Beyond REDD+: New applications of developed NFMS and Remote Sensing tools
Through many years of experience and country examples, we have learned that data on forest ecosystems is crucial for forest-related decision-making at the local and national level. National Forest Monitoring Systems (NFMS) are important for countries to be able to monitor and report on national goals and international targets, such as carbon and biomass in forests.
These systems are increasingly used to collect data to identify and address national priorities, including migration and the use of natural resources surrounding the camps of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). One of the recent examples of NFMS’ multipurpose character is the contribution to the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy (SAFE) initiative, which is supporting a dozen of countries in making and monitoring policies to better address energy needs and build resilience during emergencies.
This shows how data on forest and biomass can have a wide range of direct applications beyond forestry in the strict sense of the word, and how widely-used NFM systems can be. In the case of SAFE applications, the use of the NFM tools and remote sensing (RS) is highly relevant and often of direct impact for a wide range of people in terms of both their personal security and food security, since the data generated is used as input for policy and decision makers in emergency situations.
Forest resources key to supporting refugees
Globally, nearly three billion people rely on traditional biomass, such as fuelwood, charcoal or animal waste, as sources of fuel for cooking and heating. Oftentimes, these are vulnerable populations – including refugees, IDPs, and the communities hosting them. They live in overflowing camps with increasingly scarce natural resources and often struggle to meet their basic needs. About 80 per cent of the displaced rely on traditional biomass fuels such as fuelwood and charcoal for cooking and heating.
In order to address people’s energy needs during emergencies and prolonged crises, and to build resilient livelihoods, the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy (SAFE) initiative is promoting the combination of energy-efficient technologies and practices and alternative energy sources.
Continue reading at: http://www.un-redd.org/single-post/2018/11/28/Beyond-REDD-New-applications-of-developed-NFMS-and-Remote-Sensing-tools