As countries strive to meet international reporting requirements to develop more robust National Forest Monitoring Systems, including reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), the importance of National Forest Inventories (NFIs) cannot be underestimated. This systematic collection, analysis and reporting of forest data, plays a pivotal role in providing estimates on relevant variables about characteristics of forests and forested landscapes for a whole country or a subnational administrative or geographic entity, including emission factors for calculating forest-related greenhouse gas emissions and removals. Beyond their carbon-focused function, NFIs provide vital insights into forest biodiversity, health, management, and use, empowering countries to make informed decisions on national policy and management.

Recognizing the complexity of NFIs, and their role of enhancing capacities in this field, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has renewed its NFI e-learning series. The original course, developed by the FAO's National Forest Monitoring (NFM) Team in conjunction with Gottingen University and in collaboration with the FAO’s elearning Academy in 2021, has undergone a comprehensive transformation to enhance accessibility, depth, and overall user experience.

Read more here: https://www.fao.org/in-action/boosting-transparency-forest-data/news/detail/en/c/1674593/