Technical Mapping Meet-Up brings mapping practitioners together to exchange knowledge on wetland conservation and forest monitoring

Open Development Cambodia (ODC) organized a “Technical Mapping Meet-Up” on 21 August 2026 at Hobby Café and Restaurant in Phnom Penh. The event brought together 15 participants (5 women), comprising mapping practitioners, researchers, project staff, community representatives, and individuals interested in geospatial technologies, to exchange knowledge and practical experiences in mapping and spatial data. The Technical Mapping Meet-Up provides a regular space for participants to learn from one another, explore practical mapping tools, and strengthen technical networks among organizations and individuals working with spatial data.

Exploring the Role of Satellite Data in Wetland Conservation

Ms. Chea Monysocheata, Project Coordinator at WWT Cambodia, presented the first technical session and shared her research on “Assessing Wetland Conservation Action Effectiveness with Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Data.” The presentation introduced participants to the importance of wetlands and their role in supporting biodiversity, regulating water, purifying water, supporting food production and livelihoods, and addressing climate change. The discussion highlighted that many wetlands in Cambodia provide important benefits to local communities, while research and documentation of wetland ecosystems remain limited.

Ms. Monysocheata also introduced Boeng Prek Lapov Protected Landscape, an important wetland area supporting more than 120 bird species and approximately 130 fish species. The area provides a range of ecosystem services, including flood regulation, wildlife habitat, water filtration, agriculture, fisheries, and food production. The presentation focused particularly on grassland restoration and demonstrated how different restoration approaches can be used, including lowering ground levels, blocking or filling drainage ditches, constructing dykes and mini bunds, and creating pools.

Participants were then introduced to the use of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data alongside groundwater data, Digital Elevation Models (DEM), and rainfall data to support wetland research and assess conservation effectiveness. The results demonstrated that SAR imagery and groundwater data can provide useful information for monitoring and research, with different levels of effectiveness identified across the study area.

The session also generated discussion on major threats to wetlands, including wetland loss, invasive species, pollution, and the impacts of human activities. Participants discussed the need to prioritize wetlands that provide important habitats for wildlife and rare species and to strengthen research and public awareness on wetland conservation.

Demonstrating the Forest Disturbance Platform

The second session was presented by Mr. Sam An Mardy, ODC’s IT and Website Manager, who demonstrated the ODC Forest Disturbance Platform following its launch. The presentation introduced participants to how the platform provides forest disturbance information and delivers notifications through Telegram. Users can access the platform through the ODC website, select locations, view information by date, and explore reported forest disturbances through an interactive map.

The platform currently supports 31 community Telegram channels, 7 protected-area channels, and 1 nationwide channel. Users can join relevant channels to receive notifications about forest disturbances in areas of interest. An important feature discussed during the session was the role of communities in verifying reported disturbances. Participants were reminded that alerts should be considered preliminary information and that field verification and patrols remain important before drawing conclusions about a reported disturbance. Participants also discussed whether the platform could confirm if a person had physically visited a reported location. Currently, this function is not available, but it could potentially be considered for future platform improvements.

Practical Demonstration and Participant Engagement

The meet-up included a practical demonstration of the Forest Disturbance Platform through both the ODC’s website and Telegram. Participants used their mobile phones to explore the platform and test its functions directly. Participants were also introduced to Google Maps, KML files, and Google Earth as supporting tools for viewing and sharing geographic information. The demonstration also included an introduction to Global Forest Watch (GFW) and Global Nature Watch, providing participants with opportunities to explore additional tools and ask technical questions.

Participants expressed that forest disturbance information could be useful for communities in monitoring and protecting forests. The data can help identify areas requiring further attention and may serve as supporting information for field investigation and verification. The discussion also emphasized that technology and satellite-based alerts should complement, rather than replace, community knowledge, field observation, and on-the-ground verification.

Building a Stronger Mapping Community

Throughout the event, participants actively engaged in questions and discussions on wetland conservation, satellite imagery, forest monitoring, spatial data, and the practical use of mapping tools. At the end of the meet-up, participants completed an evaluation and were invited to join a Telegram group to continue exchanging information, sharing opportunities, and staying connected for future activities.

Ms. Ourn Vimoil (ODC’s Program and Partnership Manager) and Mr. Loch Kalyan (ODC’s Data Research and GIS Specialist), in their closing remarks, thanked all participants for their active participation and encouraged mapping practitioners and interested individuals to volunteer as speakers for future Technical Mapping Meet-Ups.

The event concluded with a group photo, marking another step toward strengthening Cambodia’s community of mapping practitioners and promoting the practical use of open data, geospatial technologies, and digital tools for environmental research, monitoring, and conservation. ODC looks forward to continuing the next Technical Mapping Meet-Ups and creating more opportunities for practitioners, researchers, communities, and other stakeholders to learn, connect, and collaborate.