Topic outline

This course describes the growing challenges of field data collection and the use of open-source solutions like Open Foris Ground. In this course, you will learn Open Foris Ground's key features and how it can be used to address the data collection needs of various users in different contexts. 

E-WEB-Goal-12.pngE-WEB-Goal-13.pngE-WEB-Goal-15.png

This course targets a wide range of users, such as:

  • Smallholders and members of cooperatives.
  • National and regional administrative staff responsible for forest management.
  • Non-governmental organizations and researchers.

  • The main challenges in forest monitoring, commodity market regulations and restoration efforts.
  • How to set up surveys in Open Foris Ground for data collection.
  • Collecting field data with the Ground Android app.
  • Visualizing and managing data using the Ground web console.

This course consists of three lessons of around 30 minutes each:

  • Lesson 1 – Welcome to Open Foris Ground
  • Lesson 2 – Sign-up process and survey design
  • Lesson 3 – Data collection, visualization and download

This course runs on the latest versions of the major browsers, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari.

The course opens in a separate popup window. If this does not happen, a popup blocker in the browser is probably preventing it from opening and you will need to disable popup blockers for this site. Please read the following instructions on how to do this.

Digital certification

This course offers certification. You will get your digital badge upon passing a final exam after completing the course and achieving a grade of at least 75%. Please click on the button below to complete the exam, or refer to our Certification section to learn more.

Evaluate this course

We would be pleased to receive your evaluation of this course, to support us in improving future e-learning courses. Please click on the button below to answer the questions in the form. It should only take you a few minutes!

Evaluate this course Evaluate this course

  • Partners


    This course was developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with SAFE (Sustainable Agriculture for Forest Ecosystems) project, financed by the European Union (EU), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BZ). SAFE is part of the Fund for the Promotion of Innovation in Agriculture (i4Ag) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für InternationaleZusammenarbeit (GIZ).


    European Union German cooperation Dutch Ministery of Foreign Affairs Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)  Sustainable Agriculture for Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) -