The changelog below will highlight what has changed between this new version and the previous version.
Release notes summary
With this release, we are for the first time providing an annual update to the deforestation maps for eleven countries (see list in Table below). For these updates, not only have the base forest maps of 2020 been improved, but also any deforestation occurring until mid-2025 is included. Precise cutoff dates of the maps differ per country and are available on request. Additionally, three countries are receiving improved maps (not an annual update).
Meridia is continuing to add more country support for protected areas sourcing the reference data from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Protected Area and Key Biodiversity Area data downloaded from the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) (https://www.ibat-alliance.org). This impacts the scoring, as the risk outcome is no longer solely dependent on the overlap but also on the specific protected area and its legal context. For this release, eight countries were added, all of which were already supported using different sources.
Finally, two tests (ATC03 & GEC09) received minor changes, where some NA cases are turned into low risk cases (see details below). This allows users to more easily spot issues that are due to missing data, rather than valid inputs.
Change log
Test | Test- Version | Changes | Background |
DEF04 | v1.00 | For 13 countries, updated reference data is available:
For the following countries, updated maps for the previous year are available:
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LGL01 | v2.00 | Eight additional countries are now using reference data about protected areas from IBAT:
| Verify is moving towards one central trusted source for the latest information about protected areas: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Protected Area and Key Biodiversity Area data downloaded from the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) (https://www.ibat-alliance.org). All countries will be supported by this source in the future. For an overview, which countries are already using reference data from IBAT, consult Supported Countries & LGL01 - Protected Areas. |
GEC09 | v1.03 | Farm plots whose farmer is only associated with one plot now receive “low risk” instead of NA. | This test checks the locational consistency between multiple farms of the same farmer. If a farmer only has one farm, there are no multiple locations to check. Previously, these farms received an NA. With this release, these farms will score “low risk”, as there is no risk detected. This will make it easier to spot true risks, and issues where a lack of data might be an issue. |
ATC03 | v1.01 | Farm plots whose farmer is only associated with one plot now receive “low risk” instead of NA. | This test checks the consistency of attributes between multiple farms of the same farmer. If a farmer only has one farm, there are no multiple farmer names to check. Previously, these farms received an NA. With this release, these farms will score “low risk”, as there is no risk detected. This will make it easier to spot true risks, and issues where a lack of data might be an issue. |