Forest Watcher

Monitor forests anywhere.

Global Forest Watch · com.forestwatcher

Not rated yet 50K+ downloads v3.3.1 122.7 MB Android 7.0+ PEGI 3 · Everyone

Download APK 122.7 MB All versions

Signature matches the Google Play version Details

Watch the Forest Watcher trailer on YouTube

At a glance

Latest version: v3.3.1 (810)
Updated: Sep 3, 2025 (1 year ago)
APK size: 122.7 MB
Requires: Android 7.0+ (API 24)
CPU support: x86 32-bit, x86 64-bit, ARM 32-bit, ARM 64-bit
Graphics: OpenGL ES 2.0+
Category: Maps & Navigation (app)
Listed since: May 5, 2021 (at least)
Permissions: 28 (6 sensitive)
Website: globalforestwatch.org
Developer contact: [email protected]
Privacy: Developer's privacy policy

About this APK

Forest Watcher is an app by Global Forest Watch in the Maps & Navigation category, listed since at least May 2021. It includes native code for x86 32-bit, x86 64-bit, ARM 32-bit and ARM 64-bit, so it runs on practically every phone.

Since version 3.3.0, the APK grew from 52.1 MB to 122.7 MB and the minimum Android version rose from 5.0 to 7.0. It asks for 28 permissions, 6 of them sensitive, including precise location, location in the background and record audio. Compared with version 3.3.0, it adds 2 new permissions: “Access adservices ad id” and “Access adservices attribution”. The app can read the advertising ID that ad and analytics services use.

What's new in v3.3.1

We’re always making changes and improvements to the Forest Watcher app. In this release, we have done some general maintenance and bug fixes

Description

From the listing uploaded by “appupdater”.

Forest Watcher is a mobile application designed to bring the dynamic online forest monitoring and alert systems of Global Forest Watch (GFW) offline and into the field. Forest Watcher allows users to easily access GFW’s forest change data on any mobile device, navigate to areas of detected change, and collect information about what they find, regardless of connectivity. This app provides an affordable and easy-to-use solution to quickly identify areas for patrols or field investigations, collect evidence about forest changes from the field, use the data that’s collected to make evidence-based management and conservation decisions, and investigate remote sensing products in the field. Features: * Designate areas of interest to monitor, up to 20,000 sq km * Store various satellite-based forest change data, such as near-real-time deforestation alerts on your mobile device * Overlay contextual layers, such as Protected Areas and Timber Concessions, or upload other custom datasets * Investigate alerts in the field and collect information (including GPS points and photos) through built-in and customizable forms * Review, analyze, and download data collected with the app * Route tracking to investigate a deforestation alert * Share alerts, areas, routes, reports, contextual layers and basemap tiles or all app content at once. * Manage a team and more through the supplementary desktop application at forestwatcher.globalforestwatch.org If you have any issues downloading or using the app, please reference our “how-to” materials. If the issues persist, please contact us at [email protected]. Any other questions or feedback, please contact us at [email protected]. Full terms and conditions can be found at http://www.globalforestwatch.org/terms.

Version history

2 versions are listed, going back to v3.3.0. Since v3.3.1 it requires Android 7.0+.

v3.3.1 LATEST Sep 3, 2025 122.7 MB TRUSTED v3.3.0 Jul 9, 2024 52.1 MB TRUSTED

All 2 versions

Security & authenticity

Security rating: Trusted

Signing certificate

Signature matches the Google Play version Checked by the source store on Sep 3, 2025.
Certificate from Google Play App Signing Google keeps the signing key for the developer, so the certificate carries Google's name.
Same certificate as the other version checked

Store checks and file details

Developer signature under review Sep 11, 2026
Validated against Google Play Sep 3, 2025
Signed byCN=Android, OU=Android, O=Google Inc., L=Mountain View, ST=California, C=US
Signing certificate (SHA-1)63:10:E9:43:6C:89:BA:0F:D3:6B:30:BF:79:19:22:4C:6D:9F:63:3C
File MD55a04cfc00ad3a6f980557d9d077afb36
Uploaded by “appupdater” Gold tier · 117,810 followers · uploading since 2020

Scans and ratings come from the source store; the certificate comparisons are AAPKs's own, made from the files' published signatures (1 other version compared). AAPKs doesn't scan files itself — compare the MD5 and signer after downloading.

Permissions (28)

Forest Watcher requests 28 permissions, 6 of them sensitive.

Approximate location Sensitive android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
Location in the background Sensitive android.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION
Modify shared storage Sensitive android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
Precise location Sensitive android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
Read shared storage Sensitive android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
Record audio (microphone) Sensitive android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO
Access adservices ad id android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID
Access adservices attribution android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION
Access location extra commands android.permission.ACCESS_LOCATION_EXTRA_COMMANDS
Advertising ID com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID
Authenticate accounts android.permission.AUTHENTICATE_ACCOUNTS
Download without notification android.permission.DOWNLOAD_WITHOUT_NOTIFICATION
Foreground service location android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_LOCATION
Full network access android.permission.INTERNET
Google Play install referrer com.google.android.finsky.permission.BIND_GET_INSTALL_REFERRER_SERVICE
Google Play license check com.android.vending.CHECK_LICENSE
Internal broadcast protection (app-defined) com.forestwatcher.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
Location (custom) android.hardware.location
Physical activity recognition com.google.android.gms.permission.ACTIVITY_RECOGNITION
Prevent the device from sleeping android.permission.WAKE_LOCK
Read sync settings android.permission.READ_SYNC_SETTINGS
Receive push notifications com.google.android.c2dm.permission.RECEIVE
Run at startup android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED
Run foreground services android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE
Show notifications android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS
View Wi-Fi connections android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE
View network connections android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
Write sync settings android.permission.WRITE_SYNC_SETTINGS

Required hardware & features

Basic touch input android.hardware.faketouch
Location android.hardware.location
Microphone android.hardware.microphone
Portrait screen android.hardware.screen.portrait

Forest Watcher APK: questions and answers

Is there a version of Forest Watcher for older Android phones?

The current version needs Android 7.0 or later. Version 3.3.0 is the newest listed build that installs on Android 5.0 and later. It is an old build: apps that rely on online services may no longer connect when they are this old. Get version 3.3.0 · All versions

Can I install this APK over the version I already have?

Yes, if your installed copy is older. It is signed like the Google Play version, so Android installs it as an update and keeps your data.

Is the Forest Watcher APK safe?

No one can promise that a file is safe, but some things can be checked. The source store rates this file Trusted. Its signature matches the Google Play version. It is signed with the same certificate as the other version checked. After downloading, check that the file's MD5 is 5a04cfc00ad3a6f980557d9d077afb36.