Using Forest 500 deforestation data to build transparency on companies and finance

Read our insight for the key takeaways from this webinar.

Over the last decade Forest 500 data has become the go-to data source for information on companies and financial institutions operating in the deforestation economy.

This skillshare webinar looked at how journalists and researchers use this open access data from Global Canopy to home in on the actors driving deforestation. The session explored the Forest 500 screening tool that allows users to search the deforestation exposure risk of the most influential companies and financial institutions by name, jurisdiction, commodity type and industry sector.  

Robert Soutar of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism moderated an expert panel of journalists and researchers who use data to inform the global debate on deforestation, conversion and associated human rights abuses Forest 500 and Tracking Lead, Emma Thomson, answered questions on the assessment methodology used. The discussion included a Q&A session.  

Listen to the podcast or watch the full webinar recording below:

Moderator:

• Rob Soutar, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Speakers:

• Heather Clancy, Author at Trellis Group

• Dr Katalin Csatadi, Ethical Consumer

• Emma Thomson, Forest 500 and Tracking Lead, Global Canopy

Read the Forest 500 report 2025: Companies profit, forests fall: everyone pays the price.