Latin American and Caribbean countries prioritize South-South cooperation to improve forest data quality, sharing and transparency

South-South cooperation plays a crucial role in improving forest data transparency, enhancing national forest inventories (NFI) and forest monitoring efforts across regions like Latin America and the Caribbean. By sharing resources, knowledge and technical expertise, countries can collaboratively address challenges such as deforestation and forest degradation, while harmonizing data collection methods, developing capacity and improving the accuracy of forest information.

In the forestry sector, Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries are taking great strides in jointly addressing environmental challenges, particularly in forest management. Through close collaboration facilitated by the National Forest Inventory (NFI) Network for Latin America and the Caribbean and with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), these countries have made significant progress in improving forest data quality, sharing best practices and increasing transparency. The goal is to better manage forest resources in a region that is home to some of the world’s most biodiverse and expansive forests, all while responding to global commitments under various conventions such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

A collaborative approach to forest monitoring

The NFI LAC network was established as a platform for 22 countries and 5 territories to collaborate on harmonizing forest monitoring methodologies. These countries face common challenges related to deforestation, forest degradation, and the need for sustainable management practices. To tackle these issues, they have harmonized their efforts to collect, analyze, and share data on forest resources, creating a regional framework that enhances decision-making processes.

Harmonization of forest definitions has been one of the network’s key achievements. By adopting common metrics for essential indicators like forest area, biomass, and biodiversity, member countries can now produce more accurate and comparable data. This unified approach improves the ability to track changes in forests over time and supports better decision-making on forest management and conservation efforts. Additionally, harmonized definitions facilitate greater transparency and trust in the data, promoting collaboration and enabling more effective forest monitoring at both national and regional levels.

FAO has played a pivotal role in supporting the NFI LAC network, offering technical assistance, promoting knowledge sharing, and fostering South-South cooperation. Through FAO's guidance, the network has grown into a regional leader in forest data transparency.

In 2021, FAO supported the launch the National Forest Inventories of Latin America and the Caribbean: Towards the harmonization of forest information, a flagship publication that consolidates the experiences of member countries in implementing National Forest Inventories. The book outlines the methodologies used for forest data collection, highlights best practices, and details how countries can harmonize their approaches. This publication has been crucial in driving the region’s progress toward more transparent, comparable forest data​.

The launch of the book was celebrated at a virtual event attended by high-level forestry officials from countries like Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, and Mexico. The publication is currently available in both English and Spanish, making it accessible to a wide audience​ of forestry professionals worldwide.

General Assembly of the NFI LAC Network

In July 2024, the NFI LAC network convened its latest General Assembly, where member countries reviewed progress, discussed future goals lead by Mexico who holds the presidency of the Network. This assembly was an important opportunity to reflect on the network’s successes, as well as to plan for upcoming challenges. A key topic of discussion was the ongoing harmonization of forest volume and biomass definitions, which are critical for creating consistent data sets across the region​ (more info).

Exploring new approaches

A major highlight of the network’s recent activities was the webinar held on August 28, 2024, titled "New Approaches to Data Collection for Forest Inventories in Latin America and the Caribbean." The event brought together forestry experts from across the region, including representatives from Mexico, Panama and Guatemala to share their experiences in implementing innovative data collection methods.

The webinar showcased how local communities and indigenous groups are becoming integral to forest monitoring efforts. In Mexico, for instance, indigenous communities have been trained to participate in National Forest and Soils Inventory, drawing on their deep knowledge of forest ecosystems to contribute valuable insights. This participatory approach has been embraced by other countries like Panama, where indigenous youth have been trained to conduct field surveys, ensuring that forest monitoring reflects the needs and realities of local populations​ (more info).

During the webinar, Carla Ramírez Zea, FAO’s Regional Advisor for forest monitoring, emphasized the importance of community engagement in improving the quality of forest data. She also highlighted the communities’ role in overcoming the challenges of territorial accessibility and social disputes, which have historically hindered data collection in certain areas. By involving local actors, these obstacles can be addressed more effectively, ensuring that forest data is both reliable and representative of the region’s diverse landscapes​.

Capacity development and knowledge sharing

The NFI LAC network has made significant investments in capacity building, hosting numerous international training sessions on topics like biodiversity indicators and biomass estimation with the support of partners as the Forest Science Institute (CSIC-Spain), Federal University of Amazonas, Brazil, the National Forest Institute of Chile and FAO. These training sessions have strengthened the skills of national forest monitoring teams across the region. The shared knowledge and expertise have enabled countries to produce more sophisticated forest inventories that align with international standards ​(more info).

In addition to formal training, the network has organized a series of expert meetings, where representatives from member countries had a space to come together to discuss challenges, share solutions and align their methodologies. These meetings have been essential in advancing the harmonization of forest data, ensuring that all countries are working toward common goals​.

A commitment to the future

As the NFI LAC network continues to evolve, its members remain committed to enhancing forest data transparency and fostering collaboration. The network’s achievements thus far demonstrate the power of regional cooperation in addressing global challenges like deforestation and climate change. With the continued support of FAO, as technical secretariat, the network is set to build on its successes, improving forest monitoring and ensuring that the region’s forests are managed sustainably for generations to come.