Module 5: Polygon Data Collection

In this module, you will learn how to collect polygons, which represent the exact geographical location(s) where your project is restoring land.

This is the fifth training module that is required as part of your TerraFund project. 

You can access the other training modules from the right side of this page, under "Other Articles in this Section."

NOTE: This module includes a Knowledge Check; this is a form with a short quiz and a space to share YOUR questions with the team. Any questions you put here will be used by the team to shape our discussion at the upcoming meeting that will follow this module. We really encourage you to take the quiz and to share your questions - they will help everyone in the cohort learn together and help the TerraFund team refine their approach!

Module Outline   

Section 1: Polygon overview

Section 2: Polygon collection tools

Section 3: How to collect polygon using Flority and greenhouse.

Section 4: Knowledge Check

Helpful Resources

Section 1: Polygon overview

Monitoring restoration progress is rooted in the demarcation of geospatial boundaries called polygons. A polygon marks the exact location where restoration activities are happening on the ground. Using GPS coordinates, it captures the precise shape and extent of that area as a closed shape, one that starts and ends at the same point and encloses a single, contiguous area. Think of it as drawing the outline of a restoration site on an online map. Polygons can be saved in different GIS file formats, such as GeoJSON or Esri Shapefile.

TerraFund uses polygons to accurately map and monitor restoration activities across funded projects. Since every polygon is associated with a site on TerraMatch, Champions can continue adding new polygons to an existing site throughout the project's 2-year planting lifespan. This enables the TerraFund team to:

• Verify the location and boundaries of restoration areas.
• Measure the exact number of hectares under restoration.
• Ensure reported restoration areas are accurate and avoid double counting.
• Monitor restoration progress over time using satellite imagery and other remote sensing tools.
• Assess environmental outcomes such as vegetation growth and land cover changes.
• Aggregate restoration data across all funded projects to measure TerraFund's overall impact.

This reduces the need for frequent field visits while still providing reliable monitoring of restoration progress.

For champions, polygons help them to:

• Accurately document restoration areas instead of relying only on estimates.
• Report hectares under restoration with greater confidence.
• Demonstrate where grant funds are being used, increasing transparency and accountability.
• Track project expansion as new restoration sites are added.
• Support monitoring and reporting throughout the life of the project.

Please note that polygon should only be collected after tree planting has taken place. For projects that are implementing assisted natural regeneration (ANR), they must submit polygons before implementation activities begin(during site profile creation on TerraMatch). This is important for baseline reporting on tree presence and vegetation cover before the actual ANR implementation.

Please review this article to learn more about How to Manage Polygons in your Site Profiles.

TerraFund's Polygon Attributes

Polygons must have complete attribute information, we provide the following (Polygon name, Target landuse, Restoration practice, Planting start date, Distribution type and Number of trees planted) 

Please watch the video below to learn more about polygons, why they matter for TerraFund, and how to accurately collect them. If you'd prefer to watch this video without captions, you can click the "Settings" icon on the action bar at the bottom of the video, and toggle closed captions to off.

 

Section 2: Polygon collection tools

Champions can collect and manage polygons themselves using Flority and greenhouse. applications.

Please watch the video below to learn more about how to use these tools.

Flority 
Flority is a mobile app that allows champions to collect GPS photos, centre points, draw polygons, and submit attributes. It works on Android only, and requires Android version 8.0 or above. 

greenhouse. 
greenhouse is a web application that connects to Flority. It allows you to manage Flority user access and to view, edit, delete, download, and approve the photos, polygons, and associated attributes collected through Flority. Once your data is approved on greenhouse, you will be required to create geofences that correspond to your project sites on TerraMatch. The TerraFund polygon reviewers will then push this data to your sites on TerraMatch. Please note that Flority and greenhouse. share the same login details.

Please watch the videos below to learn more on how to collect polygons on Flority and greenhouse. applications.

If you'd prefer to watch this video without captions, you can click the "Settings" icon on the action bar at the bottom of the video, and toggle closed captions to off.

 

Section 3: How to collect polygon using Flority and greenhouse.

GPS-Polygons are recorded by walking around the area of interest (e.g. restoration site) and taking GPS-Photos, ideally looking inwards, at bends to demarcate the area. Depending on boundary-complexity of the site, less or more photos are sufficient during this process. Watch the video below and if you'd prefer to watch this video without captions, you can click the "Settings" icon on the action bar at the bottom of the video, and toggle closed captions to off.

 

Section 4: Knowledge Check

Review what you learned in this module, and share any questions, comments, or concerns on this topic, in our quiz and feedback form here.

Helpful Resources

Article: How to Manage Polygons in your Site Profiles

Article: Flority & greenhouse. guidebook 

Article: Submitting High-Quality Photos on TerraMatch

Byline

Course Director 

Isabel Harrington, Capacity & Innovation Manager, Restoration Finance, USA

Content Contributors  

Daniel Kwaku Owusu - GIS Associate I, Restoration, Ghana 

Elias Omondi, GIS Associate I, Restoration, Kenya

Kevin Nfor, GIS Associate II, Restoration, Cameroon 

Reviewers  

Claire Shapiro, Product Specialist II, TerraMatch, USA

Gretta Ishyaka, Product Specialist, TerraMatch, Rwanda