FAO’s Earth Map Receives Google Impact Award

News in Brief:**- FAO's Earth Map, honoured with a Google Impact Award, offers a user-friendly platform for monitoring climate and environmental changes.- With over 33,000 users in 50 countries, Earth Map empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions, supporting climate-resilient agriculture and conservation projects. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been recognised for its groundbreaking initiative, Earth Map, with a prestigious Google Geo for Good Impact Award. This innovative platform utilises freely available geospatial data to monitor and map climate and environmental changes, empowering stakeholders to make informed decisions for a sustainable future. Earth Map provides a user-friendly, cloud-based interface powered by Google Earth Engine, enabling easy visualisation, analysis, and monitoring of Earth's surface. This tool is especially beneficial for local farmers and communities, offering critical information to address environmental and climate-related challenges. With over 33,000 users in 50 countries, Earth Map has made a significant impact worldwide. Its applications range from protecting natural resources to supporting climate-resilient agriculture projects. For instance, FAO has utilized Earth Map for project preparation, monitoring, and investment design, aiding member states in securing funding from international partners.

Global reach, local impact

Earth Map's integration with Google mapping tools allows for dynamic mapping and real-time statistics generation, making it a versatile tool for conservation initiatives across diverse regions. Moreover, its replication in customised projects, such as the United Nations Environment Program's Strata portal, demonstrates its adaptability to various environmental and peace-building initiatives. Countries have the freedom to contribute and share national data, fostering international cooperation and supporting impactful projects. Earth Map also offers free training and support, ensuring accessibility to all stakeholders. FAO's Strategy on Climate Change emphasises the importance of innovative solutions like Earth Map in safeguarding food security and ending hunger. By putting agrifood systems at the forefront of climate change solutions, Earth Map contributes to building a more sustainable and resilient future for farmers and communities worldwide.