# Forest Watcher

> mobile app

**Wikidata**: [Q109930698](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109930698)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/forest-watcher

## Summary
Forest Watcher is a free software mobile app instance of a web application designed to run on Android and iOS devices with touchscreen input. Developed by Global Forest Watch, the Jane Goodall Institute, and Vizzuality, it is distributed via Google Play as a digital download under the Expat license with source code on GitHub. It serves as a companion to the Global Forest Watch platform, which provides data and tools for monitoring forests since its inception in 1997.

## Key Facts
- Forest Watcher is a mobile app with aliases GFW Forest Watcher and forest-watcher.
- Instance of: mobile app, web application, free software.
- Creators: Global Forest Watch, Jane Goodall Institute, Vizzuality.
- Copyright holder: Vizzuality; copyright status: copyrighted.
- License: Expat license (references: GitHub LICENSE file as of 2021-12-05).
- Operating systems: Android (inception 2008-09-23), iOS.
- Platform: Android.
- Input device: touchscreen.
- Distributed by: Google Play; distribution format: digital download.
- Google Play Store app ID: com.forestwatcher.
- Websites: https://forestwatcher.globalforestwatch.org/ (preferred, English, end user), https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher (English, programmer), https://fw.globalforestwatch.org/ (English).
- Source code repository URLs: https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher.git (preferred, HTTPS, Git, Wikidata , ), git://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher.git (Git Wire Protocol, Wikidata ).
- Related to Global Forest Watch (inception 1997, sitelink_count: 6), an online platform for forest monitoring data and tools.
- Version 0.1.0 released 2017-06-21 (references: GitHub release tag 0.1.0 as of 2022-10-05).
- Version 1.0.0 released 2017-09-08 (references: GitHub release tag v1.0.0 as of 2022-10-05).
- Version 1.0.1 released 2017-09-11 (references: GitHub release tag v1.0.1 as of 2022-10-05).
- Version 1.0.2 released 2017-09-13 (references: GitHub release tag v1.0.2 as of 2022-10-05).
- Version 1.0.3 released 2017-09-13 (references: GitHub release tag v1.0.3 as of 2022-10-05).
- Version 1.0.4 released 2017-09-18 (references: GitHub release tag v1.0.4 as of 2022-10-05).
- Version 1.0.5 released 2017-09-18 (references: GitHub release tag v1.0.5 as of 2022-10-05).
- Version 1.0.7 released 2017-10-03 (references: GitHub release tag v1.0.7 as of 2022-10-05).
- Version 1.0.8 released 2017-12-13 (references: GitHub release tag v1.0.8 as of 2022-10-05).
- Version 1.3.0 released 2018-05-16 (references: GitHub release tag v1.3.0 as of 2022-10-05).
- Version 1.5.0 released 2018-06-04 (references: GitHub release tag v1.5.0 as of 2022-10-05).
- Version 1.6.0 released 2018-06-15 (preferred, references: GitHub release tag v1.6.0 as of 2022-10-05).
- Free software class has sitelink_count: 120; web application class sitelink_count: 57; mobile app class sitelink_count: 91.
- Android sitelink_count: 155; iOS sitelink_count: 106.

## FAQs
**What platforms does Forest Watcher run on?**  
It operates on Android devices, with inception on 2008-09-23, and iOS mobile operating systems. Users access it via touchscreen input as a digital download from Google Play under app ID com.forestwatcher.

**Who created Forest Watcher and what is its licensing?**  
Creators include Global Forest Watch, Jane Goodall Institute, and Vizzuality, with Vizzuality as copyright holder despite copyrighted status. It uses the Expat license, confirmed via GitHub's LICENSE file dated 2021-12-05.

**What are the official websites and source code for Forest Watcher?**  
Primary site is https://forestwatcher.globalforestwatch.org/ for end users in English; developer hub at https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher; alternative https://fw.globalforestwatch.org/. Source repositories: https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher.git (HTTPS preferred) and git://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher.git (Git Wire Protocol).

**What versions of Forest Watcher exist and when were they released?**  
Releases span 0.1.0 on 2017-06-21 through 1.6.0 on 2018-06-15 (preferred), including 1.0.0 to 1.0.8 series in 2017 and 1.3.0, 1.5.0 later. All documented on GitHub tags as accessed 2022-10-05.

**How is Forest Watcher classified and what is it related to?**  
Classified as mobile app, web application, and free software; Wikidata description confirms mobile app. Directly related to Global Forest Watch, an online forest monitoring platform from 1997.

## Why It Matters
Forest Watcher extends the reach of Global Forest Watch's forest monitoring data and tools from web to mobile, enabling touchscreen-based access on Android and iOS for broader user engagement since its first release in 2017. As free software under Expat license with open GitHub repositories, it allows users to run, study, change, and distribute it, fostering community contributions tied to organizations like the Jane Goodall Institute. Its digital distribution via Google Play and structured versioning up to preferred 1.6.0 in 2018 supports ongoing development in environmental tech, linking to a platform active since 1997.

## Notable For
- Open-source mobile companion to Global Forest Watch, with dual HTTPS and Git Wire Protocol repositories on GitHub.
- Rapid 2017 release cadence: eleven versions from 0.1.0 (June) to 1.0.8 (December), plus 2018 jumps to 1.6.0.
- Collaborative creation by Global Forest Watch, Jane Goodall Institute, and Vizzuality, blending conservation expertise with tech.
- Expat-licensed despite Vizzuality copyright, enabling free software principles in a copyrighted framework.
- Specific Google Play ID com.forestwatcher for seamless Android deployment.
- Web application hybrid classification, bridging browser and native mobile experiences.
- Ties to high-sitelink entities: Android (155), iOS (106), free software (120).

## Body
### Overview and Classifications
Forest Watcher functions as a mobile app with Wikidata description explicitly stating "mobile app." It qualifies as an instance of mobile app (sitelink_count: 91), web application (sitelink_count: 57) that uses a web browser as a client, and free software (sitelink_count: 120) distributed under terms allowing users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it and modified versions. Aliases include GFW Forest Watcher and forest-watcher. Input relies on touchscreen devices.

### Creators and Ownership
Development credits go to Global Forest Watch, Jane Goodall Institute, and Vizzuality. Vizzuality holds the copyright with status listed as copyrighted.

### Platforms and Operating Systems
It runs on Android, an operating system created by Google with inception 2008-09-23 (references: Wikidata , announcement by  on 2017-03-11 via Google blog, , title "Announcing the Android 1.0 SDK, release 1" published 2008-09-23). It also supports iOS, a mobile operating system by Apple Inc. (sitelink_count: 106). Platform specified as Android (sitelink_count: 155).

### Distribution and Access
Distributed by Google Play in digital download format. Google Play Store app ID is com.forestwatcher. Websites provide access: preferred https://forestwatcher.globalforestwatch.org/ in English for end users (qualifier : English, : end user); https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher in English for programmers (: English, : programmer); https://fw.globalforestwatch.org/ in English.

### Source Code Repositories
Primary repository at https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher.git (preferred, qualifiers : HTTPS, : , : ). Alternative git://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher.git (: Git Wire Protocol, : ).

### Licensing
Uses Expat license, referenced from https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/blob/master/LICENSE as of : 2021-12-05.

### Development History and Versions
Releases documented on GitHub, accessed 2022-10-05:
- 0.1.0 (: 2017-06-21), tag 0.1.0, "Release 0.1.0", publication_date 2017-06-21.
- 1.0.0 (: 2017-09-08), tag v1.0.0, "Release 1.0.0", publication_date 2017-09-08.
- 1.0.1 (: 2017-09-11), tag v1.0.1, "Release 1.0.1", publication_date 2017-09-11.
- 1.0.2 (: 2017-09-13), tag v1.0.2, "Release 1.0.2", publication_date 2017-09-13.
- 1.0.3 (: 2017-09-13), tag v1.0.3, "Release 1.0.3", publication_date 2017-09-13.
- 1.0.4 (: 2017-09-18), tag v1.0.4, "Release 1.0.4", publication_date 2017-09-18.
- 1.0.5 (: 2017-09-18), tag v1.0.5, "Release 1.0.5", publication_date 2017-09-18.
- 1.0.7 (: 2017-10-03), tag v1.0.7, "Release 1.0.7", publication_date 2017-10-03.
- 1.0.8 (: 2017-12-13), tag v1.0.8, "Release 1.0.8", publication_date 2017-12-13.
- 1.3.0 (: 2018-05-16), tag v1.3.0, "Release 1.3.0", publication_date 2018-05-16.
- 1.5.0 (: 2018-06-04), tag v1.5.0, "Release 1.5.0", publication_date 2018-06-04.
- 1.6.0 (preferred, : 2018-06-15), tag v1.6.0, "Release 1.6.0", publication_date 2018-06-15.

### Related Entities
Connects to Global Forest Watch [Thing], an online platform providing data and tools for monitoring forests (inception: 1997, references : , : Russian Wikipedia page as of title=Всемирный_Лесной_Дозор&oldid=101616549; sitelink_count: 6).

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/blob/master/LICENSE)
2. [Release 0.1.0. 2017](https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/releases/tag/0.1.0)
3. [Release 1.0.0. 2017](https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/releases/tag/v1.0.0)
4. [Release 1.0.1. 2017](https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/releases/tag/v1.0.1)
5. [Release 1.0.2. 2017](https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/releases/tag/v1.0.2)
6. [Release 1.0.3. 2017](https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/releases/tag/v1.0.3)
7. [Release 1.0.4. 2017](https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/releases/tag/v1.0.4)
8. [Release 1.0.5. 2017](https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/releases/tag/v1.0.5)
9. [Release 1.0.7. 2017](https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/releases/tag/v1.0.7)
10. [Release 1.0.8. 2017](https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/releases/tag/v1.0.8)
11. [Release 1.3.0. 2018](https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/releases/tag/v1.3.0)
12. [Release 1.5.0. 2018](https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/releases/tag/v1.5.0)
13. [Release 1.6.0. 2018](https://github.com/forest-watcher/forest-watcher/releases/tag/v1.6.0)