LeafLink

Inspiration

We were inspired to create this project after seeing the rapid deforestation happening around us. We wanted to find a way to help our community address this issue an protect our environment. Our goal was to raise awareness and make it easy for people to get involved in reforestation.

What It Does

Our platform empowers individuals to take part in reforestation efforts by providing them with the tools and information they need. Users can see areas affected by deforestation near them, connect with local organizations to get tree seedlings, and track their tree planting activities on a leaderboard. This not only helps restore forests but also builds a strong sense of community and shared responsibility for the environment.

How We Built LeafLink

We began by identifying essential features and researching the needs of users and local reforestation efforts. The website was developed using React and Next.js, with styling provided by Tailwind CSS and Shadcn. We utilized the Google Maps Cloud React API to create interactive maps that display deforestation areas and connected with local organizations through an API. During development, we addressed challenges such as ensuring data accuracy and integrating various components effectively.

Challenges We Ran Into

We encountered several challenges during the development of our project. One significant issue was our attempt to integrate a chatbot, which ultimately did not work as planned. Additionally, the Global Forest Watch API did not provide deforestation information specific to Ontario, which hindered our ability to obtain accurate local data. These obstacles required us to find alternative solutions to ensure our project could still effectively address local deforestation.

Accomplishments That We're Proud Of

As newcomers to hackathons, we are proud that we successfully got our project up and running. Despite the challenges we faced, we managed to develop a functional platform that addresses local deforestation and empowers community involvement. This experience has been incredibly rewarding and has boosted our confidence in tackling future projects.

What We Learned

We gained valuable skills in React and Node.js throughout the project. The workshops were extremely beneficial, particularly the Intro to React Workshop, which provided essential guidance and insights that helped us navigate the development process.

What's next for LeafLink

For the future of LeafLink, we plan to add a chatbot to help users with their questions, set up a leaderboard to track and recognize tree planting efforts, and create a rewards page to motivate participation. We will also be implementing user login and sign-up features to manage accounts and tailor the user experience.