The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched a three-year project entitled ” Building global capacity to increase transparency in the forest sector (CBIT-Forest): accelerating capacity-building, knowledge-sharing and awareness raising”. The project, supported by a US$2 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to help developing countries monitor and report on the state of forest cover more effectively and transparently.
Anticipated to directly benefit at least 20 countries, the project will extend its support to 236 countries and territories within the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment national correspondent network. This strategic funding from GEF underscores the commitment to fostering transparent forest data, considered vital for effective climate action and sustainable forest management.
Aligned with international commitments, including Sustainable Development Goal 15 “Life on Land” and the Glasgow Declaration on Forests and Land Use, where over 140 countries committed to stopping and reversing forest loss by 2030, this initiative contributes to global climate and development goals.
This project, as the second phase of FAO’s work on forest data transparency, supported by the GEF’s Capacity-Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) fund, aids developing countries in meeting the Paris Climate Agreement requirements for enhanced transparency in reporting progress towards national targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and halting deforestation. Forests and land use play a pivotal role in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), contributing a quarter of emission reductions planned by countries.
The project focuses on developing capacities at national, regional, and global levels through innovative learning programs, combining virtual and in-person training, with the goal of championing open and transparent forest data. Additionally, it seeks to establish and strengthen regional networks, including new partners like women, youth groups, and academia to ensure sustainability and transparency in forest reporting.
By enhancing the Global Forest Resources Assessment platform, increasing technical capacities and platforms for National Forest Monitoring Systems, and developing knowledge products related to forest data transparency, the project aims to bring about tangible improvements.
Building on the success of the CBIT-Forest project from 2020-2022, this initiative invites global collaboration and participation to ensure the success of this transformative project, propelling the world towards a sustainable and transparent future in forest data management.
