More than 40 partners join effort to better monitor and manage forests

Editor’s Note: B-roll footage, maps, photos, and other materials will be available

WASHINGTON—On February 20, the World Resources Institute (WRI) will launch Global Forest Watch (GFW), a dynamic online forest monitoring and alert system that empowers people everywhere to better manage forests. Created by WRI, Google, and more than 40 partners, GFW unites satellite technology, open data, and crowd sourcing to guarantee access to timely and reliable information about forests.

The event, at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., will include leaders in government, business, and civil society who will unveil the new online platform and discuss its implications for forests worldwide.

Featured speakers include: Felipe Calderón, Former President of Mexico and WRI Board Member; Dr. Andrew Steer, President and CEO, WRI; Dr. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF; Dr. Kerri-Ann Jones, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of State; Juan Carlos Jintiach, indigenous leader of the Shuar nation of Ecuador; Rebecca Moore, Engineering Manager, Google Earth Outreach; and Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator, USAID.

The event will include video messages by: Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever; Jane Goodall, Founder, Jane Goodall Institute; Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP; Heru Prasetyo, Head of REDD+ Agency, Indonesia; and others.

WHAT

Launch of Global Forest Watch, including high-level comments, demonstrations, panel discussions and video messages

Twitter Hashtag: #GFWlaunch

WHO

Hosted by Dr. Andrew Steer, President & CEO, WRI

Featured speakers & panelists:

Felipe Calderón, Former President of Mexico and WRI Board Member
Molly Fogarty, Head of Government Relations, Nestle USA
Dr. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility
Juan Carlos Jintiach, indigenous leader of the Shuar nation of Ecuador
Dr. Kerri-Ann Jones, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Ken MacDicken, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Lawrence MacDonald, Vice President, Center for Global Development
Rebecca Moore, Engineering Manager, Google Earth Outreach
Dr. Olga Gershenzon, Co-founder, ScanEx
Dr. Lilian Pintea, Vice President, Conservation Science, Jane Goodall Institute
Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator, USAID
Dr. Nigel Sizer, Director, Global Forest Initiative, WRI
Dr. Carlos Souza, Senior Researcher, Imazon
Dr. David Thau, Senior Developer Advocate, Google Earth Engine
Dr. John Townshend, Dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, University of Maryland

WHEN

Thursday, February 20, 2014
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EST

A continental breakfast will be served before the event, and a light lunch afterwards

Keynote speeches, demonstration, and media Q&A will take place between 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.

Media and guests should arrive by 9:00 a.m. to register

WHERE

Newseum
555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 7th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20001

Please use the entrance marked "Knight Conference Center" on 6th St. and Pennsylvania Ave.

Metro stops: Archives Metro Station (Green/Yellow Lines)/Judiciary Square Metro Station (Red Line)

RSVP required to press@wri.org

For questions or to set up interviews, please contact: Daniel Melling, WRI; Tel. (202) 729-7769, Dmelling@wri.org