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| Global Forest Resources Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Name | Global Forest Resources Assessment |
| Started | 1946 |
| Agency | Food and Agriculture Organization |
| Frequency | Quinquennial |
| Region | Global |
Global Forest Resources Assessment The Global Forest Resources Assessment is a periodic scientific inventory and analytical report produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization to document status, changes, and trends in the world's forests and related resources. The Assessment synthesizes national reports, remote sensing, and statistical modeling to inform international processes such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the United Nations Forum on Forests. Major users include World Bank, United Nations Environment Programme, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and national agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture and Ministry of Environment (Brazil).
The Assessment compiles data from country reports, satellite products, and thematic studies to produce indicators on forest extent, change, composition, uses, and management. It supports global initiatives such as Sustainable Development Goal 15, the Aichi Targets, and the Paris Agreement by providing consistent time-series for forests, carbon, biodiversity, and livelihoods. Contributors include institutions like University of Cambridge, Wageningen University, CIFOR, INRAE, and regional organizations such as European Commission agencies and the African Union.
Originating in post‑war efforts coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization and partners in the late 1940s, the Assessment evolved through landmark publications and international gatherings including the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the Earth Summit (1992). Key methodological and organizational shifts were influenced by collaborations with National Aeronautics and Space Administration, European Space Agency, Global Forest Watch, and research institutions such as Yale University and University of Oxford. Milestones include integration of satellite remote sensing pioneered by Landsat, incorporation of greenhouse gas accounting aligned with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidelines, and adoption of standardized definitions following conventions like the Ramsar Convention and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
The Assessment uses harmonized country questionnaires, forest inventories from national services (for example USDA Forest Service inventories and Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis data), and globally consistent remote sensing time series from programs such as Landsat, MODIS, and Sentinel. Analytical partners include University of Maryland, WRI, FAOSTAT teams, and technical panels convened with experts from CIFOR-ICRAF and IIASA. Indicators cover forest area, change (deforestation, afforestation), growing stock, biomass, carbon stocks, forest designation and management measures, and disturbances from pests, fire, and storms documented in collaborations with European Forest Institute and emergency responders like International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Assessments have consistently reported net declines in primary forest in regions such as the Amazon Rainforest, Congo Basin, and parts of Southeast Asia while noting increases in planted and secondary forest in countries like China, India, and Vietnam. Reports highlight drivers including agricultural expansion in regions influenced by policies from institutions like Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and commodity markets tied to corporations and trade agreements such as those affecting soybean and palm oil supply chains. Carbon stock estimates draw on IPCC tiers and show forests' role in national Nationally Determined Contributions prepared under the Paris Agreement. The Assessment documents biodiversity impacts relevant to species lists such as those in the IUCN Red List and ecosystem services valued in studies by World Resources Institute and The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity.
Regional syntheses differentiate trends in Africa, South America, Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania with country profiles for major forest holders including Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Russia, Canada, and United States. Subnational case studies reference management regimes in places like British Columbia, Amazonas (Brazilian state), and Borneo. The Assessment interfaces with national forest inventories such as those maintained by Forest Service (United States Department of Agriculture), Natural Resources Canada, and agencies in Finland and Sweden to report growing stock and harvest data.
The Assessment informs global policy dialogues at venues including the United Nations General Assembly, the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties, and the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties. Its data underpins financing mechanisms such as REDD+ and bilateral programs involving Norway and Germany, and supports certification schemes administered by organizations like Forest Stewardship Council and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. National policy reforms in countries such as China, Brazil, and Indonesia have cited Assessment findings in planning for restoration initiatives and sustainable supply chain commitments influenced by corporations, trade blocs, and legislative instruments like the European Union Deforestation Regulation.
Critiques emphasize uneven national capacity, reporting lags, and definitional inconsistencies that echo debates in scientific literature from Nature (journal), Science (journal), and policy analyses by Chatham House. Remote sensing limitations hamper detection of degradation and forest quality compared with ground inventories from institutions like CIFOR and university consortia. Concerns have been raised about political influences on national reporting, uncertainties in carbon accounting relative to IPCC tier choices, and challenges in linking Assessment outputs to on‑the‑ground outcomes emphasized by watchdogs such as Transparency International and civil society networks including Global Witness.
Category:International environmental assessments