❓FAQs
What types of data power Global Nature Watch?
Global Nature Watch combines datasets from Land & Carbon Lab and Global Forest Watch to provide a powerful, multi-layered view of environmental change—including shifts in ecosystem and land cover extent, vegetation cover, greenhouse gas dynamics and land disturbances over time—supporting more informed decisions around conservation, restoration and sustainable land management.
The platform integrates both near real-time and annual satellite data, delivering high-resolution insights across diverse ecosystems—from forests to grasslands, croplands and natural lands. Refer to the Datasets page for an up-to-date list of supported datasets.
Looking ahead, we plan to integrate additional datasets that expand the platform’s scope—from more detailed carbon-related monitoring to deeper insights on grassland condition and productivity—providing a clearer picture of how and where our planet is changing.
How can I download datasets available on Global Nature Watch?
You can download data by visiting the Land & Carbon Lab website or by visiting Global Forest Watch’s Open Data Portal.
Can users upload or analyze their own datasets within Global Nature Watch?
Users can define a custom area of interest by drawing or uploading a polygon. However, the platform does not support uploading additional user-specific data layers for analysis.
How does Global Nature Watch protect user privacy and data?
Please refer to the following privacy notices that govern Global Nature Watch:
Users can request to delete their accounts by emailing [email protected].
How much energy does Global Nature Watch use, and what are you doing to minimize its environmental impact?
We take the environmental impact of AI seriously and design Global Nature Watch to be as efficient as possible, while constantly working to improve its performance.
We minimize the footprint by:
Using efficient models. We use AI models that balance accuracy with efficiency – such as by reducing redundant processing by storing results of common questions - so we don’t use more computing power than necessary.
Monitoring performance. We consistently track how the platform is used so we can spot inefficiencies, improve speed, and minimize unnecessary resource use – and be transparent about its operational impact.
But what does this mean for the actual footprint? Some of our best estimates are that one query emits around 2 to 3 grams of CO₂. To put that in perspective:
Light use (about 10 queries per week, ~500 per year) = ~1–1.5 kilograms CO₂ per year — about the same as driving a typical car 3–5 miles.
Heavy use (about 20 queries per day, ~7,000 per year) = ~14–20 kilograms CO₂ per year — about the same as a one-way economy flight of 100–150 km (e.g., Washington DC to Philadelphia).
Ultimately, Global Nature Watch is designed to reduce waste, not create it — by enabling faster, smarter decisions about land, ecosystems and climate. We are confident that, over time, the environmental benefits it enables will outweigh the emissions from running the platform, and we are committed to driving that footprint down even further.
Will Global Nature Watch provide enhanced analysis or predictive modeling?
Not at this time. Global Nature Watch focuses on making existing monitoring data more accessible and actionable. While it may highlight trends or surface patterns, it does not currently generate predictive models.
What AI model is this built on, and how does it work?
Global Nature Watch doesn’t rely on a single AI model. Instead, it uses a multi-agent system that delegates different tasks to different models. More capable models handle natural conversation and reasoning, while smaller retrieval models help search internal geospatial content and context to ground the tool’s responses. Learn more about the models here.
How accurate is Global Nature Watch? How does it avoid misinterpreting satellite data?
Global Nature Watch is designed to generate responses grounded in structured geospatial analysis — drawing from curated internal sources like metadata, documentation and peer-reviewed research produced by Land & Carbon Lab & Global Forest Watch. This grounding helps minimize bias by ensuring outputs reflect trusted data and transparent methods, rather than relying on general internet sources or black-box responses.
All analyses are performed using WRI-managed services and datasets, allowing for traceability back to the original methodology. While references and source context may not be fully visible at launch, we’re actively working to make this information more accessible, including clearer links to documentation and relevant publications.
We’re also exploring ways to surface uncertainty where it exists in the underlying data — an area of ongoing testing and iteration. Because this tool is still experimental, some responses may be incorrect or incomplete. We’re continuing to improve its accuracy and welcome feedback as part of that process.
Will there be an API or integrations with other platforms like ArcGIS or Earth Engine?
The current version of Global Nature Watch is focused on direct user interaction and does not include external integrations or developer access. Broader interoperability may be revisited as the platform evolves.
Will Global Nature Watch be updated regularly?
Global Nature Watch is experimental and designed to evolve over time. As new AI models become available, we evaluate them internally to assess potential improvements in accuracy, speed, and efficiency — allowing us to refine the assistant as technologies advance.
On the data side, the assistant interfaces with APIs from across Land & Carbon Lab and Global Forest Watch. This enables it to access newly released datasets with minimal engineering lift, ensuring users benefit from the latest monitoring capabilities as they become available.
How can users with low bandwidth work with Global Nature Watch
While the AI experience requires a stable internet connection, Global Nature Watch is designed to be as accessible as possible. At launch, users will be able to view data layers and explore visual insights even without engaging the AI assistant — offering a lighter experience for those with limited connectivity.
Ensuring greater access in low-bandwidth contexts is a priority for the team, and we’re exploring ways to make future versions of the platform even more usable in these environments.
How does Global Nature Watch handle sensitive data such as Indigenous territories?
Data on Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ lands and territories are sourced from LandMark: The Global Platform of Indigenous and Local Community lands. The data on LandMark is voluntarily contributed by organizations under the terms of a data sharing agreement and/or are otherwise publicly available based on source licensing terms.
Is Global Nature Watch available in multiple languages?
Yes, users will be able to interact with Global Nature Watch in multiple languages. While the user interface and on-screen instructions will initially be in English, the tool will support multilingual queries so users can ask questions in other languages and receive relevant responses. This functionality will be powered by Gemini, enabling broad language coverage.
I ran out of prompts, what can I do?
If you run out of prompts for the day, you can still manually browse and view data on the map. Learn more here.
Does Global Nature Watch have a broader strategy on AI?
Global Nature Watch aligns with World Resource Institute’s (WRI) broader AI strategy. WRI’s view is that AI is a transformative technology with the potential to accelerate progress for people, nature and climate — if it is developed and applied responsibly. The scale and urgency of today’s environmental challenges demand innovative solutions, and AI can help meet that need.
It is crucial that these advancements be grounded in trusted data, transparency and equity, with strong guardrails to minimize its risks. That balance of opportunity and responsibility defines WRI’s approach to digital innovation. Global Nature Watch is one example: it makes complex, trusted science more usable for decision-making, while we continue to minimize its operational footprint.
How does Global Nature Watch relate to Global Forest Watch?
Global Nature Watch is designed to build upon and complement the capabilities of Global Forest Watch. Global Forest Watch has set a global standard over the last decade for transparency in forest monitoring, helping change how forests are understood, managed and protected. It remains WRI’s core platform for monitoring forests, offering robust maps and dashboards, near-real-time data and deep forest-specific analyses. It is free and available to anyone.
Global Nature Watch carries this forward by building upon GFW’s capabilities with a chatbot-style interface that helps users digest and explore land change data in new ways and across a broader range of ecosystems and makes complex satellite data easier to understand and apply. It incorporates trusted forest data from GFW—and extends beyond forests with datasets from Land & Carbon Lab that will enable monitoring of all natural ecosystems and the land uses that affect them.
Users with existing MyGFW accounts can log in with their same credentials, ensuring seamless access and integration into familiar workflows.
How can I reference the information Global Nature Watch provided me?
If you're unsure how to cite a specific result, you can ask Global Nature Watch directly (e.g., “How can I cite this?”), and it will do its best to provide a recommended citation based on the data used or insight provided.
How long are conversations saved for?
There isn’t a time limit for conversation storage. However, given Global Nature Watch’s experimental nature, users should not expect conversations to be stored for longer than a year.
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