Standards provide a common language and framework for data collection, analysis, and reporting. The adoption of common standards for land use and land cover monitoring is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It enables countries to track progress towards the goals in a consistent and transparent manner, and to share data and knowledge with other countries and stakeholders. They ensure that data is consistent, reliable, and comparable across different regions and countries. By adopting common standards, countries can improve their ability to monitor progress towards the SDGs, identify areas where action is needed, and track the impact of interventions.

The collaboration between FAO and ISO on the development of the ISO 19144 series demonstrates the importance of standards in achieving the SDGs. The ISO 19144 series provides a common framework for land cover and land use information, which is critical for monitoring progress towards the SDGs, particularly for SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss. The standard for describing the land cover and land use data is important for developing consistent data for the purpose of integration and comparison.