diff --git a/gitCms/GitCmsConstants.ts b/gitCms/GitCmsConstants.ts
index ddf3f2dbc5..14ed06d7a7 100644
--- a/gitCms/GitCmsConstants.ts
+++ b/gitCms/GitCmsConstants.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 import * as path from "path"
 import * as fs from "node:fs"
 
+// TODO!!!: use this line before merging and put the env in staging servers owid-grapher/.env
+// export const GIT_CMS_DEFAULT_BRANCH =
+//     process.env.GIT_CMS_DEFAULT_BRANCH ?? "master"
 export const GIT_CMS_DEFAULT_BRANCH =
-    process.env.GIT_CMS_DEFAULT_BRANCH ?? "master"
+    process.env.GIT_CMS_DEFAULT_BRANCH ?? "explorers-staging"
 export const GIT_CMS_READ_ROUTE = "/git-cms-read"
 export const GIT_CMS_WRITE_ROUTE = "/git-cms-write"
 export const GIT_CMS_DELETE_ROUTE = "/git-cms-delete"