Maricarmen Ruiz

Forest monitoring

• For the United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN-REDD) in LAC, FAO supported Ecuador and Peru in developing Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) The REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard (TREES) to contribute to strengthening monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) activities through the System for Earth Observation Data Access, Processing and Analysis for Land Monitoring (SEPAL) platform.
• Through UN-REDD, FAO assisted Mexico, Ecuador, Peru and Chile with quantifying deforestation and forest degradation uncertainties, improving emissions estimates through documentation and tools like SEPAL, building capacities and supporting projects like ART.
• FAO's team built the capacity in Ecuador and Mexico to generate improved activity data using SEPAL through training on mosaics, indices, decision-making and quality assurance and control procedures.
• For UN-REDD, FAO supported Colombia in monitoring forest restoration programmes and continues to refine the methodologies for accurate assessments.
• FAO has been collaborating with Colombia under UN-REDD to develop their forest reference emission level, bolstering the country's capabilities in MRV.
• Under the Paris Agreement, FAO helped Panama, Cuba and Nicaragua establish institutional frameworks and online platforms for transparent MRV of emissions from their agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sector, with the Green Climate Fund for Panama and “Building global capacity to increase transparency in the forest sector” (CBIT-Forest) for Cuba and Nicaragua.

South-South exchange: Forest degradation monitoring

• A workshop was held in Colombia which focused on forest degradation monitoring, which involved 23 forest monitoring specialists from seven Latin American countries and multilateral organizations. 
• Key takeaways included the importance of defining forest degradation clearly for reliable estimates, the necessity of integrating quality field data for efficient monitoring, and that free access to satellite images ensures continuous monitoring of forest degradation.
• It was sponsored by UN-REDD, with technical support from FAO and SilvaCarbon, and hosted by Colombia's Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM).

Network of national forest inventories (NFIs)

• A network of NFIs has been established in Latin America, with 17 countries to harmonize definitions and discussions on volume and biomass definitions. The first General Assembly was 17 Augusts 2023.
• There was a side event during the Latin American and Caribbean Forestry Commission 28 June 2023 and will be an upcoming work session for the next International Union of Forest Research Organizations conference (2024) in collaboration with the North American Forest Commission and European National Forest Inventory Network (contact [email protected]).

Aim4Forests (2023–2028)

• FAO initiated the Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Forests (Aim4Forests) project to support 20 countries with institutionalized national forest monitoring systems (NFMS). In Latin America, countries like Brazil have already started receiving support for better estimation. 
• It supports countries with institutionalized NFMS to inform domestic policy and decisions and to provide high-integrity MRV through modern monitoring technologies and novel learning approaches.
• It enables participation in emerging accounting standards and driving down global emissions from the forest sector and beyond, while strengthening AFOLU contribution in nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

CBIT-Forest phase 2 (2024–2026)

• This phase aims to enhance capacity, knowledge and awareness on forest-related data collection, analysis and dissemination for transparency requirements under the Paris Agreement. 
• Countries like Guatemala and Peru will be supported with data dissemination, regions will be supported with NFI networks and globally NFI online courses and knowledge products are offered with open access.
• See the press release, flyer, newsletter and phase 1 publication.
• It is implemented by national forest monitoring and Global Forest Resources Assessment teams (contact [email protected]) in close collaboration with partners (e.g. GFOI and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

Craig Wayson and Sylvia Wilson

Priority topics

• Assistance is provided to countries in selecting suitable reporting standards for carbon emissions and mitigation efforts, considering factors like accuracy and compatibility.
• Partner collaboration (SilvaCarbon, World Resources Institute, FAO and Wageningen University) can optimize warning systems and provide timely alerts to countries facing deforestation.
• Integration of remote sensing data supports the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites Global Stocktake Initiative, ensuring consistent monitoring of carbon emissions.
• Mangroves' dual role as forests and wetlands underscores the importance of their inclusion in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+) initiatives for effective blue carbon monitoring, reporting and mitigation.

Mangroves included in REDD+

• The role of mangroves in carbon storage, sequestration and emissions has a disproportionate impact and unique characteristics (REDD+ versus Blue Carbon).
• For the remote sensing component, Google Earth Engine scripts and graphical user interfaces map extent and canopy height and estimate above ground biomass (AGB), calibrated with field data.
• Field surveys use SWAMP protocol to measure C stocks in four pools (AGB and below ground biomass), soils and downed woody debris; cross-plot design; and data processing to compute mg C/ha.
• Remote sensing and field data can be combined into emissions estimates with unbiased map areas.

Mangrove mapping and monitoring

• Countries receive specialized instruction in mapping and monitoring mangrove ecosystems, combining remote sensing and ground-truthing for validation.
• Field visits allow hands-on data collection on species composition and canopy structure, essential for calibrating remote sensing.

Deforestation alerts

• Workshops and collaborations were held to develop effective deforestation alert systems in key countries like Mexico, Peru and Guatemala.
• The effectiveness of different deforestation alert systems was analysed through comparative studies, aiding in the refinement of monitoring techniques.

Upcoming events 2024

• Silvacarbon has upcoming workshops and training sessions scheduled for 2024 that focus on mangrove mapping, deforestation alerts and financing mechanisms for REDD+ standards.
• The events underscore a continued focus on capacity building and knowledge exchange in critical areas related to carbon monitoring and mitigation.

Background on LAC SilvaCarbon

• Targeted technical support is provided to improve greenhouse gas (GHG) emission estimates, enhances national forest inventories for MRV systems, integrates regional information needs and improves remotely sensed data for forest monitoring, facilitating the creation of national mapping products for NFMSs.
• Integration with SWAMP can get more carbon rich environments added to NDCs.

Activities under workplan

• United States Forest Service technical support includes data analysis, method improvements and remote assistance to build the capacity to monitor and report on carbon emissions and mitigation.
• Collaboration with other international organizations, academic institutions and civil society groups to leverage expertise and resources addresses climate change challenges.

Edersson Cabrera Montenegro

Forest and carbon monitoring in Colombia

• The NFMS in Colombia is overseen by IDEAM, the scientific institution operating under the Ministry of Environmental Sustainable Development. Established in 2012, it has garnered support from various initiatives, including the GFOI community and the Silvacarbon programme.
• The system relies on trained data to generate official forest data, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
• Two critical components are the Forest Monitor Assistance and the Rewarding Component, both launched in 2016.
• Recent enhancements include analyzing drivers of forest change, community-based monitoring and integrating activity data into the reference level.

Monitoring and reporting on forest cover

• With the use of official definitions (e.g. forest, deforestation, degradation and restoration) and a digital image processing chain, we can monitor forest cover.
• Annual official reports serve to identify critical conservation areas and hotspots, providing insights into forest dynamics.
• An early warning system issues weekly bulletins based on remote sensing data, alerting authorities to emerging threats.
• Monthly reports offer detailed analyses of forest loss, deforestation trends and active fire occurrences.

Key observations

• Colombia boasts approximately 59.3 million hectares (ha) of forest land, a vital ecological resource.
• The Amazon region accounts for 66 percent of Colombia's forest cover, making it a focal point for conservation efforts.
• There are 38.9 million ha of forest in the Amazon, 85 percent of the region.
• Integration with the NFI enables precise assessment of carbon stocks, aiding in carbon accounting and management.

Challenges

• Deforestation dynamics are multifaceted, driven by illegal activities such as land grabbing and unsustainable land use practices.
• Illegal activities, including land grabbing and unauthorized cattle ranching, pose significant challenges to forest conservation efforts.
• Road expansion is identified as a key driver of deforestation, necessitating measures to regulate and mitigate its impact.
• The need for highly trained technical teams is highlighted to effectively process and analyze the vast amount of data generated by the monitoring system.

Mitigation strategies

• There is need for highly trained technical teams to effectively process and analyse the vast amount of data generated by the monitoring system.
• Frequent and detailed remote sensing data supports the monitoring process.
• Integrating land use change (non-forest land) and forest monitoring can improve GHG inventories.
• Continuous monitoring, data integration and capacity building cab effectively manage and conserve Colombia's forests.

Emil Cherrington

SERVIR overview

• SERVIR is a joint initiative of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States Agency for International Development and leading geospatial organizations in Asia, Africa and Latin America, operational for nearly 20 years, to connect scientific knowledge with end-user needs.
• It partners with countries and organizations, utilizing private and public sector tools, to address various challenges in climate change, food security, water and related disasters, land use and air quality.

SERVIR / SilvaCarbon collaboration

• Joint efforts between NASA and SilvaCarbon have resulted in the development of the SERVIR-SilvaCarbon “SAR Handbook” in 2019, aimed at providing guidance on utilizing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data for forest monitoring purposes.
• This collaboration extends to workshops and capacity-building activities, emphasizing the integration of different techniques into workflows.

NASA Applied Science Team projects

• NASA's Applied Sciences Team, currently in its fourth cohort, oversees seven projects worldwide focusing on land cover and forest carbon.
• Projects in Latin America utilize spaceborne lidar data for carbon stock and forest degradation analysis in the Amazon region.
• Collaboration efforts are bolstered by partnerships such as SERVIR Amazonia, emphasizing research and implementation to address environmental challenges.

Amazonia-related activities

• Projects in the Amazon region leverage data from the Jedi mission and collaborate with SEAT.
• Initiatives include workshops in Guatemala and Belize aimed at integrating cloud-based tools and algorithms into forest monitoring workflows.
• The emphasis is on strengthening capacities and utilizing various datasets for informed decision-making processes, particularly in collaboration with local governments.

Central America activities

• Central America is emerging as a focus area, with ongoing workshops in countries like Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador, aimed at integrating forest monitoring efforts into future biennial transparency reports.
• Participation from various stakeholders underscores the importance of regional cooperation in addressing environmental challenges.

Capacity building: SERVIR Carbon Pilot (S-CAP)

• The S-CAP initiative combines land cover and carbon stock data to estimate forest carbon stocks and emissions.
• Capacity-building activities extend beyond the Americas to regions like Ghana and Southeast Asia, emphasizing collaboration with existing initiatives and partners.
• Workshops, including those in coordination with SilvaCarbon and SERVIR Amazonia, focus on enhancing technical skills and knowledge for improved forest monitoring and management.