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Kai Kresek

DATA SPECIALIST, GLOBAL FOREST WATCH

Kai Kresek is the Data Specialist for Global Forest Watch (GFW). GFW is an online platform, established by the World Resources Institute, that provides data and tools for monitoring forests. By harnessing cutting-edge technology, GFW allows anyone to access near real-time information about where and how forests are changing around the world. Kai is involved in researching and analyzing remote sensing and spatial data, as well as supporting GFW's strategy and partnerships for satellite-based forest monitoring. She also manages GFW's Open Data Portal, which enables users to download forest-related data free of charge. She has a particular interest in researching and compiling contextual data that enhances our understanding of the drivers of deforestation, as well as investigating present and future forest change alert systems that are based on satellite technology and machine learning methods.

2019 Forests & Mining Panel

Kai looks forward to discussing remote sensing technologies for monitoring the impact of mining-related deforestation. Discussion will be centered on global trends and linkages between mining and deforestation with a focus on spatial data. This panel will cover what Global Forest Watch data can and can't tell us about mining-related deforestation and review new cutting-edge remote sensing techniques for mining monitoring. Examples of different projects and organizations around the world will be provided to demonstrate how they are implementing forest change and mining data, including ground truth data collection initiatives by local communities and law enforcement. Kai hopes that participants in the Forests & Mining panel will leave with a better understanding of how they can use, analyze, and interpret satellite technology and spatial data to support their own forest monitoring goals.