The Global Forest Watch (GFW) Small Grants Fund 2026 is now open for applications, offering financial and technical support to civil society and community-led organizations working to protect forests and combat deforestation using data-driven approaches.

Managed by Global Forest Watch, an initiative of the World Resources Institute (WRI), this grant program supports projects that translate forest monitoring data into concrete action on the ground. Selected organizations will receive grants ranging from USD 10,000 to USD 40,000 to implement 12-month projects focused on forest conservation, enforcement, advocacy, and sustainable land management.

In the 2026 cycle, grantees will also have the opportunity to test and provide feedback on Global Nature Watch, an experimental AI-powered land monitoring platform designed to complement existing Global Forest Watch tools.

Grant Overview

• Grant amount: USD 10,000 – 40,000

• Project duration: 12 months

• Project period: 1 June 2026 – 31 May 2027

• Number of grants: Approximately 8–15 projects

• Languages accepted: English, French, Spanish

Eligible Project Focus Areas

Proposed projects must clearly demonstrate how Global Forest Watch and/or Global Nature Watch tools will be used as a core component of forest protection efforts. Projects may focus on one or more of the following approaches:

• Advocacy and land rights protection, including community mapping and evidence-based campaigning

• Forest monitoring and enforcement, such as field verification of deforestation alerts and legal follow-up

• Journalism and storytelling, including investigative reporting, data visualisation, and multimedia content

• Stakeholder engagement and capacity building, particularly with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and enforcement agencies

• Land use planning and policy influence, using forest and land-use data to inform sustainable decision-making

Projects should demonstrate clear pathways from data use to real-world outcomes, such as policy action, enforcement measures, legal cases, or strengthened community forest governance.

Additional Support for Grantees

Beyond financial support, selected organizations will benefit from:

• Dedicated technical guidance from WRI staff

• Access to the Global Forest Watch network

• Opportunities to test new monitoring tools

• Visibility through blogs, events, and communication platforms

Grantees become part of a global community working at the intersection of data, technology, and forest conservation.

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is 6 February 2026 (23:59 ET).