Forest data without borders: Knowledge exchange on national forest inventories in the Asia-Pacific

This event, taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 25–27 March 2025, will bring together experts, government representatives, and organizations from across the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen knowledge exchange on national forest inventories (NFIs). Accurate and transparent forest data is essential for sustainable forest management and tracking progress toward global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this regional workshop will provide a platform for countries to share best practices, enhance technical knowledge, and explore opportunities for collaboration on forest monitoring. Discussions will focus on NFI design, implementation, and data analysis, as well as innovative tools such as remote sensing and digital reporting methods.

The event will also pave the way for building a regional network to foster long-term cooperation and harmonization of forest monitoring methodologies across the Asia-Pacific region.

 

KEY MESSAGES:

• High-quality, accessible and transparent forest data is crucial to sustainably manage forests and track progress towards international objectives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and nationally determined contributions (NDCs). National forest inventories (NFIs) play a vital role in collecting and analysing this data.
• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports countries with developing and implementing robust NFIs. While many countries in the Asia-Pacific are making strides to improve their national forest monitoring systems (NFMSs), knowledge exchanges and collaboration at the regional level remain limited. 
• Regional NFI networks offer a valuable platform to share insights, improve inventory practices and foster collaboration. By connecting countries, experts and organizations, these networks support capacity development, knowledge exchanges and the harmonization of NFI methodologies.
  

 

OBJECTIVES

• facilitate dialogue and exchange technical knowledge related to NFIs among Asia-Pacific countries;
• share best practices and lessons learned in NFI design, implementation and data analysis;
• explore opportunities for regional collaboration and the harmonization of NFI approaches;
• strengthen the capacity of countries to conduct high-quality and comparable NFIs; and
• identify potential areas for future regional cooperation on forest monitoring.

AGENDA

• Day 1 will focus on NFI knowledge exchanges, including an overview of the status and challenges in the region.
• Day 2 will delve into innovative tools, focusing on novel remote sensing techniques, data management and reporting.
• Day 3 will work towards building a regional network and exploring collaborative opportunities to share and harmonize data.

 

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