WILD EARTH WATCHUnderstanding Nature Through Evidence
Home / Research Library / Open Datasets
Research Library

Open Datasets

Where our numbers come from, in a form you can explore yourself. These are live, public platforms — not static reports — so the underlying data updates independently of anything we publish here.

Published July 2026 Last reviewed July 2026 Entries 9

Forest & Land Monitoring

Satellite monitoring

Global Forest Watch

Near-real-time satellite tree cover loss data covering the entire globe, the primary dataset behind our deforestation, boreal forest, and temperate forest figures.

World Resources Institute Visit Global Forest Watch →
Coastal monitoring

Global Mangrove Watch

Satellite-based mangrove extent and change monitoring, the dataset behind our Coastal Zones profile's mangrove loss and protection statistics.

Wetlands International; Aberystwyth University Visit Global Mangrove Watch →

Species & Population Data

Species status

IUCN Red List database

The searchable database underlying every species status classification cited on Wild Earth Watch, including full assessment justifications and population trend data.

International Union for Conservation of Nature Visit IUCN Red List →
Wildlife population trends

Living Planet Index database

The dataset of nearly 35,000 population time-series across 5,495 species underlying WWF's Living Planet Report findings, maintained by the Zoological Society of London.

Zoological Society of London Visit Living Planet Index →
Population census

Center for Whale Research — Southern Resident orca census

The annual photo-identification census that has tracked the Southern Resident killer whale population since the 1970s, the source of our Orca profile's population figures.

Center for Whale Research Visit Center for Whale Research →

Ocean & Climate Monitoring

Reef monitoring

NOAA Coral Reef Watch

Live satellite-based sea surface temperature and bleaching-alert data for coral reefs worldwide, the platform behind our Coral Reefs profile's heat-stress statistics.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Visit NOAA Coral Reef Watch →
Fisheries data

FAO FishStat

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization's global fisheries statistics database, underlying our Overfishing profile's stock status figures.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Visit FAO FishStat →
Climate data

NOAA Arctic Report Card data portal

The underlying observational data (permafrost temperature, sea ice extent, carbon flux) behind NOAA's annual Arctic assessments.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Visit Arctic Report Card →

Wildlife Trade & Protected Areas

Trade records

CITES Trade Database

The searchable record of all legal international trade in CITES-listed species, underlying our Wildlife Trade profile's market-value figures.

CITES Secretariat Visit CITES Trade Database →
Protected areas

World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA)

The most comprehensive global dataset of protected area boundaries and designations, underlying our Protected Areas map and the global 30x30 coverage statistics.

UNEP-WCMC; IUCN Visit Protected Planet →

These platforms are maintained by their respective institutions, not by Wild Earth Watch — figures on our site reflect a snapshot at the time of publication or review, and may not match the live dataset if you check it today. We link out deliberately so you can verify this yourself.