Forest area monitoring is crucial for maintaining ecosystem sustainability and addressing deforestation and other environmental degradation. Monitoring can be conducted remotely or directly in the field. However, direct field monitoring without land cover indication data is time-consuming and expensive, and the results are less efficient.

The use of technology in forest monitoring, pioneered by communities, particularly women’s groups, has its own unique dynamics. The HAkA Foundation’s experience, supported by The Asia Foundation, has collaborated with several women’s groups in Aceh to provide lessons on forest management and monitoring. This process took place in three villages: Damaran Baru (Bener Meriah Regency), Mendale (Central Aceh Regency), and Tenggulun (Aceh Tamiang Regency).