News and Map Updates

12.20.2012

Major IFL 2000 dataset update
The World's IFL 2000 map has been updated during 2006-2011 using Landsat imagery archive data (available free of charge since 2008 through USGS data portal Earth Explorer), high resolution imagery from Google Earth, and regional expert data. Updated data provides consistent global IFL depiction for year 2000. Data distributed in ESRI shapefile format only (data in KML format will be added later). We recommend using updated version of IFL dataset to derive statistics, as monitoring baseline, and for regional-scale projects. However, we are retaining the previous version of global IFL dataset (available here).

Monitoring data uploaded
We uploaded the IFL monitoring data for Central Africa and Insular South-East Asia for 2000-2010 time interval. Freely available Landsat image archive data have been used to perform IFL map update. Monitoring method described here.

New publications added
See publications page.

7.22.2009

New IFL web-site design and platform
The IFL map is well-known product and is currently publicly available for use in various GIS standards. However, some problems with data delivery have been reported due to site malfunction. To improve the data access the www.intactforests.org web-site have been relocated to the USA-based platform granted by the World Resources Institute. The web-interface has been improved to incorporate IFL monitoring results and to highlight the IFL mapping as a multi-organizational project.

Open IFL on-line map reference tool is available for beta-version testing
The true significance of our mapping approach is its power to enable and catalyze practical conservation planning and action with regard to IFL. However, this power is hardly depended on the map quality. Due to lack of field data and other ancillary information, the current map may contain inconsistencies and inaccuracies, especially on the boundaries of IFLs within populated and currently developed areas. The quality of our image interpretation could be independently assessed by experts using data and tools from the dedicated web site. The feedback from local users and experts can help to improve the map and to provide the timely update. The use of super-high spatial resolution data (QuickBird, Ikonos imagery and aero photos) allowed local users to check the IFL boundary precisely for their regions of interest. Our Open IFL tool was designed to make this reviewing process easy and effective by using Google Maps® API integrated with Web-based GIS and internet forum platform. Please, feel free to participate in a beta-version testing: OpenIFL test page.