credit: Ollivier Girard/CIFOR.</figcaption></figure>



A <a href="https://gfw.global/kkkquy">new, high-resolution data set</a> on Global Forest Watch (GFW) helps to close this gap by providing the most comprehensive view to date of forest road development in the Congo Basin. This updated data set builds on recent research that uses <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425724004061#bb0225" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">satellite imagery and AI to map forest roads</a> in unprecedented detail, identifying roads first detected from 2019 onward and integrating them with a historical archive of road data extending from 2018 back to 1976. Together, this offers decades of insight into how roads have expanded across one of the world’s most vital tropical forest regions.



This release comes at a critical moment. Road expansion, particularly associated with selective logging, can lead to serious <a href="https://gfr.wri.org/forest-condition-indicators/forest-degradation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest degradation</a> by fragmenting habitats, increasing carbon emissions and opening previously intact areas to further clearing. Data tracking road development can support verification of logging legality, as well as monitor mining encroachment and agricultural expansion.



In the Congo Basin, there is strong and growing demand for this type of data from government ministries, civil society organizations and forest monitoring initiatives. With technological developments such as this AI-powered approach, we are able to automatically track in high detail where and when road networks expand, meeting demands for valuable information needed by those who monitor forest change in near-real-time.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/congobasinroads_fast.gif" alt="Congo Basin forest roads data set overlaid on satellite imagery in Republic of the Congo" class="wp-image-20078"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Forest roads visible in Sentinel-2 satellite imagery can later disappear as vegetation regrows, but the Congo Basin forest roads data set&nbsp;retains&nbsp;a record of these roads even after they are no longer visible in imagery.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why do forest roads matter?</h2>



Forest roads are often the first physical footprint of industrial activity in tropical forests. Most of the roads in the Congo Basin are unpaved, and only temporarily used for selective logging, which entails harvesting valuable and mature trees while leaving the majority of the forest intact. While forest products benefit regional economies, some extractive practices are more detrimental than others. In tropical forests, selective logging can be part of a sustainable management regime if done with care, compared to clear cutting and establishing timber plantations.



However, the impact of logging roads<a href="https://ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/usys/ites/ecosystem-management-dam/documents/EducationDOC/TRF_DOC/Reading/Laurance_2009.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> can be long-lasting</a>. Clearing forest corridors for road construction is the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331479711_Reduced-impact_logging_for_climate_change_mitigation_RIL-C_can_halve_selective_logging_emissions_from_tropical_forests" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">largest source of carbon emissions</a> associated with selective logging in Congo Basin countries, and also contributes to habitat fragmentation, soil disturbance, edge effects and increased fire risk.



The impacts of logging roads often extend well beyond the initial harvest. When roads remain accessible after logging, they can leave remote forests vulnerable to <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317802710_Impacts_of_logging_roads_on_tropical_forests" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unauthorized activities</a> such as agricultural expansion, mining, hunting and unregulated logging. In recent decades, road networks have increasingly expanded into <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/worlds-last-intact-forests-increasingly-fragmented" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intact forest landscapes</a>, which are identified as having little or no prior human influence. The <a href="https://www.wur.nl/en/news/road-networks-stretch-congo-basin-forests-satellites-and-ai-help-monitor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">latest data indicates</a> that almost a quarter of Congo Basin forest roads are located in forests that were mapped as intact as of 2016.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What does the new Congo Basin forest roads data show?</h2>



Monitoring forest roads is important but challenging. Without knowing where these roads are and how they’re changing over time, it’s impossible to assess their impacts or know what actions need to be taken. Many logging roads are narrow and vegetation grows back quickly after harvest, making them difficult or impossible to detect without the use of radar and optical satellite imagery. Especially in the densely cloud-covered Congo Basin, transient roads going unnoticed pose a major risk.



The new forest roads data set provides highly detailed mapping of road development in tropical rainforests across six Congo Basin countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Republic of Congo.



Key features include:



<ul>
<li>Updated road detection from 2019 onward, using AI and both optical and radar-based satellite imagery to map transient forest roads that often go undetected in conventional road data sets, with roads attributed by detection year and viewable by time range on GFW.</li>



<li>A long-term historical archive, combining the new data with earlier road maps created from satellite imagery going from 2018 back to 1976.</li>



<li>Improved coverage and consistency, offering users a single, integrated data set rather than multiple sources.</li>
</ul>



Prior to this change, GFW hosted a Congo Basin logging roads data set that was last updated in 2014. That data set was produced through a crowdsourcing effort from the Logging Roads initiative led by Moabi, GFW and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. Volunteers used satellite imagery and OpenStreetMap-based tools to manually trace roads and estimate when they appeared. While groundbreaking at the time, the data set covered a limited time period and was difficult to update.



In subsequent years, researchers <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0310-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manually updated</a> the data set through 2018 and integrated it with an earlier road inventory that had <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1141057" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">digitized roads</a> from more than 300 Landsat images collected between 1976 and 2003, creating a comprehensive archive of roads data.



The new data combines the hand-digitized data with a new AI-based approach to offer a more complete and current picture of forest road expansion across the region.



Users can view the Congo Basin forest roads data on the GFW map by selecting the <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/?map=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%3D&amp;mapMenu=eyJtZW51U2VjdGlvbiI6ImRhdGFzZXRzIiwiZGF0YXNldENhdGVnb3J5IjoibGFuZFVzZSJ9">Congo Basin forest roads layer</a> in the Land Use data sets section under Infrastructure.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/congobasinroads.png" alt="Screenshot of Forest roads in the Congo Basin (1976 to 2024)" class="wp-image-20079"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Forest roads in the Congo Basin (1976 to 2024), with older data shown in darker brown and newly detected roads highlighted in bright gold.</figcaption></figure>



Additionally, the data will be integrated into national <a href="https://www.wri.org/initiatives/forest-atlases" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forest Atlases</a>, which combine government information with independent monitoring tools to support transparent forest management.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How was the data created?</h2>



We mapped roads from 2019 onward using an advanced deep learning model <a href="https://www.wur.nl/en/news/road-networks-stretch-congo-basin-forests-satellites-and-ai-help-monitor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">developed by Wageningen University &amp; Research and The Nature Conservancy</a>, based on both Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. The imagery uses radar sensors that can “see through” clouds, which allows for road detections even during the Congo Basin’s frequent rainy seasons. The automated algorithm processed thousands of satellite images and was designed to be continuously updated.



To extend the data set further back in time, the new road data was merged with <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0310-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">historical maps</a> that include the <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1141057" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manually digitized roads</a> from Landsat imagery covering 1976–2003 and crowdsourced mapping efforts. While detection methods differ, together they provide a valuable long-term archive of forest access and fragmentation.



As with most large-scale data sets, there are important caveats that users should be aware of:



<ul>
<li>Not all forest roads are associated with selective logging, although many mapped roads are linked to logging activities. The <a href="https://gfw.global/OQbmTK">logging concessions layer</a> on the GFW map can provide further context.</li>



<li>The data set does not indicate the legality of roads or associated activities.</li>



<li>Road widths are not shown to scale, and the data does not show whether a road is still in use (for example, some roads may have overgrown since they were detected).</li>



<li>Additionally, overlap between older and newer roads may indicate the reopening of older roads. This may be of interest to users investigating selective logging activities because a road reopening can indicate that a new harvest cycle has started at a location where old, overgrown logging roads are being reopened and reused (which generally has <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1365-2664.12661" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">less environmental impact</a> than constructing entirely new ones). However, note that reopened roads may not perfectly align with new roads on the map, since new roads (2019 onward) were mapped with more spatial precision than old roads.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How can the data be used?</h2>



The updated forest roads data set supports a wide range of applications:



<ul>
<li>Forest monitoring and law enforcement: Users can track where new roads appear inside or outside <a href="https://gfw.global/OQbmTK">logging concessions</a>, helping to flag potential illegal activity and support patrol planning.</li>



<li>Concession oversight: Governments and civil society organizations can assess whether road development aligns with approved logging plans and schedules. Detailed logging road maps can also be used to evaluate and potentially reduce the impact of selective logging activities.</li>



<li>Research and analysis: Researchers can use the long-term archive to study logging trends, infrastructure persistence and the carbon implications of new versus reopened roads, as well as the relationship between roads, degradation and deforestation.</li>



<li>Conservation and land-use planning: By revealing patterns of access and fragmentation, the data set can inform broader efforts to protect intact forest landscapes and protected areas.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/congobasinroads_v2.png" alt="Screenshot of Forest roads in the Congo Basin in Republic of Congo" class="wp-image-20080"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The forest roads data set provides context to forest change data such as near-real-time disturbance alerts, informing users what may be driving forest change. For example, recent disturbance alerts occurring near forest roads in intact forest landscapes highlight areas where access infrastructure and potential logging operations may be contributing to the reduction of previously intact forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What’s next for forest road monitoring data?</h2>



By combining cutting-edge AI with decades of historical mapping, this new forest roads data set offers an unprecedented view of how access has shaped the Congo Basin’s forests over time. As road expansion continues to impact forests, having timely, transparent and accessible data is essential for effective monitoring and action.



Moving forward, we plan to update the data set annually to support continued monitoring of road expansion across the region. In the future, we may apply these methods to map roads in other regions such as the Amazon and Southeast Asian rainforests.



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Access the data: The data set is <a href="https://gfw.global/kkkquy">now available on GFW</a> as well as the <a href="https://www.wri.org/initiatives/forest-atlases" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forest Atlases</a> where it complements existing forest disturbance data, such as <a href="https://gfw.global/qfkEaG">drivers of disturbance alerts</a> and <a href="https://gfw.global/RIZqAn">tree cover loss by dominant driver</a>, by adding spatial detail on logging-related access and infrastructure, helping users better understand forest change in the Congo Basin.



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In Congo Basin forests, roads can cause big changes. A new, high-res data set on GFW provides a detailed view of these forest roads.

Mapping Forest Roads in the Congo Basin Powered by AI

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This blog spotlights stories of women leaders using GFW tools and data to protecting some of the world’s most important forests.

Women are Protecting Some of the World’s Most Important Forests

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A decade ago, the launch of Global Forest Watch (GFW) ushered in a new era of accountability and transparency around monitoring and protecting the world’s forests. To celebrate 10 years of impact, our Voices of Global Forest Watch series will highlight successes of GFW users, partners and community members throughout the year. We invite you to read, watch and share the stories of exceptional leaders in forest monitoring who have played a pivotal role in protecting forests everywhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U9q_I9KHLzU?si=KZVxl0wS0mpzEMi5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







“Forests are important as they play several roles. I consider forests to be the factor that allows us to stay alive.”&nbsp;– Serge Bondo Kayembe, Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière



Serge Bondo Kayembe, born in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), developed a passion for forest conservation at a young age. Growing up, he worked alongside his family in a forested area, where he became deeply aware of the importance of protecting these vital ecosystems.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Protecting forests is not only beneficial for us living in forests and around forests,” said Serge, “but also for others beyond our countries where wood is produced, where logging is done in tropical areas.”&nbsp;



Serge works with the Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière (OGF), a nonprofit working to protect DRC’s forests through resource monitoring, legislation and governance oversight using tools like GFW to detect and report illegal activities, which are further investigated in field missions. This monitoring is essential to ensure that forest laws are respected and that forests are protected.&nbsp;



Serge is proud of the work OGF has achieved so far,&nbsp;including receiving&nbsp;government support through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that enables OGF to act as an independent third party monitoring government forest-related activities. Thanks to this MoU, OGF’s work has gained acceptance from DRC’s Ministry of Forestry. This collaboration and tools like GFW have enabled OGF to&nbsp;secure&nbsp;more responsible and transparent management of forest resources by making information on forest exploitation accessible and governance processes clear and open. In a major achievement, this independent monitoring has led to proposed alternatives to protect critical areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;



For example, a DRC provincial government gathered key stakeholders to develop strategies for protecting the Luki Biosphere Reserve, a protected area in Central Congo Province. The area faces significant threats of deforestation due to charcoal production, agriculture and illegal logging, both from forestry companies and from local communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="800" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18043" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-1.jpg 1200w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



OGF used GFW’s deforestation alerts to identify the different causes of deforested activities, and used this information to prepare proposals for alternative activities that allow communities to sustainably meet their economic needs without causing deforestation and biodiversity loss in the reserve. This led to meetings between authorities and local stakeholders to develop strategies for protecting the reserve, introduce alternative economic activities for local communities and strengthen monitoring measures.&nbsp;



OGF actively involves local communities in this kind of work by raising awareness of the negative impacts of deforestation and providing trainings on how to protect natural resources. Through these trainings, OGF supported communities to monitor forests and report any suspicious activity. This participatory approach has strengthened the role of communities in conserving the reserve, making them more vigilant and proactive in protecting their environment.&nbsp;



In 2023 and 2024, with support from GFW’s Small Grants Fund (SGF), OGF worked on building the skills of a network of independent forest monitors, which currently consists of 25 organizations, to improve environmental monitoring and make conservation initiatives in the reserve more sustainable. OGF organized training courses for local forest monitors, government officials in charge of forest control and other civil society actors, resulting in more sustainable and participatory forest management.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1536" height="2048" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-1536x2048.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18044" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



“These tools allow us to access documentation, i.e. all logging titles, cutting permits, concession contracts,” Serge said, explaining how they use WRI’s Open Timber Portal and Forest Atlas for planning, while GFW’s near-real-time deforestation alerts are crucial for execution, helping forest monitors in the field identify and investigate the causes, such as bushfires or large-scale logging.&nbsp;&nbsp;



These tools also provide detailed, reliable, publicly available evidence that they can submit to authorities. This information has helped authorities to better understand the scale of the problem and take appropriate action.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1536" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-2048x1536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18069" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-768x576.jpg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-1536x1152.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



In the Luki region, use of deforestation alerts has contributed to rapid detection and response to illegal activities, leading to a positive impact to protect forests and biodiversity. As a result, OGF has been able to not only improve monitoring and documentation of illegal activities, but fostered collaborations with local authorities for better law enforcement.&nbsp;



In addition to their work in Luki, OGF has made significant impacts in other regions. They contributed to a significant reduction in deforestation in several critical areas of the DRC through collaborations with various NGOs and the government. They have worked to ensure that local communities in many areas of the DRC have access to equitable benefits from forest resources, including the creation of social infrastructure. And their efforts have led to important legislative reforms aimed at strengthening forest protection and improving governance of natural resources.&nbsp;



The challenges for protecting DRC’s critical forests remain significant, and Serge recognizes that he, OGF, and the communities they work with have a long way to go in this ongoing fight for forest conservation and the rights of forest communities.&nbsp;



“At the beginning of my career, I thought it was going to be easy. But over the years, I’ve been doing this job for 12 years, I feel like I just started.”&nbsp;



<a href="https://ogfrdc.cd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more about OGF here.</a>



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Voices of Global Forest Watch: Serge Bondo Kayembe, Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière

A decade ago, the launch of Global Forest Watch (GFW) ushered in a new era of accountability and transparency around monitoring and protecting the world’s forests. To celebrate 10 years of impact, our Voices of Global Forest Watch series will highlight successes of GFW users, partners and community members throughout the year. We invite you to read, watch and share the stories of exceptional leaders in forest monitoring who have played a pivotal role in protecting forests everywhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<iframe width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U9q_I9KHLzU?si=KZVxl0wS0mpzEMi5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







“Forests are important as they play several roles. I consider forests to be the factor that allows us to stay alive.”&nbsp;- Serge Bondo Kayembe, Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière



Serge Bondo Kayembe, born in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), developed a passion for forest conservation at a young age. Growing up, he worked alongside his family in a forested area, where he became deeply aware of the importance of protecting these vital ecosystems.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Protecting forests is not only beneficial for us living in forests and around forests,” said Serge, “but also for others beyond our countries where wood is produced, where logging is done in tropical areas.”&nbsp;



Serge works with the Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière (OGF), a nonprofit working to protect DRC’s forests through resource monitoring, legislation and governance oversight using tools like GFW to detect and report illegal activities, which are further investigated in field missions. This monitoring is essential to ensure that forest laws are respected and that forests are protected.&nbsp;



Serge is proud of the work OGF has achieved so far,&nbsp;including receiving&nbsp;government support through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that enables OGF to act as an independent third party monitoring government forest-related activities. Thanks to this MoU, OGF’s work has gained acceptance from DRC's Ministry of Forestry. This collaboration and tools like GFW have enabled OGF to&nbsp;secure&nbsp;more responsible and transparent management of forest resources by making information on forest exploitation accessible and governance processes clear and open. In a major achievement, this independent monitoring has led to proposed alternatives to protect critical areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;



For example, a DRC provincial government gathered key stakeholders to develop strategies for protecting the Luki Biosphere Reserve, a protected area in Central Congo Province. The area faces significant threats of deforestation due to charcoal production, agriculture and illegal logging, both from forestry companies and from local communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18043"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



OGF used GFW’s deforestation alerts to identify the different causes of deforested activities, and used this information to prepare proposals for alternative activities that allow communities to sustainably meet their economic needs without causing deforestation and biodiversity loss in the reserve. This led to meetings between authorities and local stakeholders to develop strategies for protecting the reserve, introduce alternative economic activities for local communities and strengthen monitoring measures.&nbsp;



OGF actively involves local communities in this kind of work by raising awareness of the negative impacts of deforestation and providing trainings on how to protect natural resources. Through these trainings, OGF supported communities to monitor forests and report any suspicious activity. This participatory approach has strengthened the role of communities in conserving the reserve, making them more vigilant and proactive in protecting their environment.&nbsp;



In 2023 and 2024, with support from GFW’s Small Grants Fund (SGF), OGF worked on building the skills of a network of independent forest monitors, which currently consists of 25 organizations, to improve environmental monitoring and make conservation initiatives in the reserve more sustainable. OGF organized training courses for local forest monitors, government officials in charge of forest control and other civil society actors, resulting in more sustainable and participatory forest management.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-1536x2048.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18044"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



“These tools allow us to access documentation, i.e. all logging titles, cutting permits, concession contracts,” Serge said, explaining how they use WRI’s Open Timber Portal and Forest Atlas for planning, while GFW’s near-real-time deforestation alerts are crucial for execution, helping forest monitors in the field identify and investigate the causes, such as bushfires or large-scale logging.&nbsp;&nbsp;



These tools also provide detailed, reliable, publicly available evidence that they can submit to authorities. This information has helped authorities to better understand the scale of the problem and take appropriate action.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-2048x1536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18069"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



In the Luki region, use of deforestation alerts has contributed to rapid detection and response to illegal activities, leading to a positive impact to protect forests and biodiversity. As a result, OGF has been able to not only improve monitoring and documentation of illegal activities, but fostered collaborations with local authorities for better law enforcement.&nbsp;



In addition to their work in Luki, OGF has made significant impacts in other regions. They contributed to a significant reduction in deforestation in several critical areas of the DRC through collaborations with various NGOs and the government. They have worked to ensure that local communities in many areas of the DRC have access to equitable benefits from forest resources, including the creation of social infrastructure. And their efforts have led to important legislative reforms aimed at strengthening forest protection and improving governance of natural resources.&nbsp;



The challenges for protecting DRC’s critical forests remain significant, and Serge recognizes that he, OGF, and the communities they work with have a long way to go in this ongoing fight for forest conservation and the rights of forest communities.&nbsp;



“At the beginning of my career, I thought it was going to be easy. But over the years, I’ve been doing this job for 12 years, I feel like I just started.”&nbsp;



<a href="https://ogfrdc.cd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more about OGF here.</a>



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Il y a dix ans, le lancement de Global Forest Watch (GFW) a marqué le début d'une nouvelle ère de responsabilité et de transparence en ce qui concerne la surveillance et la protection des forêts du monde. Pour célébrer ces dix années d'impact, notre série Voix of Global Forest Watch mettra en lumière les réussites des utilisateurs, des partenaires et des membres de la communauté de GFW tout au long de l'année. Nous vous invitons à lire, regarder et partager les histoires de leaders exceptionnels dans le domaine de la surveillance des forêts qui ont joué un rôle essentiel dans la protection des forêts partout dans le monde.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<iframe width="560" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U9q_I9KHLzU?si=KZVxl0wS0mpzEMi5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>







« Les forêts sont importantes car elles jouent plusieurs rôles. Je considère que les forêts sont le facteur qui nous permet de rester vivant. »  - Serge Bondo Kayembe, Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière 



Serge Bondo, né à Kinshasa, en République démocratique du Congo (RDC), s'est passionné dès son plus jeune âge pour la conservation des forêts. En grandissant, il a travaillé avec sa famille dans une zone forestière, où il a pris profondément conscience de l'importance de la protection de ces écosystèmes vitaux.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;



« La protection des forêts n'est pas seulement bénéfique pour nous qui vivons dans les forêts et autour des forêts », a déclaré Serge. « Mais aussi pour d'autres, au-delà de nos pays, où le bois est produit, où l'exploitation forestière se fait dans les zones tropicales. »&nbsp;&nbsp;



Serge travaille avec l'Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière (OGF), une organisation à but non lucratif qui s'efforce de protéger les forêts de la RDC en surveillant les ressources, la législation et la gouvernance à l'aide d'outils tels que le GFW pour détecter et signaler les activités illégales, qui sont ensuite examinées plus en détail dans le cadre de missions sur le terrain. Cette surveillance est essentielle pour garantir le respect des lois forestières et la protection des forêts.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Serge est fier du travail accompli par l'OGF jusqu'à présent, notamment en recevant le soutien du gouvernement par le biais d'un protocole d'accord qui permet à l'OGF d'agir en tant que tierce partie indépendante chargée de surveiller les activités forestières du gouvernement. Grâce à ce protocole d'accord, le travail d'OGF a gagné l'acceptation du ministère des forêts de la RDC. Cette collaboration et des outils tels que le GFW ont permis à OGF de garantir une gestion plus responsable et plus transparente des ressources forestières en rendant les informations sur l'exploitation forestière accessibles et les processus de gouvernance clairs et ouverts. Une réalisation majeure est que ce suivi indépendant a permis de proposer des alternatives pour protéger les zones vulnérables.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;



Par exemple, un gouvernement provincial de la RDC a réuni les principales parties prenantes pour élaborer des stratégies de protection de la réserve de biosphère de Luki, une zone protégée dans la province du Congo central. Cette zone est fortement menacée par la déforestation due à la production de charbon de bois, à l'agriculture et à l'exploitation forestière illégale, tant par les entreprises forestières que par les communautés locales.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18043"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



OGF a utilisé les alertes de déforestation de GFW pour identifier les différentes causes des activités de déforestation, et a utilisé ces informations pour préparer des propositions d'activités alternatives qui permettent aux communautés de répondre durablement à leurs besoins économiques sans causer de déforestation et de perte de biodiversité dans la réserve. Cette démarche a mené à des réunions entre les autorités et les parties prenantes locales afin d'élaborer des stratégies de protection de la réserve, d'introduire des activités économiques alternatives pour les communautés locales et de renforcer les mesures de surveillance. &nbsp;



OGF implique activement les communautés locales dans ce type de travail en les sensibilisant aux effets négatifs de la déforestation et en leur proposant des formations sur la manière de protéger les ressources naturelles. Par ces formations, OGF a soutenu les communautés à surveiller les forêts et à signaler toute activité suspecte. Cette approche participative a renforcé le rôle des communautés dans la conservation de la réserve, les rendant plus vigilantes et proactives dans la protection de leur environnement. &nbsp;



En 2023 et 2024, avec le soutien du Fonds de petites subventions de GFW, OGF a travaillé sur le renforcement des compétences d'un réseau d'observateurs forestiers indépendants, qui comprend actuellement 25 organisations, afin d'améliorer la surveillance de l'environnement et de rendre les initiatives de conservation dans la réserve plus durables. OGF a organisé des formations pour les observateurs forestiers locaux, les fonctionnaires chargés du contrôle des forêts et d'autres acteurs de la société civile, ce qui a permis une gestion plus durable et plus participative des forêts.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OGF-2-1536x2048.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18044"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



« Ces outils nous permettent d'accéder à la documentation, c'est-à-dire à tous les titres d'exploitation forestière, aux permis de coupe et aux contrats de concession », explique Serge, qui précise qu'ils utilisent le portail Open Timber et Forest Atlas de WRI pour la planification, tandis que les alertes de déforestation en temps quasi réel de GFW sont cruciales pour l'exécution, aidant les surveillants forestiers sur le terrain à identifier et à enquêter sur les causes, telles que les feux de brousse ou l'exploitation forestière à grande échelle.&nbsp; &nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OGF-3-2048x1536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18069"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: OGF</figcaption></figure>



Ces outils fournissent également des preuves détaillées, fiables et accessibles au public qu'ils peuvent soumettre aux autorités. Ces informations ont aidé les autorités à mieux comprendre l'ampleur du problème et à prendre les mesures appropriées.&nbsp; &nbsp;



Dans la région de Luki, l'utilisation des alertes à la déforestation a contribué à la détection et à la réponse rapides aux activités illégales, ce qui a eu un impact positif sur la protection des forêts et de la biodiversité. En conséquence, OGF a pu non seulement améliorer la surveillance et la documentation des activités illégales, mais aussi favoriser la collaboration avec les autorités locales pour une meilleure application de la loi. &nbsp;



En plus de son travail à Luki, OGF a eu un impact significatif dans d'autres régions. Elle a contribué à une réduction significative de la déforestation dans plusieurs zones critiques de la RDC grâce à des collaborations avec diverses ONG et le gouvernement. Elle a veillé à ce que les communautés locales dans de nombreuses régions de la RDC aient accès à des bénéfices équitables des ressources forestières, y compris la création d'infrastructures sociales. Leurs efforts ont conduit à d'importantes réformes législatives visant à renforcer la protection des forêts et à améliorer la gouvernance des ressources naturelles. &nbsp;



Les défis pour la protection des forêts critiques de la RDC restent considérables, et Serge reconnaît que lui-même, OGF et les communautés avec lesquelles ils travaillent ont un long chemin à parcourir dans cette lutte continuelle pour la conservation des forêts et les droits des communautés forestières. &nbsp;



« Au début de ma carrière, je pensais que ce serait facile. Mais au fil des ans, cela fait 12 ans que je fais ce métier, j'ai l'impression que je viens de commencer. » &nbsp;



<a href="https://ogfrdc.cd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pour en savoir plus sur l'OGF, cliquez ici.</a>



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Video filmed at the Land & Carbon Lab Summit in June 2023.

 

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Voix de Global Forest Watch : Serge Bondo, Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière  

As part of our Voices of Global Forest Watch series, learn about Serge Bondo Kayembe's work with Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière.

Voices of GFW: Serge Bondo, Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière

Biodiversity

Biodiversity | Global Forest Watch Blog

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Deforestation Alerts | Global Forest Watch Blog

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guest post | Global Forest Watch Blog

Geneviève Ndjiki, Action for Sustainable Development

Data is Helping Protect Threatened Forests and Biodiversity in Cameroon’s Mengamé Gorilla Sanctuary

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Cameroon has very rich biological diversity, housed within several ecosystems that are representative of the ecosystems of Africa — the reason Cameroon is often described as “Africa in miniature.” The nation's biological diversity underpins its economy and has scientific and medicinal importance for Cameroon’s people.



In order to meet its commitments to protect the environment after the <a href="https://www.un.org/en/conferences/environment/rio1992" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development</a>, and consequently its commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity, objective 11 of Cameroon’s <a href="https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/cm/cm-nbsap-v2-en.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan</a> calls for at least 30% of the national territory to be designated as protected areas, which aim to protect nature and biodiversity from human activities and pressures.



To this end, several protected areas (national parks, reserves, etc.) were established, including the Mengamé Gorilla Sanctuary. This sanctuary faces several threats including the loss of forest cover, which leads to fragmentation of the habitat found there.



Our organization, Action for Sustainable Development, works to respond to the increasing threat of deforestation in Mengamé. In 2023, we received a Global Forest Watch (GFW) Small Grants Fund (SGF) grant to help us monitor forests in the sanctuary. We found that forest loss over the last three years is increasing, and that a new management plan for the sanctuary based on better data is needed to protect the sanctuary’s forests and the biodiversity that depends on them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Mengamé Gorilla Sanctuary</h2>



The Mengamé Gorilla Sanctuary (MGS) belongs to the Tri-national Dja-Odzala-Minkébé (TRIDOM) complex, a cross-border area encompassing 10% of the Congo Basin’s rainforests and 11 protected areas across Cameroon, Congo and Gabon. TRIDOM is a key area for the conservation of the biodiversity of the Congo Basin, including iconic large mammals such as elephants, chimpanzees and gorillas. The MGS is located in the equatorial forest zone in the southern part of Cameroon on the border with Gabon. It covers 26,780 hectares and straddles the districts of Mvangan in Mvila subdivision and Oveng district in Dja-et Lobo subdivision. The MGS is home to a diversity of wildlife including primates like the Western Lowland Gorilla, which is critically endangered due to human activities that have intensified over the years, such as deforestation leading to loss of habitat as well as poaching.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mengame-2048x1448.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17782"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The area occupied by the MGS in the two districts (Mvangan and Oveng). Both these districts have several small villages surrounding the sanctuary.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Satellite data reveals increasing loss of the sanctuary's forest cover</h2>



Action for Sustainable Development (ASD), a Cameroonian civil society organization, has been able to use the tools available from GFW to conduct satellite monitoring of forest cover change in protected areas. As part of our SGF project “Participatory monitoring of forest cover in and around the MGS,” we used GFW’s near-real-time integrated deforestation alerts to identify areas of forest loss, and supported park agents and others in the community to use GFW tools to investigate the alerts.



We analyzed alerts for two time periods over three years (2021-2023) and found that for the first period, from January 1, 2021 to July 20, 2022, more than 937 deforestation alerts were recorded totaling eight hectares of forest loss. The map below shows the distribution of these alerts in the two districts (896 alerts in the part of the sanctuary located in the Mvangan district and 41 alerts in the part of the sanctuary located in the Oveng district).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mengame-final1-2048x1448.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17784"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Map showing deforestation alerts in the MGS between January 1, 2021 and July 20, 2022.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MGS-field-deployment-ASD.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17751"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Field deployment of a mixed team (ecoguards and community) to identify the causes of deforestation alerts. Credit: ASD</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MGS-field-deployment-2-ASD.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17752"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Field deployment of a mixed team (ecoguards and ASD) to identify the causes of deforestation alerts. Credit: ASD</figcaption></figure>



Likewise, for the second period between July 21, 2022 and December 31, 2023, more than 1,436 deforestation alerts were recorded, including 1,292 in the part of the sanctuary located in the Mvangan district and 144 in the part of the sanctuary located in the Oveng district. The total of these deforestation alerts represents a loss of 17 hectares of forest.



The Mengamé gorilla sanctuary has therefore already lost nearly 25 hectares of forest in just three years from 2021 to 2023. These findings indicate that, over time, anthropogenic activity is increasing in the sanctuary. Investigations carried out to determine the main causes of this loss of forest cover showed that this has been caused by the establishment or extension of agricultural plots (cocoa and banana plantations). This pressure is growing due to the increase in the price of cocoa on the international market — and cocoa is the main cash crop in this area. If nothing is done, the sanctuary will be severely depleted and degraded the next several years.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mengame-final2-2048x1448.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17785"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Deforestation alerts in the Mengamé gorilla sanctuary between July 21, 2022 and December 31, 2023.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">To protect the sanctuary, a new management plan is needed</h2>



To understand the motivations or reasons that lead local communities to set up their cocoa plantations and others in the sanctuary, our team conducted a survey as part of our project.



Two major reasons were mentioned by local communities to justify their actions:



The first reason is the lack of collaboration between local communities and conservation services. Indeed, 38% of the population thinks that they are not involved in the management of the sanctuary. There is almost no conservation activity within the sanctuary or ecotourism, appearing to local communities to have been abandoned for several years. Thus, they thought that the sanctuary was no longer a priority for the State. Our project has since succeeded in bringing together local communities, the conservation service and civil society organizations as part of a more participatory monitoring of the sanctuary.



The second reason is the fact that the space dedicated to the communities' rural activities is becoming insufficient. 22% of local communities believe that the area dedicated to their activities is becoming insufficient given the rapid population growth. Yet despite these changes, the development and management plan for the sanctuary, which should be renewed every five years to better take into account the realities of all stakeholders, has not been updated since 2007. This plan provides information about the sanctuary based on uses, priorities, threats and more, but not only is it out of date, it is also based partially on data from the neighboring Kom National Park as there is insufficient data on the sanctuary itself. Furthermore, the demarcation of the boundaries of the sanctuary had not been effective in all the riverside villages, and currently the boundaries that had been demarcated are no longer visible.



Therefore, development of a new management plan for the sanctuary is needed. This plan should:



<ul>
<li>Take into account the increase in population and suggest effective ways for the development of alternative income-generating activities for local communities</li>



<li>Place emphasis on promoting ecotourism by developing infrastructure for this purpose</li>



<li>Involve local communities in the participatory management of the sanctuary</li>



<li>Provide updated data on biodiversity (fauna and flora species present and their densities, etc.)</li>



<li>Place emphasis on transboundary management of the sanctuary</li>
</ul>



The MGS’s forests and the valuable biodiversity that depends on them can still be protected if the sanctuary implements a plan and manages the sanctuary based on recent, accurate data. The data collected by ASD using GFW tools is an important part of this and can help us preserve Mengamé Gorilla Sanctuary for years to come.







Learn more about ASD: Visit <a href="https://www.asd.contact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">their website</a> and follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ASDCameroun" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/asdcameroun" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter/X</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/action-for-sustainable-development-asd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>.&nbsp;



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Le Cameroun possède une diversité biologique très riche, hébergée dans plusieurs écosystèmes représentatifs des écosystèmes africains – raison pour laquelle le Cameroun est souvent décrit comme « l’Afrique en miniature ». La diversité biologique du pays soutient son économie et revêt une importance scientifique et médicinale pour la population camerounaise.



Afin de respecter ses engagements en matière de protection de l’environnement après la <a href="mailto:https://www.un.org/fr/conferences/environment/rio1992" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Conférence des Nations Unies sur l’environnement et le développement en 1992</a>, et par conséquent son engagement envers la Convention sur la diversité biologique, l’objectif 11 de la <a href="https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/cm/cm-nbsap-v2-en.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stratégie nationale et du plan d’action pour la biodiversité</a> du Cameroun prévoit qu’au moins 30% du territoire national soient désignés comme aires protégées, destinées à protéger la nature et la biodiversité des activités et pressions humaines.



À cet effet, plusieurs aires protégées (parcs nationaux, réserves, etc.) ont été créées, parmi lesquels le Sanctuaire à gorilles de Mengamé. Ce sanctuaire fait face à plusieurs menaces dont la perte du couvert forestier, qui entraîne une fragmentation de l’habitat qui s’y trouve.



Notre organisation, Action for Sustainable Development, s’efforce de répondre à la menace croissante de déforestation à Mengamé. En 2023, nous avons reçu une subvention du Fonds de petites subventions (SGF) de Global Forest Watch (GFW) pour nous aider à surveiller les forêts du sanctuaire. Nous avons constaté que la perte de forêt au cours des trois dernières années est en augmentation et qu’un nouveau plan de gestion du sanctuaire basé sur de meilleures données est nécessaire pour protéger les forêts du sanctuaire et la biodiversité qui en dépend.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Le sanctuaire à gorilles de Mengamé </h2>



Le Sanctuaire à Gorilles de Mengamé (SGM) fait partie du complexe trinational Dja-Odzala-Minkébé (TRIDOM), une zone transfrontalière englobant 10 % des forêts tropicales du bassin du Congo et 11 aires protégées au Cameroun, au Congo et au Gabon. Le TRIDOM est une zone clé pour la conservation de la biodiversité du bassin du Congo, notamment des grands mammifères emblématiques tels que les éléphants, les chimpanzés et les gorilles. Le SGM est situé dans la zone de forêt équatoriale dans la partie Sud du Cameroun à la frontière avec le Gabon. Il couvre 26 780 ha et chevauche les districts de Mvangan dans l'arrondissement de la Mvila et le district d'Oveng dans l'arrondissement du Dja-et Lobo. Le SGM abrite une faune diversifiée, notamment des primates comme le gorille des plaines de l'Ouest, qui est en danger critique d'extinction en raison des activités humaines qui se sont intensifiées au fil des ans, telles que la déforestation entraînant la perte de l’habitat, ainsi que le braconnage.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mengame-2048x1448.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17782"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">La zone occupée par le SGM dans les deux districts (Mvangan et Oveng). Ces deux districts comptent plusieurs petits villages entourant le sanctuaire.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Les données satellitaires révèlent une perte croissante du couvert forestier du sanctuaire</h2>



Action for Sustainable Development (ASD), une organisation de la société civile camerounaise, a pu utiliser les outils mis à disposition par GFW pour effectuer un suivi satellitaire de l’évolution du couvert forestier dans les aires protégées. Dans le cadre de notre projet SGF « Suivi participatif du couvert forestier dans et autour du SGM », nous avons utilisé les alertes de déforestation intégrées en temps quasi réel de GFW pour identifier les zones de perte de forêt, et avons aidé les écogardes du parc et d’autres membres de la communauté à utiliser les outils du GFW pour enquêter sur les alertes.



Nous avons analysé les alertes sur deux périodes pendant trois ans (2021-2023) et constaté que pour la première période, du 1er janvier 2021 au 20 juillet 2022, plus de 937 alertes de déforestation ont été enregistrées totalisant huit hectares de perte du couvert forestier. La carte ci-dessous montre la répartition de ces alertes dans les deux districts (896 alertes dans la partie du sanctuaire située dans le district de Mvangan et 41 alertes dans la partie du sanctuaire située dans le district d'Oveng).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mengame-final1-2048x1448.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17784"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Carte montrant les alertes de déforestation dans le SGM entre le 1er janvier 2021 et le 20 juillet 2022.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MGS-field-deployment-ASD.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17751"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Déploiement sur le terrain d'une équipe mixte (écogardes et communauté) pour identifier les causes des alertes de déforestation.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MGS-field-deployment-2-ASD.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17752"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Déploiement sur le terrain d'une équipe mixte (écogardes et ASD) pour identifier les causes des alertes de déforestation.</figcaption></figure>



De même, pour la deuxième période entre le 21 juillet 2022 et le 31 décembre 2023, plus de 1 436 alertes de déforestation ont été enregistrées, dont 1 292 dans la partie du sanctuaire située dans le district de Mvangan et 144 dans la partie du sanctuaire située dans le district d’Oveng. Le total de ces alertes de déforestation représente une perte de 17 hectares de forêt.



Le sanctuaire à gorilles de Mengamé a donc déjà perdu près de 25 hectares de forêt en seulement trois ans, de 2021 à 2023. Ces résultats indiquent qu’au fil du temps, l’activité anthropique augmente dans le sanctuaire. Les investigations menées pour déterminer les principales causes de cette perte du couvert forestier ont montré que celle-ci est due à l’implantation ou à l’extension des parcelles agricoles (cacaoyères et bananeraies). Cette pression s’accroît en raison de l’augmentation du prix du cacao sur le marché international – et le cacao est la principale culture de rente dans cette zone. Si rien n’est fait, le sanctuaire sera gravement appauvri et dégradé dans les prochaines années.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mengame-final2-2048x1448.png" alt="" class="wp-image-17785"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alertes de déforestation dans le sanctuaire à gorilles de Mengamé entre le 21 juillet 2022 et le 31 décembre 2023.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pour protéger le sanctuaire, un nouveau plan d’aménagement est nécessaire</h2>



Pour comprendre les motivations ou les raisons qui poussent les communautés locales à installer leurs plantations de cacao et d'autres dans le sanctuaire, notre équipe a mené une enquête dans le cadre de notre projet.



Deux raisons majeures ont été évoquées par les communautés locales pour justifier leurs actions :



La première raison est le manque de collaboration entre les communautés locales et les services de la conservation. En effet, 38% de la population pense ne pas être impliquée dans la gestion du sanctuaire. Il n’y a quasiment aucune activité de conservation au sein du sanctuaire ni d’écotourisme, ce qui donne aux communautés locales l’impression d’être abandonnées depuis plusieurs années. Ainsi, elles pensaient que le sanctuaire n’était plus une priorité pour l’État. Notre projet a ainsi réussi à réunir les communautés locales, le service de la conservation et les organisations de la société civile dans le cadre d’un suivi plus participatif du sanctuaire.



La deuxième raison est le fait que l’espace dédié aux activités rurales des communautés devient insuffisant. 22 % des communautés locales estiment que la surface dédiée à leurs activités devient insuffisante compte tenu de la croissance rapide de la population. Pourtant, malgré ces changements, le plan d’aménagement et de gestion du sanctuaire, qui devrait être renouvelé tous les 5 ans pour mieux prendre en compte les réalités de toutes les parties prenantes, n’a pas été mis à jour depuis 2007. Ce plan fournit des informations sur le sanctuaire en fonction des usages, des priorités, des menaces, etc., non seulement il est obsolète, mais il se base également en partie sur les données du parc national voisin de Kom, car il n’existe pas suffisamment de données sur le sanctuaire lui-même. De plus, la délimitation des limites du sanctuaire n’a pas été effective dans tous les villages riverains, et actuellement les limites qui avaient été matérialisées ne sont plus visibles.



Il est donc nécessaire d'élaborer un nouveau plan de gestion pour le sanctuaire. Ce plan devrait :



<ul>
<li>Prendre en compte l’augmentation de la population et proposer des moyens efficaces pour le développement d’activités alternatives génératrices de revenus pour les communautés locales</li>



<li>Mettre l’accent sur la promotion de l’écotourisme en développant des infrastructures à cet effet</li>



<li>Impliquer les communautés locales dans la gestion participative du sanctuaire</li>



<li>Fournir des données actualisées sur la biodiversité (espèces de faune et de flore présentes et leurs densités, etc.)</li>



<li>Mettre l’accent sur la gestion transfrontalière du sanctuaire</li>
</ul>



Les forêts du SGM et la précieuse biodiversité qui en dépend peuvent encore être protégées si le sanctuaire met en œuvre un plan et gère le sanctuaire sur la base de données récentes et précises. Les données collectées par ASD à l’aide des outils du GFW constituent une partie importante de cette démarche et peuvent nous aider à préserver le sanctuaire à gorilles de Mengamé pour les années à venir.







Apprenez-en davantage sur ASD : <a href="https://www.asd.contact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Visitez leur site Web</a> et suivez-les sur <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ASDCameroun" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/asdcameroun" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter/X</a> et <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/action-for-sustainable-development-asd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>.



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Les données aident à protéger les forêts menacées et la biodiversité dans le sanctuaire à gorilles de Mengamé au Cameroun