In a data-driven world, tools that enable accurate, collaborative, and efficient data collection can fundamentally change how decisions are made. Collect Earth Online (CEO) is one such tool: an open-source platform that combines satellite imagery with human interpretation to track changes in land use and land cover. CEO supports more credible forest monitoring and management decisions by helping users identify the drivers, timing, and outcomes of deforestation, degradation, and restoration. Beyond forestry, CEO is increasingly used in agriculture as a scalable alternative to ground-based data collection, supporting the development of reliable cropland maps and yield forecasts. These applications enable governments, communities, and businesses to anticipate food shortages, manage price volatility, and plan timely, climate and risk-informed responses.