Abstract

This working paper was prepared in light of the upcoming Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC in December 2007 to inform about the status and ongoing efforts in the field of forest monitoring, assessment and reporting at national and international levels.

Part I is a review of partnerships between FAO and countries for building capacity and supporting implementation of forest monitoring, assessment and reporting, to meet requirements at national and international levels. At national level, FAO works with countries to establish long-term and robust monitoring systems, based on systematic field sampling and data collection. At international level, FAO supports countries to report to the Global Forest Resources Assessments, which is the leading global reporting process on forests, their management and use. Part II presents basic requirements for national forest monitoring systems, seen from a broader policy context. It reviews the current status in countries with respect to two variables that are important for climate change reporting – forest area changes and forest carbon stock. It is concluded that in most developing countries the quality of current forest monitoring would not be satisfactory for an accounting system of carbon credits. However, it is also suggested that investment in national forest monitoring is attracting greater interest, as exemplified by the increasing number of countries requesting support from FAO. FAO continues to work in close collaboration with its member countries to improve forest monitoring, assessment and reporting, including helping them to meet requirements for forest carbon reporting.

Contacts on topics covered in this paper

Peter Holmgren
Chief, Forest Resources Development Service
FAO Forestry Department
Rome, Italy
email: [email protected]
phone: +39 06 5705 2714

Mette Wilkie
Senior Forestry Officer, Global Forest Resources Assessment
Forest Assessment and Reporting Service
FAO Forestry Department
email: [email protected]
phone: +39 06 5705 2091

Mohamed Saket
Forestry Office, National Forest Monitoring and Assessment
Forest Resources Development Service
FAO Forestry Department
email: [email protected]
phone: +39 06 5705 6417

Lars-Gunnar Marklund
Forestry Officer Global Forest Resources Assessment
Forest Assessment and Reporting Service
FAO Forestry Department
email: [email protected]
phone: +39 06 5705 3255

Peter Holmgren Chief, Forest Resources Development Service FAO Forestry Department Rome, Italy email: [email protected] phone: +39 06 5705 2714	Mette Wilkie Senior Forestry Officer, Global Forest Resources Assessment Forest Assessment and Reporting Service FAO Forestry Department email: [email protected] phone: +39 06 5705 2091
Mohamed Saket Forestry Office, National Forest Monitoring and Assessment Forest Resources Development Service FAO Forestry Department email: [email protected] phone: +39 06 5705 6417	Lars-Gunnar Marklund Forestry Officer Global Forest Resources Assessment Forest Assessment and Reporting Service FAO Forestry Department email: [email protected] phone: +39 06 5705 3255