Sites we have checked against eight years of Sentinel-2 satellite data. Pick one to zoom to it.
We audited the last 8 years of Karura Forest using NDVI and EVI data from Sentinel-2. NDVI stayed high throughout: the median was 0.709 and every year was at or above 0.45, with no sustained decline. That fits a forest that has stayed protected. It doesn’t prove protection on its own, and it doesn’t count trees.
The school community looks after about 1,000 trees behind the sports field. Donors give the school money to buy cooking gas, so it burns less firewood.
Kenya Forest Service looks after Kereita Forest with Gatamaiyo Forest Nature Reserve, The Forest Adventure Centre and Restaurant, local communities and other partners. Green Credits Kenya has supported tree planting here. NDVI has stayed consistent with standing forest throughout.
NDVI shows how green a site is. It doesn’t count trees. See what an audit can and can’t show, or audit your own site.