Technology can scale solutions, but the impact on the ground happens through human action. Drawing on HOT’s experiences from around the world, this talk shows how FOSS tools when paired with collaboration and local engagement empower communities to become local changemakers.

The M4S Project leverages a low-barrier FOSS stack to map seagrass in Metinaro, Timor-Leste. By integrating participatory drone imagery and mobile data collection into a community-led workflow, we transition from manual methods to digital baseline mapping, empowering community stewardship to protect marine biodiversity and sustain local livelihoods.