A critical challenge shared by countries working to improve forest monitoring is the need to harmonize methodologies and ensure interoperability across national forest monitoring systems (NFMSs). This was the focus of the inaugural “Connect & Reflect” virtual forum, hosted on 18 June 2025 by the Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI) Country-Led Planning (CLP) programme of support.

The dynamic forum brought together over 50 experts and government representatives from six countries across Latin America and the Pacific to discuss how to address this gap. More than a technical exchange, this forum was a milestone in collective learning and action, showcasing a global commitment to protecting forests through smarter, more connected data systems.

National insights and progress

In this open exchange, the participating countries revealed the rich diversity of their national approaches and the common barriers they face in building robust and reliable forest information systems:

• Belize committed to cross-sector collaboration and alignment with international frameworks, highlighting ongoing struggles with the lack of a formal interoperability structure, outdated databases, and a pressing need for long-term funding.
• Brazil presented its well-established and institutionalized system, supported by open-access platforms for land-use analysis and deforestation alerts. Persisting challenges include high computing demands, a shortage of skilled IT personnel, and the transition to semi-automated monitoring tools.
• Colombia emphasized the importance of interagency coordination and the use of algorithms to generate actionable, policy-relevant data. Challenges persist in sustaining interoperability and technical capacity.
• Fiji highlighted efforts to operationalize its NFMS, noting fragmentation and limited infrastructure as major constraints. It called for greater national ownership and sustainable financing mechanisms beyond 2025.
• Guatemala showcased practical progress in its digital forest fire reporting system, while underscoring the importance of standardized metadata, institutional agreements and political will to overcome structural issues like inconsistent data formats and overlapping responsibilities.
• Peru advocated for user-centred, multi-level approaches to interoperability that accommodate diverse needs, such as clearer technical guidance and more coordinated engagement with donors and partners.

Emerging themes for a shared path forward

Although still in early testing phases, countries widely recognized the significant long-term potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the sector. Participants highlighted its use in detecting land cover changes, identifying deforestation drivers and tracking restoration. There was consensus that AI tools must be trained using patterns identified through conventional methods, and that AI-generated results have high similarity with manual analyses.

The forum delivered a unifying message: institutional collaboration, political commitment and technical clarity are essential to building transparent, effective and impactful forest monitoring systems. International cooperation was also recognized as a critical enabler, assisting countries in bridging data gaps, financing infrastructure and strengthening long-term technical capacities.