In the forestry sector, efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) have created opportunities for forest monitoring capacity development over the past decade, which can support forest management and domestic policy-making in addition to international reporting. This paper explores country examples and considers how forest monitoring can inform problem-solving, especially on public policy.

Forest monitoring can create momentum and inform change if the conditions are right. A window of opportunity for policy change needs to be open and forest monitoring data need to be suitable to inform policy-making. This conclusion can be the basis for designing and operating forest monitoring systems and for targeting capacity development strategically.

FAO envisages that forest monitoring capacity development, by taking on board the thinking in this paper, could make a crucial contribution to global efforts to achieve transformational change surrounding forests and land use in the decade to come. The governments of developing countries, their donors, and those providing technical assistance can leverage current opportunities and bring forest monitoring to the next level, where better data lead to better decisions.