(Last Updated: July 7th, 2025)
Collecting reliable field data is the backbone of any reforestation effort. Below is a snapshot of the tools teams use today—from in‑field capture to back‑office management.
Choosing the Right Tool
Before diving into specific tools, consider these key questions to help guide your decision:
- Volume and frequency: How much data are you tracking and how often?
- Team size and skills: How many people will use the app? How tech‑savvy are they?
- Connectivity: Do you need offline capabilities for remote field work?
- Data complexity: Beyond basic counts, species, and DBH, do you need metadata like who tracked the data, timestamps, or additional observations?
- Data integration: Where are you storing the data? Do you have an existing system or need to create one?
Capture Tools
- ArcGIS Survey123
– Used by Eden Reforestation Projects
. Great if you're already using Esri tools, but might not be the best choice if you're not invested in their ecosystem.
- KoBoToolbox
– Kijani
and One Acre Fund
's choice. Offers custom forms, offline support, and high customization. A bit clunkier than Google Forms but much more powerful.
- Terraware
– Well‑executed with preset tracking/monitoring workflows. Not customizable fields. Data goes to their platform—verify export capabilities before committing.
- ODK
– Open‑source and very flexible, but requires technical setup.
QGIS tools
- Mergin Maps
– Optimized for teams using QGIS. Offline capturing, Custom forms. Photos. €11.90/month/contributor.
- QField
– Open-source mobile GIS app that works with QGIS projects. Available for Android, iOS, and desktop platforms. Completely free and offers offline/online data collection with optional QFieldCloud integration for team collaboration.
Registries with dMRV
- Ecosystem Restoration Standard
– They have their own app, but availability may be limited to their program participants.
- Open Forest Protocol
– Their own app, when participating int he program handles boundary tracking dnd monitoring flows. Limited to participants of OFP.
Other
- Gaia GPS
– Good for navigation, less ideal for structured data collection or photos.
- Field Measure
– Focused on area measurement ONLY. Super simple, minimal configuration, and easy for staff training.
Custom Apps
Some organisations build custom tools for their specific workflows. This gives full control but requires development resources.
- Taking Root
- Kijani
– Built their own solution in parallel to using KoBo
- TIST
- uses their semi in-house solution
Data Management
- Spreadsheets – Still the starting point for most projects. Local Excel
works, cloud Excel is better, and Google Sheets
offers the best real‑time collaboration.
- Airtable
– Used by Kijani and One Acre Fund; combines spreadsheet familiarity with database power.
Restoration Scope
At Restoration Scope
, we offer a field data capturing app focused on customization of what to capture and where to send the data. Our solution provides flexibility for organizations that need specific workflows while maintaining ease of use for field teams.
Need help choosing the right tool for your specific use case? Feel free to reach out for personalized recommendations based on your project's needs.
