What is the IFN-LAC Network?
The National Forest Inventory Network of Latin America and the Caribbean (IFN-LAC Network) is a technical collaboration initiative that brings together those responsible, experts and collaborators of National Forest Inventories (NFIs) from countries across the region. The aim is to develop joint solutions to common technical and operational challenges in the production of transparent and comparable data on forest resources.
Participating Countries and Territories
Members:
Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, France (French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique), Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and the Dominican Republic.
Active but pending formal membership:
Bahamas, Ecuador, El Salvador, United States (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands), Suriname, Venezuela and Uruguay.
Harmonising Forest Data
To move towards greater transparency and comparability of forest information, the IFN-LAC Network works on harmonising the most important variables generated by national forest inventories, such as forest area, volume, biomass, and biodiversity indicators in forest ecosystems.
Why harmonise?
Harmonisation of forest-related data among countries is a key process to improve the transparency and comparability of what is being measured and reported on forest resources at national, regional and global levels. It enhances the understanding of similarities and differences in definitions, indicators and forest statistics between countries, contributing to improved comparability of NFI results and more informed decision-making in large-scale forest policy processes.
What has the harmonisation process involved?
- I Harmonisation Meeting: Launch of the harmonisation process for the National Forest Inventories of Latin America and the Caribbean.
- II Harmonisation Meeting: Follow-up on the harmonisation process for the National Forest Inventories of Latin America and the Caribbean.
- III Harmonisation Meeting: Discussion on criteria and thresholds for regional reference definitions: area, forest, volume, and aboveground biomass.
- IV Harmonisation Meeting: Harmonisation process: definition of forest.
- V Harmonisation Meeting: Harmonisation process: definition of volume.
- VI Harmonisation Meeting: Harmonisation process: volume indicator.
- VII Harmonisation Meeting: Presentation of preliminary results of the harmonisation tables for volume and biomass.
- VIII Harmonisation Meeting: Presentation of regional results on criteria and thresholds related to the definition of growing stock for the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA).
- IX Harmonisation Meeting: Presentation of preliminary results of the regional compilation of volume equations to complete the harmonisation analysis.
Steering Committee
Vice-Chair
Claudia Patricia Olarte Villanueva
Profesional Especializado
Líder Técnico del Inventario Forestal Nacional
Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales - IDEAM
Colombia
Representative for Mesoamerica and the Caribbean
Dulce Maria Mejia Solares
Delegada de Manejo de Bosques de Coniferas y Mixtos y Responsable del IFN
Guatemala
Representative for Amazon Countries
Ricardo De la Cruz
Especialista SIG III
Dirección de Inventario y Valoración
Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre (SERFOR)
Perú
Technical Advisory Group
Publications
National Forest Inventories of Latin America and the Caribbean. Towards the harmonization of forest information
This publication represents a milestone in the beginning of the harmonization process towards data transparency within the forestry sector in Latin America and the Caribbean and constitutes the first collaborative effort of a network of NFI experts and collaborators in the region.
Estimation and Interpretation of Forest Biodiversity Indicators Based on National Forest Inventory Data
This publication (only in spanish) is the result of a course delivered by the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology of the Spanish National Research Council (INIA-CSIC), with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), and the Forest Institute of Chile (INFOR).
News
- Forest Data Without Borders: Latin America and the Caribbean Strengthen Their Commitment to Forest Transparency
- Latin American and Caribbean countries prioritise South–South cooperation to enhance the quality, exchange and transparency of forest data
- The Latin American and Caribbean National Forest Inventory Network seeks to implement innovative techniques for community inclusion
Events
- IX Harmonisation Meeting: Analysis of regional equations for volume and biomass – 30 April 2025
- In-person workshop in Antigua Guatemala: 7–11 July 2025
- IFN-LAC General Assembly: 28 August 2025
Podcasts
- Adriana Aguilar, Coordinator of the National Forest Inventory of Costa Rica (On International Women’s Day, discover her work to promote the sustainability and resilience of forests in Latin America and the Caribbean) (in spanish)
- Betina Salgado, Coordinator of the National Forest Inventory of Honduras (Learn more about her efforts to support forest sustainability and resilience across Latin America and the Caribbean) (in spanish)