Advancing forest monitoring for climate action: Webinar highlights FAO's new assessment tools
An FAO hybrid webinar Enhancing national forest monitoring systems for climate action: Tools, plans and approaches, supported by the Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI), was conducted as part of the South-South knowledge exchange on enhancing forest monitoring in collaboration with the Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Forests (AIM4Forests) programme. The webinar brought together more than 140 national experts from 18 countries who discussed the application of the self-assessment tools and the approaches used to identify needs, gaps, and weaknesses in the design and implementation of National Forest Monitoring Systems (NFMS), as well as the measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) technical requirements of forest carbon accounting standards.
NFMS are dynamic systems that evolve continuously in response to improved data collection strategies, changing data and information needs, and new forest-related policies. A key step in this process is conducting a gap assessment to identify needs, gaps, and areas for improvement in MRV and institutional arrangements. The Forest Monitoring and Data Platforms team within FAO’s Forestry Division has developed two self-assessment tools to support these efforts:
The NFMS assessment tool: available in six languages, provides a structured framework for analyzing gaps across institutional arrangements, and MRV components.
The Jurisdictional REDD+ Carbon Standards assessment tool: This newly introduced tool enables stakeholders to assess whether a potential emission reduction program meets the technical MRV requirements of leading carbon standards in the voluntary carbon market. The current version addresses the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART), the REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard (TREES), and Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (VCS JNR).
During the webinar, participants discussed the application of the self-assessment tools and engaged in technical discussions on best practices for planning processes to enhance national forest monitoring capacities and promote knowledge-sharing among countries. In addition, participants explored broader challenges in operationalizing NFMS, such as fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, standardizing methodologies across institutions, and integrating monitoring data into policymaking. These reflections highlighted how the tools introduced during the webinar could be useful to countries, providing a structured approach to identifying major gaps and preparing work plans to address them effectively.
In his opening remarks, Julian Fox, FAO’s Forest Monitoring and Data Platforms Team Leader, emphasized the inclusive and country-driven nature of the tools, highlighting their alignment with FAO's priority of ensuring that capacity development initiatives leave no one behind and the FAO Forestry Roadmap launched this year. "This marks another step in efforts toward inclusive capacity development.” Fox explained. “These self-assessment tools empower countries to explore their own capacities, identify gaps, and take ownership of their national forest monitoring systems. It's about ensuring that knowledge is accessible to all and no one is left behind."
Field application of the self-assessment tools: The experience of Kenya and Brazil
The webinar included presentations by representatives from Kenya and Brazil, offering real-world insights into the application of these tools. Professor Mwangi Kinyanjui from Kenya’s Karatina University detailed the country’s journey in using the NFMS self-assessment tool to identify and address gaps in their monitoring capabilities. He underscored the challenge of institutionalizing the NFMS in a way that integrates diverse stakeholders and aligns with evolving national priorities. The tool has helped Kenya map areas for immediate intervention, such as refining forest definitions and addressing inconsistencies in carbon trading methodologies.
Alessandre Avelino from the Brazilian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change shared how the gap analysis conducted using these tools has informed the country’s strategy for strengthening REDD+ governance. Brazil’s experience highlights the dual need to align national forest monitoring efforts with jurisdictional and international requirements while addressing challenges posed by diverse forest types and decentralized governance structures. Avelino stressed the importance of harmonizing data collection and reporting to ensure credibility and transparency in emissions reductions claims.
From a donor perspective, Svenja Bunte of the UK Government’s International Forest Unit, expressed satisfaction with AIM4Forests programme’s role in advancing countries' technical and institutional capacities. She emphasized that these tools not only help countries identify and address gaps but also guide donors in targeting their support effectively, ensuring national systems remain robust and self-sustaining.
As the webinar concluded, Anatoli Poultouchidou, FAO’s Forest MRV Specialist, reiterated FAO’s commitment to supporting countries through tools, training, and technical exchanges. “The self-assessment tools are now available on FAO’s Forest Monitoring website, offering a useful resource for countries aiming to enhance their forest monitoring systems and strengthen their contributions to global climate goals”, she concluded.
By equipping countries with the means to independently assess and improve their systems, FAO and its partners are paving the way for more transparent, participatory, and effective forest monitoring.
This webinar was part of a weeklong series of workshops held at FAO headquarters in Rome from 25 to 28 November 2024, under the Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Forests (AIM4Forests) programme.