©FAO / Santiago Billy
Guatemala City – Guatemala continues to advance the institutionalization of its national forest monitoring system (NFMS) through the Country Led Planning (CLP) process supported by the Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI). Institutional uptake of the NFMS roadmap is growing and priority entry points have been identified to strengthen sustainability, governance and interinstitutional coordination.
In 2024, Guatemala adopted the GFOI’s CLP approach as a strategic framework to solidify coordination among the national institutions responsible for various forest monitoring and reporting processes: the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN); the National Forest Institute (INAB); the National Council for Protected Areas (CONAP); and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA).
Rather than creating new structures, the CLP process supports convergence across existing mandates, helping institutions align forest monitoring priorities with national planning and budgeting cycles. The added value of CLP in Guatemala lies in its role as an enabling mechanism: fostering sustained interinstitutional dialogue; supporting nationally led decision making; and preserving continuity across leadership changes and evolving institutional priorities.
Guatemala demonstrates strong technical capacity in forest monitoring, including national forest cover and dynamics mapping, fire monitoring systems and permanent forest plots under incentive programmes. Notably, the Forest Fire Monitoring System jointly implemented by INAB, CONAP and the National Coordination for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), now formally adopted and regulated at the national level, has been highlighted as a successful example of institutionalization driven by operational demand and clear governance arrangements.
Institutional ownership and data governance are critical bottlenecks to institutionalizing the NFMS. Formal coordination mechanisms are necessary to ensure continuity, clarify roles and mitigate institutional risk. It is also crucial to consider the sustainability of the NFMS by reducing reliance on externally funded technical staff and addressing IT infrastructure constraints affecting national forest information systems.
A key outcome of the CLP process has been the progressive integration of NFMS priorities into formal institutional instruments. At MARN, the NFMS roadmap is informing the update of the Internal Organic Regulation (ROI) and has been prioritized within the 2026 Annual Operational Plan (POA) with dedicated budget allocations. The upcoming Institutional Strategic Plan (PEI 2028–2032) was identified as a critical opportunity to further anchor the NFMS actions within the Ministry’s medium term planning framework.
At CONAP, discussions have focused on strengthening forest monitoring from the central level to regional offices, building on the experience of the Center for Monitoring and Evaluation (CEMEC). The ongoing update of the ROI and the formulation of the 2027 POA, 2027–2031 Multiannual Operational Plan (POM) and revised Institutional Strategic Plan were identified as concrete entry points to consolidate subnational forest monitoring within protected areas.
The national institutions involved with the process have identified a set of priorities to guide support in 2026:
The Guatemala CLP process demonstrates how nationally led planning can support the gradual institutionalization of complex forest monitoring systems. By embedding NFMS priorities within existing planning, regulatory and operational frameworks, and by sustaining interinstitutional dialogue, Guatemala is laying the foundations for a more integrated, functional and sustainable NFMS aligned with national development priorities and international commitments.
