2020 Award Recipient
LizaGoldberg
Project EcoMap
Project EcoMap
Climate change and deforestation are resulting in the devastation of global mangrove forests – threatening the lives of thousands of species and major habitat loss. Until recently, there was no global data tracking system for mangrove loss around the world. At 14 years old, Liza identified this gap and, during an internship with NASA, created EcoMap, the first resource providing real-time information on global mangrove forest loss.
EcoMap uses satellite imagery to map where mangrove ecosystems are most threatened and why, helping scientists and conservationists identify priority regions for restoration and protection. In addition to identifying mangrove loss through EcoMap, Liza trains organizations and communities around the world on how they can use this information to make science-informed policy decisions to assist conservation.
Liza discovered there was no data tracking system for global mangrove loss and, during an internship with NASA, developed EcoMap to provide scientists, conservationists, and communities the information they need to identify mangrove ecosystems that demand intervention and make informed policy decisions.
