Introduction
Conveying the scale, emotion, and complexity of a forest landscape is no easy task — especially to funders, partners, and supporters who may never step foot on site.
At OpenForests, we’ve spent over a decade helping forest and landscape projects bring transparency, structure, and visibility to their work. But sometimes, a static map or satellite layer isn’t enough. Sometimes, people need to feel what the landscape feels like.
That’s where 360° drone panoramas come in — immersive, high-resolution visuals captured from the sky and directly embedded into the explorer.land platform.
These panoramas are changing the way projects tell their story, helping stakeholders around the world explore remote landscapes as if they were standing in the middle of them.
Why 360° Drone Panoramas?
Maps show where. Photos show what. But immersive panoramas show how it feels.
Our 360° drone panoramas allow viewers to rotate the view, zoom in and out, and explore forest canopies, restoration plots, wetlands, and agroforestry mosaics — all from the air. It’s a visual language that transcends data and creates emotional resonance.
For forest project developers, this means:
- Showing before and after changes with context
- Giving funders a real-world perspective on impact
- Helping partners visualize scale and complexity
- Providing communities with a shared and accessible view of their landscapes
Embedded into explorer.land
What makes these panoramas truly powerful is their seamless integration into explorer.land, our storytelling and transparency platform for forest and nature-based projects.
By placing 360° panoramas as geotagged points on project maps, users can:
- Click and launch immersive views from specific restoration or conservation sites
- Embed those views into presentations, reports, or websites
- Combine them with geospatial data layers for added context
- Add metadata, field notes, and photo updates from the same location
Whether your project spans 10 hectares or 100,000, this technology helps bring it to life.
How it works
We support project teams in capturing and integrating panoramas into their explorer.land maps. Here’s what the process typically looks like:
- Capture
Using a specialized drone with 360° photo capability, we fly over key project areas to take high-resolution, immersive shots. - Process
The panoramas are stitched and edited for clarity, orientation, and visual appeal. - Geotag & Upload
Each panorama is geotagged and uploaded to explorer.land as an interactive pin. - Publish & Share
Stakeholders can now explore the site virtually — from anywhere in the world.
Our team also provides full technical support to ensure a smooth and lightweight experience, even in remote regions with limited bandwidth.
Real-world applications
We’ve worked with partners around the globe to implement 360° drone panoramas for:
- Forest Restoration Projects
Showcase planting zones, landscape topography, and ecological features with unmatched clarity. - Community Mapping
Empower local communities to identify key landmarks and track changes in their territory. - Protected Area Monitoring
Give donors and sponsors a direct visual connection to otherwise inaccessible reserves and forest corridors. - Education and Outreach
Use immersive visuals in workshops, webinars, and virtual field visits to boost engagement and understanding.
Results: engagement meets transparency
Projects using 360° panoramas on explorer.land report:
✅ More compelling presentations to funders
✅ Greater stakeholder engagement in digital platforms
✅ Enhanced communication of complex restoration strategies
✅ Stronger visibility on social media and websites
It’s not just about showcasing beauty — it’s about deepening trust and understanding.
Final thoughts
In the age of digital storytelling, immersive visuals are more than just a luxury — they’re a bridge between science and emotion, data and experience.
By integrating 360° drone panoramas into explorer.land, forest and landscape projects gain a powerful tool to share their work in a way that’s transparent, engaging, and unforgettable.
At OpenForests, we believe that when people can see the forest from every angle — literally — they’re more likely to support its protection and restoration.
Interested in our work? Check out other case studies or get in touch!
