Lao PDR strides towards transparency in forest monitoring
With their ability to absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere, forests play a crucial role in combating climate change. For this reason, forest monitoring activities can ensure that countries stay on target with emission reduction goals outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement. To track progress towards sustainable forest management and emission reductions related to forest loss, robust and easy-to-access forest data, monitoring and adjustment of forest-related policies, and collaboration between citizens and key stakeholders are vitally needed.
Lao PDR is working with FAO to develop its capacity for forest monitoring activities, which are an important step on the country’s journey to combat deforestation and climate change. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports Lao PDR and other countries in their efforts to increase transparency in forest monitoring processes under the GEF-funded project "Building global capacity to increase transparency in the forest sector" (CBIT-Forest). The innovative approach of this project provides governments around the world with better access to high-quality forest information and data, tools, e-learning courses, information resources and webinars - all tailored to national needs and conditions.
Lao PDR is advanced in its forest monitoring for REDD+, having submitted Forest Reference (Emission) Levels in 2018 and a technical annex on REDD+ to its first Biennial Update Report in July 2020. Although the country’s national forest monitoring system (NFMS) is already well established, the CBIT-Forest project will help increase the capacity of the Forest Inventory and Planning Division (FIPD) to analyze and disseminate National Forest Inventory data that is necessary for monitoring.
The first data analysis training was conducted from 29 March to 03 April 2021 at the National University of Laos’s Faculty of Forest Science. During this event conducted by FAO and the university, fifteen staff members from FIPD were taught how to use R, a free and open-source statistical programming language, to cross check and analyze raw forest inventory data. Collaboration with Dr. Chittana, Head of Research and Academic Service Division at the Faculty of Forest Sciences (FFS), National University of Laos (NUoL), allowed for the training to be delivered face-to-face, in Lao language, with online backstopping from FAO experts. The training used forestry examples and NFI data to introduce key functions and commands in R. By the end of the training, participants were able to produce summary statistics and custom-made figures representing main forest measurements, as well as detect potential errors in their analysis. The sequence of steps used to calculate national level forest carbon stock from tree measurements was also demonstrated and will be the key focus of a second training.
The training was well received by FIPD staff. While only one participant had prior experience with the tool, by the end of the training most participants felt comfortable with one or more of the R functions introduced. According to a survey sent to participants, the overall satisfaction was good or very good for 86% of those who participated in the training. Praise was particularly directed towards Dr. Chittana and the prepared materials. Through this training evaluation, a series of topics of interest was gathered, some of which will be integrated into the next training session.
The CBIT-Forest project also provides support to disseminate NFI metadata and results, through information note and publication of the NFI metadata. These steps will help improve transparency in the methodology for data collection and how it is used to estimate forest resources in Lao PDR.
Related links
CBIT-Forest: http://www.fao.org/in-action/boosting-transparency-forest-data/en/
CBIT-Forest in numbers: http://www.fao.org/3/cb3094en/cb3094en.pdf
ELearning course on forests and transparency: https://elearning.fao.org/course/view.php?id=587
Video : https://youtu.be/CGxRWhagnOI
Information note on the NFMS assessment tool: http://www.fao.org/3/ca9903en/ca9903en.pdf
NFMS assessment tool, quick guidance: http://www.fao.org/3/cb0988en/CB0988EN.pdf
For more information, please contact:
Gael Sola
Forest and REDD+ Technical Expert
National Forest Monitoring Team, FAO Vietnam
Akiko Inogushi
Foresty Officer,
National Forest Monitoring Team, FAO Forestry Division
Rocio Condor
Forestry Officer,
National Forest Monitoring Team, FAO Forestry Division