bellingcat-environment-wildlife

name	bellingcat-environment-wildlife
description	Investigate environmental issues, wildlife crime, deforestation, and climate data. Track illegal fishing, wildlife trade, forest loss, water risks, and pollution. Use when the user mentions deforestation, wildlife, fishing, environmental crime, pollution, or climate data, even if they don't mention "OSINT" or "environment."
compatibility	Requires internet access to fetch tool detail pages from bellingcat.gitbook.io

Bellingcat Environment & Wildlife Investigation Tools

Tools for investigating environmental issues, wildlife crime, deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity.

Choosing Tools

• Use satellite and environmental datasets for land, weather, and ecosystem changes; use trade and species databases for wildlife or supply-chain questions.
• Check geographic coverage and update frequency before drawing conclusions from a dataset.

Tools

Tool	Best for	Cost	Description	Guide
AllTrails	.com is a tool for discovering hiking, biking, and running trails worldwide, providing…	Partially Free	AllTrails.com is a tool for discovering hiking, biking, and running trails worldwide, providing detailed trail maps, ...	Details
Amazonia Socio Ambiental (RAISG)	Amazon rainforest maps and shapefiles of natural protected areas, concessions, indigenous…	Free	Amazon rainforest maps and shapefiles of natural protected areas, concessions, indigenous territories, oil, mining, r...
Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas	The Aqueduct water Risk Atlas, developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI), is an…	Free	The Aqueduct water Risk Atlas, developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI), is an interactive platform for asses...	Details
BirdNet	Identify bird sounds - find bird sounds on a global map.	Free	Identify bird sounds - find bird sounds on a global map.	Details
CITES Trade Database	Around 23 million records of trade in wildlife since 1975.	Free	Around 23 million records of trade in wildlife since 1975.	Details
CryO Tools	Scientific tools for investigating the cryosphere (areas with snow & ice)	Free	Scientific tools for investigating the cryosphere (areas with snow & ice)
EIA Global Environmental Crime Tracker	Map/tracker of environmental crimes including trade in ivory, rhino, big cats, and other…	Free	Map/tracker of environmental crimes including trade in ivory, rhino, big cats, and other exotic animals.	Details
Environmental Justice Atlas	Map of environmental-related conflict globally	Free	Map of environmental-related conflict globally	Details
Global Fishing Watch	A digital platform for investigating fishing activities and vessel movements worldwide by…	Free	A digital platform for investigating fishing activities and vessel movements worldwide by utilising satellite and AIS...	Details
Global Forest Watch	Explore tree cover loss and gain data, recent deforestation and fire alerts, land use…	Free	Explore tree cover loss and gain data, recent deforestation and fire alerts, land use designations, carbon emissions,...	Details
Global Monitoring System - ECOSOLVE	Illicit online wildlife markets data.	Free	Illicit online wildlife markets data.	Details
Google Flood Hub	A visual tool to monitor river levels and forecast floods based on AI models developed by…	Free	A visual tool to monitor river levels and forecast floods based on AI models developed by Google Research.	Details
Locust Hub	A repository for desert locust data with maps and other resources for tracking movements,…	Free	A repository for desert locust data with maps and other resources for tracking movements, early detection and plannin...	Details
Merlin	Identify birds (visually), through an app.	Free	Identify birds (visually), through an app.	Details
Movebank	Platform for animal tracking data.	Free	Platform for animal tracking data.
Nullschool Earth Map	View current and historic wind, weather, ocean and pollution conditions on an interactive…	Partially Free	View current and historic wind, weather, ocean and pollution conditions on an interactive animated map.
Resource Watch	A free open-data platform that hosts 300+ datasets on different topics relating to the…	Free	A free open-data platform that hosts 300+ datasets on different topics relating to the environment and human well-bei...	Details
River Runner Global	Calculate which water stream a drop of rain will follow	Free	Calculate which water stream a drop of rain will follow
Species+	Centralized website with vulnerable species information.	Free	Centralized website with vulnerable species information.
UNOSAT Analyses	A tool that maps humanitarian emergencies across the globe utilising United Nations…	Free	UNOSAT Analyses is a tool that maps humanitarian emergencies across the globe utilising United Nations Satellite Cent...	Details
WildEye	Tracking tool for data on environmental and wildlife crime cases, including court cases…	Free	Tracking tool for data on environmental and wildlife crime cases, including court cases and convictions, across the g...	Details
Wildlife Trade Portal	An open-source tool to search wildlife seizure data worldwide.	Free	An open-source tool to search wildlife seizure data worldwide.	Details
WildMe & WildBook	Open source pattern recognition software to identify unique whales, sharks, zebras,…	Free	Open source pattern recognition software to identify unique whales, sharks, zebras, jaguars, skunks, fish and much more.
World Database on Protected and Conserved Areas	A comprehensive global database on terrestrial and marine protected areas.	Free	A comprehensive global database on terrestrial and marine protected areas.	Details

Investigation Tips

• Use Global Forest Watch to track deforestation and fire alerts in near real-time
• CITES Trade Database and Wildlife Trade Portal for investigating illegal wildlife trade
• Global Fishing Watch uses AIS data to track fishing vessel activity worldwide
• WildEye tracks environmental crime cases and court convictions globally
• BirdNet and Merlin help identify bird species from audio/visual evidence
• Amazonia Socio Ambiental (RAISG) provides critical Amazon rainforest data and maps