Reforest Network
Reforest Network is a digital platform for forest restoration in Cyprus. Its goal is to make collaboration between reforestation organizations, volunteers, and eco-sponsors as efficient and transparent as possible.
Description
Forest restoration is a long and labor-intensive process that requires a high level of organization. While most of the work happens on the ground, digital tools are equally important. Transparency of tasks, progress visualization, convenient ways to contribute, and targeted efforts all make the process more efficient, engage more people, and help maintain motivation.
On July 22, we began developing Reforest Network – a comprehensive software solution. The first step was creating a 3D map of Cyprus that highlights: active wildfire hotspots; burned areas in need of restoration; abandoned lands suitable for planting; and zones where reforestation efforts are already underway.
Each area is linked to an information card with details about sponsors, volunteers, and past and upcoming reforestation events.
The donation system is designed to be transparent and flexible. Not only major sponsors, but anyone can support specific areas. For example, residents of affected villages can directly contribute to restoring forests in their own communities.
Advanced visualization will allow users to see how landscapes evolve with and without support. Using computer graphics, one can “fast-forward” in time and watch trees grow as a result of contributions. Satellite imagery from different periods will also be available for progress comparison.
Volunteers will be able to subscribe to event notifications to join reforestation activities. Every contribution earns points, and leaderboards will showcase the most active sponsors, volunteers, and influencers.
The app will also include a notification system: users can set their location and receive wildfire alerts based not only on distance but also on the direction of fire spread.
By documenting every reforestation effort, we can analyze the effectiveness of different approaches. This will not only enhance practical results but also provide valuable scientific insights and preserve accumulated knowledge.
Partners
The goal of Reforest Network is to support every reforestation organization that wishes to join us. Many are already on board, and we are in talks with the rest.
The Demo Version
A month after the start of development of Reforest Network, we are presenting the demo version of our interactive map. Its purpose is to clearly demonstrate our vision to potential partners and sponsors. We hope the project will gain support so we can unlock its full potential.
The current version features a map of our island based on real satellite imagery and elevation data. Users can select points of interest — cities, active restoration sites, dummy wildfires, and burned areas. Notably, the map vividly illustrates the devastating scale of the July 23 fire, which destroyed around 120 km².
As new partners join, we mark on the map the locations they are working on. For example, our first partner was Null Project, and we added their land in Kelokedara. Later, we added the tree nursery of Cyprus Forest Club in Foini, as well as tree-planting events organized by ECOmbare. For now, this is still a demo version, and we are adding the data manually just for demonstration purposes. Once we have the opportunity to fully implement the application, organizations will be able to manage their own locations and events themselves.
In rare cases, Reforest Network may not launch in a mobile phone browser. In the near future, we will release the map as a mobile app so that it will be available for download through the App Store and Google Play.
The Fundraising Campaign
With the release of this demo version, we are launching our fundraising campaign. To create the first fully functional version — capable of delivering real benefits — we need your support. If you share our vision and would like to contribute, we would be glad to discuss opportunities for collaboration.
Press & Events
