GainForest is a Zurich-based non-profit organization that rethinks how conservation is funded and verified. Instead of relying on opaque carbon credits or donations, GainForest pays local communities for ecological data. Community members in the Global South use drones, acoustic monitors, and mobile tools to collect information about their forests — from canopy health to species diversity. AI algorithms analyze this data to track deforestation, monitor biodiversity, and validate conservation impact. Blockchain technology makes the entire process transparent: payments go directly to data collectors, and every contribution is traceable. The result is a system where protecting forests becomes a dependable source of income, and where conservation decisions are informed by the people who know these ecosystems best.