Mexico leads Latin America in transparency of forest information

The Government of Mexico, through the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR), has made metadata, microdata and supplementary documents from its National Forest and Soil Inventory (INFyS) publicly accessible in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Microdata Catalog for Food and Agriculture (FAM). 

Information from the third sampling cycle of INFyS includes details on sample design, field data collection methodology, scope, geographic coverage, measured variables and forest indicators. Users can access information on sampling units, forest characteristics, land use classes, attributes of live and dead trees, and regeneration, among other variables of interest. In addition, the confidentiality standards of the country's information are guaranteed and maintained. 

Mexico's National Forest and Soil Inventory is an instrument of national forestry policy. It is recognized as information of national interest, contributing to informed decision-making for the design, implementation and evaluation of public policies and programmes aimed at promoting the sustainable management of the country's forest ecosystems. 

Mexico currently serves as chair of the Network of National Forest Inventories of Latin America and the Caribbean, a group of 24 Latin American countries that, through regular meetings, is working towards harmonizing their national forest inventories, exchanging knowledge and strengthening regional capacities. 

In an initial effort to promote forest data transparency, the network published the book "National Forest Inventories of Latin America and the Caribbean". This initiative is supported by the project "Building global capacity to increase transparency in the forest sector (CBIT-Forest)", which invited Mexico to participate in the panel discussion during the launch of its second phase on a global scale. 

At the event, the country reaffirmed its open data policy, emphasizing that transparent data systems empower public policymakers and are essential for formulating effective forest management and conservation strategies, thus contributing to climate change mitigation.

These actions demonstrate the Government of Mexico's continued commitment to improving the transparency of information on its forests and reinforcing its position as a regional leader in this area.

Please find the original source of this story at https://www.fao.org/mexico/noticias/detail-events/es/c/1708549/