How The Forestry Commission Could Collaborate With The World Resources Institute And The U.S. NGO Mighty Earth To Empower Fringe Forest Communities To Protect Forest Reserves Across Ghana

The Forestry Commission of Ghana's Forestry Division could work with the  World Resources Institute, and the U.S. environmental activist NGO, Mighty Earth, to empower  fringe-forest communities across our nation to monitor forest reserves much more effectively - by teaching rural communities to use an app that can be downloaded for free.

Towards that end - and in the  hope that it will lead to a lasting partnership between the Forestry Commission, the World Resources Institute, Mighty Earth and all those in Ghana who love Mother Nature passionately - we are sharing a slightly edited version of an email forwarded to us by the U.S. environmental activist NGO, Mighty Earth's Etelle Higonett, who visited Akyem Juaso recently on a scoping trip, to see the threats posed by illegal logging and illegal gold mining to our section of the Atewa Range upland evergreen rainforest, where the estate of the late P. E. Thompson happens to own a freehold 14-square mile rainforest property.

Please read on:

"I am writing because Jessica Webb suggested we reach out to let you know about Forest Watcher, a new mobile application that puts powerful, real-time forest change data directly into the hands of people monitoring forests on the ground. Developed in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute and Vizzuality, Forest Watcher allow users to monitor and report forest change, straight from a mobile device - even in areas without internet connectivity.

Recognizing that those who will find the most value in Forest Watcher are generally not connected to our online campaigns and email outreach, we are reaching out to partners like you, who are working on/with those on the ground, and can help spread the word to those on the frontlines of forest monitoring.  Our team would be happy to arrange an event to hold demos, in person (primarily in DC) or online, and provide training materials to help share the functions and features of Forest Watcher with you and your colleagues. 

You can download the Forest Watcher app for free through the Apple Store or the Google Play Store. Tutorials can be found here and registration for the Introduction to Forest Watcher Webinar registration is here.  If we can provide any further information, including training materials in other languages, please don't hesitate to reach out.

 Learn more about Forest Watcher:

·         Find out how to use the app

·         Join our webinar on September 28

·         Email us at forestwatcher@wri.org to suggest ways to improve the app or to request a training

·         To sign up for future Forest Watcher updates click here

·         Forest Watcher is open source, free to use and available in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Bahasa Indonesian

Thank you,

Liz

Liz (Cole) Bourgault

Global Forest Watch Program Coordinator II

World Resources Institute

WRI.org

Office: +1 202 729-7975

Elizabeth.Cole@WRI.org  |  Skype: LizCole15

WRI is a global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being."

End of culled email forwarded to us by the U.S. global environmental activist NGO, Mighty Earth.