Tools for investigating environmental issues, wildlife crime, deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity.
Choosing Tools
- Use satellite and environmental datasets for land, weather, and ecosystem changes; use trade and species databases for wildlife or supply-chain questions.
- Check geographic coverage and update frequency before drawing conclusions from a dataset.
Tools
| Tool | Best for | Cost | Description | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AllTrails | .com is a tool for discovering hiking, biking, and running trails worldwide, providing… | Partially Free | AllTrails.com is a tool for discovering hiking, biking, and running trails worldwide, providing detailed trail maps, ... | Details |
| Amazonia Socio Ambiental (RAISG) | Amazon rainforest maps and shapefiles of natural protected areas, concessions, indigenous… | Free | Amazon rainforest maps and shapefiles of natural protected areas, concessions, indigenous territories, oil, mining, r... | |
| Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas | The Aqueduct water Risk Atlas, developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI), is an… | Free | The Aqueduct water Risk Atlas, developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI), is an interactive platform for asses... | Details |
| BirdNet | Identify bird sounds - find bird sounds on a global map. | Free | Identify bird sounds - find bird sounds on a global map. | Details |
| CITES Trade Database | Around 23 million records of trade in wildlife since 1975. | Free | Around 23 million records of trade in wildlife since 1975. | Details |
| CryO Tools | Scientific tools for investigating the cryosphere (areas with snow & ice) | Free | Scientific tools for investigating the cryosphere (areas with snow & ice) | |
| EIA Global Environmental Crime Tracker | Map/tracker of environmental crimes including trade in ivory, rhino, big cats, and other… | Free | Map/tracker of environmental crimes including trade in ivory, rhino, big cats, and other exotic animals. | Details |
| Environmental Justice Atlas | Map of environmental-related conflict globally | Free | Map of environmental-related conflict globally | Details |
| Global Fishing Watch | A digital platform for investigating fishing activities and vessel movements worldwide by… | Free | A digital platform for investigating fishing activities and vessel movements worldwide by utilising satellite and AIS... | Details |
| Global Forest Watch | Explore tree cover loss and gain data, recent deforestation and fire alerts, land use… | Free | Explore tree cover loss and gain data, recent deforestation and fire alerts, land use designations, carbon emissions,... | Details |
| Global Monitoring System - ECOSOLVE | Illicit online wildlife markets data. | Free | Illicit online wildlife markets data. | Details |
| Google Flood Hub | A visual tool to monitor river levels and forecast floods based on AI models developed by… | Free | A visual tool to monitor river levels and forecast floods based on AI models developed by Google Research. | Details |
| Locust Hub | A repository for desert locust data with maps and other resources for tracking movements,… | Free | A repository for desert locust data with maps and other resources for tracking movements, early detection and plannin... | Details |
| Merlin | Identify birds (visually), through an app. | Free | Identify birds (visually), through an app. | Details |
| Movebank | Platform for animal tracking data. | Free | Platform for animal tracking data. | |
| Nullschool Earth Map | View current and historic wind, weather, ocean and pollution conditions on an interactive… | Partially Free | View current and historic wind, weather, ocean and pollution conditions on an interactive animated map. | |
| Resource Watch | A free open-data platform that hosts 300+ datasets on different topics relating to the… | Free | A free open-data platform that hosts 300+ datasets on different topics relating to the environment and human well-bei... | Details |
| River Runner Global | Calculate which water stream a drop of rain will follow | Free | Calculate which water stream a drop of rain will follow | |
| Species+ | Centralized website with vulnerable species information. | Free | Centralized website with vulnerable species information. | |
| UNOSAT Analyses | A tool that maps humanitarian emergencies across the globe utilising United Nations… | Free | UNOSAT Analyses is a tool that maps humanitarian emergencies across the globe utilising United Nations Satellite Cent... | Details |
| WildEye | Tracking tool for data on environmental and wildlife crime cases, including court cases… | Free | Tracking tool for data on environmental and wildlife crime cases, including court cases and convictions, across the g... | Details |
| Wildlife Trade Portal | An open-source tool to search wildlife seizure data worldwide. | Free | An open-source tool to search wildlife seizure data worldwide. | Details |
| WildMe & WildBook | Open source pattern recognition software to identify unique whales, sharks, zebras,… | Free | Open source pattern recognition software to identify unique whales, sharks, zebras, jaguars, skunks, fish and much more. | |
| World Database on Protected and Conserved Areas | A comprehensive global database on terrestrial and marine protected areas. | Free | A comprehensive global database on terrestrial and marine protected areas. | Details |
Investigation Tips
- Use Global Forest Watch to track deforestation and fire alerts in near real-time
- CITES Trade Database and Wildlife Trade Portal for investigating illegal wildlife trade
- Global Fishing Watch uses AIS data to track fishing vessel activity worldwide
- WildEye tracks environmental crime cases and court convictions globally
- BirdNet and Merlin help identify bird species from audio/visual evidence
- Amazonia Socio Ambiental (RAISG) provides critical Amazon rainforest data and maps