Danish researcher Ida Theilade has been bestowed the University of Copenhagen’s Innovation Award 2018 for inventing a smartphone app that can prevent illegal logging and preserve forest resources in the Prey Lang forest.

A senior researcher at the university’s Section for Global Development, Theilade, initiated It’s Our Forest Too, which includes the Prey Lang App that makes it easy for forest patrols to geo-reference, document, and upload data about forest resources and illegal logging.

The project also includes a social media campaign that has led to broad media coverage of the situation in the forest.

“The Committee was impressed with the initiative, It’s Our Forest Too. It has a multidisciplinary approach and a large student involvement from a variety of countries."

“The project has demonstrated important social impact on a local level in Cambodia through an open and innovative use of the new technology and social media,” the Award Committee said.

Theilade will receive her award on November 16.

The Prey Lang Forest houses at least 27 endangered animal and 20 endangered plant species but suffers badly from illegal logging.