Open Foris is an innovative, open-source software that helps countries measure, monitor and report on forests and land use, paving the way for improved climate change mitigation plans and more informed land-use policies. Accurate information is crucial for the sustainable management of natural resources. In collaboration with many countries and partners, FAO, with support from UN-REDD, NICFI, BMU-IKI, Finland and other donors, developed Open Foris to meet the urgent need for systems that enable accurate, yet cost-effective monitoring, reporting and verification of forest and other land cover. Open Foris tools are helping more than 30,000 people across 180 countries collect, analyse...

A key pillar of the Paris Agreement is the Enhanced Transparency Framework which aims to raise ambitions for climate action through transparent country reporting. For forests, open and transparent data has enabled forest and climate action under REDD+ through the development of National Forest Monitoring Systems (NFMS). In light of the climate emergency, it is time to scale up efforts toward accurate, open and transparent forest data, to catalyse higher ambitions under REDD+ and the Paris Agreement. A multi-purpose NFMS can provide transparent, reliable, relevant, accessible and sustainable forest data as articulated in FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines for National Forest Monitoring. The...

  Date: Wednesday 23 September 2020 Time: 14:30 - 15:30 CEST Registration here Languages: French and English French version of the announcement: bit.ly/CBIT_DRC_fr    In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as in many other African countries, the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation is a major national strategic priority. Previously, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has had limited technical capacity to produce and utilize data necessary for monitoring forest cover and changes. Since then, the country has established a national forest monitoring system (NFMS) to promote sustainable forest management practices and to take informed policy decisions on reducing forest loss. The FAO elearning Academy webinar...

The Board of the Green Climate Fund today approved several new projects, including one for Côte d'Ivoire that marks the first time the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has helped an African country obtain a grant from the international entity. Along with the $11.8 million approval for Côte d'Ivoire, other two FAO-led projects in Armenia and Colombia, for a total amount of $58.5 million, including $10.5 million in cofinancing, received approval from the Green Climate Fund, a unique global platform mandated to invest in low-emission and climate-resilient development. "These approvals show that FAO is a strong partner for Members looking...

Today the Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved US $ 28 million to support Colombia in its efforts to fight deforestation in 10 districts of the Amazon biome. The project will be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. By utilising funds received through the results based payments scheme, the project will help boost Colombia's Comprehensive Strategy to Control Deforestation and Forest Management (ENREDD +), foster green economic growth and enhance the sustainable and inclusive governance of natural resources. "This approval is a recognition of Colombia's effort in...