Ahead of the EU’s deforestation-free products regulation (EUDR) implementation in December 2024, Trase has unveiled critical insights into the EU’s deforestation exposure from agricultural imports. Analyzing trade data, Trase found the EU directly linked to 190,500 hectares of deforestation annually between 2019 and 2021, with cocoa, palm oil, and coffee as major drivers. Crucially, 17.5% of deforestation exposure comes from non-EUDR commodities, requiring broader action than the current EUDR. Striking differences between countries highlight the Netherlands as a key entry point for direct imports linked to deforestation, with Spain the next highest. Trase’s country-specific factsheets highlight opportunities to reduce deforestation and where the opportunity is greatest for each member state. To maximise the regulation’s impact on deforestation rates, the EU must provide financial and technical support for producers, especially to ensure that smallholder farmers retain access to the EU market. These factsheets can help target this support.

In the Gran Chaco region of Argentina, the Foodscapes initiative is driving a transformation in local agricultural practices to address biodiversity loss and land degradation. TNC is working with local farmers to promote regenerative techniques such as integrating livestock production with forest buffers and cover crops, increasing soybean productivity, and restoring natural vegetation. These efforts are aimed at conserving 1.7 million hectares, mitigating 1.2 million metric tons of CO2e, and improving the livelihoods of 10,000 people while balancing ecological health and community prosperity. Foodscapes is an approach that focuses on the transformation of global food systems to support climate and biodiversity goals. It involves understanding the diverse food production systems worldwide and using this knowledge to implement nature-based, regenerative practices.

Previous Mongabay reports on deforestation, illegal mining, and biodiversity loss showcased the immense power of combining raw data with compelling storytelling, such as unveiling illegal road construction encroaching on Cambodia's Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary. Now, the Data Studio aims to scale this impact globally, equipping communities, policymakers, and advocates with accessible, science-backed insights for informed conservation action. Leveraging its suite of tools—such as interactive maps and visualizations—the studio empowers journalists to distil complex datasets into actionable narratives.

Marxan’s pivotal role in rezoning the Great Barrier Reef showcases its transformative power in conservation. Tasked with designing a network of no-take zones, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority used Marxan to integrate ecological, social, and economic data. This approach helped zone and protect over 33% of the reef, safeguarding vital ecosystems while supporting sustainable livelihoods. By balancing biodiversity needs with human priorities, Marxan not only set a gold standard for marine conservation but also demonstrated its global potential for addressing urgent environmental challenges.

The Global Mangrove Watch (GMW) played a pivotal role in the UNEP-WCMC's landmark report, Decades of Mangrove Forest Change: What Does It Mean for Nature, People, and the Climate? This comprehensive study explored global mangrove cover changes, highlighting the urgent need to protect blue ecosystems, which are essential for climate mitigation, biodiversity, and human livelihoods. By providing the most up-to-date, high-resolution data, GMW enabled UNEP-WCMC to demonstrate the critical value of mangroves and the pressing need for increased conservation and restoration efforts globally.

ReFED’s collaboration with AI technology has yielded remarkable results, helping businesses cut food waste by 14.8%. These efforts don't just conserve food—they have a huge environmental impact, saving over $2 billion and avoiding millions of tons of CO2 emissions every year. In a manufacturing facility, a creative employee engagement initiative led Bob’s Red Mill to reduce waste by an astounding 70%. In a story of upcycling, a supermarket chain transformed 20,000 pounds of chicken, preventing tons of CO2 emissions while creating a popular new product. Together, these efforts demonstrate how innovative, data-driven solutions are making food waste reduction a reality, benefiting businesses, communities, and the planet.

In Madagascar, the challenges of changing rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events threaten the resilience of rice production, a staple for millions. The Resilience Atlas plays a crucial role in guiding the integration of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) within Madagascar’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP). By mapping exposure to climate stressors like unpredictable rainfall and flooding, the Atlas helps inform strategies to improve water management, protect infrastructure, and enhance agricultural productivity. Through collaborative efforts with Conservation International, the Atlas supports sustainable solutions to safeguard livelihoods, ecosystems, and food security.

In Colombia’s Guaviare region, WWF and partners are working to conserve a vital jaguar corridor spanning 75,000 hectares. By utilizing Wildlife Insights, the project successfully confirmed jaguar presence and prey abundance through 55 camera traps and 51,318 images. They detected 12 species of jaguar. The platform streamlined data sharing, reducing processing time and enabling local communities to engage directly in conservation efforts. This initiative not only strengthened ecosystem connectivity but also empowered residents to use the data for future biodiversity monitoring and regional ecotourism, ensuring long-term protection for the jaguar and its habitat.

Resource Watch, developed by WRI and 30 partners, was the first open-source repository to aggregate multi-indicator, high-resolution global environmental data through an accessible API. Beyond its user-friendly interface, its core lies in enabling developers, researchers, and innovators to directly integrate and analyze trusted datasets spanning climate, biodiversity, and socio-economic indicators. By fostering transparency and data sharing, Resource Watch empowers governments, businesses, and NGOs to build tools, inform policies, and drive transformative change toward sustainability at a global scale.

The Half-Earth Project Map is a high-resolution, dynamic decision-support tool that guides conservation. From it, E. O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation has developed other instruments for conservation, such as the “Biodiversity Snapshots”, to provide a user-friendly, accessible way for local conservationists to understand and communicate the biodiversity data found in the Half-Earth map. In Ecuador, Fundación Paisajes Sostenibles (PASOS) utilized the snapshot to support the creation of the "Path of the Jaguar" protected area, a crucial conservation corridor. By highlighting species conservation status, the snapshot helped PASOS secure funding and raise awareness for the protection of 213,000 hectares of tropical forests in the Chocó region. This service is key for advancing global biodiversity goals at the local level.

The Science Based Targets Network has released new guidance for companies to set science-based freshwater targets, enabling businesses to reduce their water impact and align operations with environmental limits. This methodology, developed with input from WRI’s Aqueduct and other partners, was first tested with Mars Inc. to ensure operations stay within sustainable water limits. By addressing localized water risks and promoting water-efficient practices, this initiative helps companies safeguard freshwater resources, driving both business resilience and environmental sustainability for the future.

As environmental pressures increase, corporations like Nestlé face mounting demands for supply chain transparency. Collaborating with Planet Tracker and Vizzuality, LandGriffon enabled a "nature footprinting" analysis of Nestlé's supply chain, helping identify environmental risk hotspots like emissions, water use, and deforestation linked to commodities like coffee, cocoa, and palm oil. This data-driven approach empowers companies to address environmental risks proactively and meet regulatory and consumer expectations, fostering a more sustainable future by providing clarity and supporting global transparency goals.

In 2017, Indonesia made history as the first country to publicly release its Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data via Global Fishing Watch, setting an example for marine transparency. This initiative helped combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Foreign fishing vessels in Indonesian waters decreased by over 90% and total fishing activity reduced by 25% overall, supporting more sustainable marine practices and biodiversity conservation. Indonesia’s leadership in promoting open data has inspired other nations to follow suit, reinforcing the critical role of transparency in protecting global marine resources.

Colombia’s ambitious climate actions stand as a model for transparency and accountability. With commitments like a 51% emissions reduction by 2030 and net-zero deforestation, tools like Climate Watch enable global comparisons and hold leaders accountable for progress. This platform empowers policymakers and citizens to monitor targets, identify best practices, and advocate for stronger climate action worldwide, fostering collaboration and ambition in the fight against climate change.

Indigenous Peoples and local communities hold some of the most pristine and resource-rich lands in the world. In Suriname, Indonesia, and Peru, communities used Global Forest Watch open data and satellite alerts to document illegal activities, deter future logging, and advocate for their rights. From uncovering illegal logging in the Aru Islands to reducing deforestation by 52% in one year in Peruvian territories, GFW’s tools have proven transformative. By combining technology and traditional knowledge, GFW supports communities in safeguarding their home. For lasting impact, more secure land rights are needed.