National Forest Monitoring (NFM) is a systematic process involving the collection, analysis, and periodic reporting of forest-related data to track changes in forests over time. Historically, NFM initiatives focused on National Forest Inventories (NFIs), primarily measuring trees within forested areas, often lacking long-term sustainability planning. In contrast, modern NFM recognizes the necessity of ongoing support and the potential to serve multiple purposes while incorporating data from various sources. This approach integrates socio-economic data, land cover information, and data on trees outside forests (TOF) to offer a more comprehensive understanding of natural resource status and management.

The project “Technical Assistance on conducting the second cycle of the Bangladesh Forest Inventory (UTF /BGD/092/BGD)” supports the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for improved management of natural resources, especially trees and forests, to increase the country’s natural resource base and sustain development gains. It entails conducting the second cycle of the Bangladesh Forest Inventory (BFI), involving biophysical and socio-economic data collection, field team training, quality assurance, and updating the Bangladesh Forest Information System (BFIS). The project builds on lessons learned from the first cycle, emphasizes extensive fieldwork, and aims to provide valuable new data for assessing changes in forest resources, enriching the national understanding of forest dynamics in support to national planning/investments and international reporting including the SDGs, UNFCCC, UNCCD, etc.