Unlocking climate action – the power of forest data transparency

In the battle against climate change, forests stand as stalwart allies. These green giants play a pivotal role in sequestering carbon dioxide, regulating the climate, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting livelihoods. However, the fate of forests worldwide hangs in a precarious balance due to deforestation, degradation, and unsustainable land management practices. To harness the full potential of forests in combating climate change, we must prioritize forest data transparency. Here are six ways in which transparency in forest data can amplify climate action and ambition:

Informed decision-making: Access to comprehensive forest data empowers policymakers to make informed decisions regarding land-use planning, conservation strategies, and sustainable development initiatives. By analyzing in-situ and spatial forest data on extent, biodiversity hotspots, and ecosystem services, decision-makers can prioritize areas for protection, designate conservation zones, and implement land-use policies that balance environmental and socioeconomic objectives. Informed decision-making based on transparent forest data ensures that interventions are targeted, effective, and aligned with climate mitigation and adaptation goals.

Empowering communities: Forest data transparency empowers local communities, Indigenous Peoples, and marginalized groups to participate in decision-making processes and advocate for their rights to land and resources. Access to transparent forest data enables communities to monitor changes in forest cover, assert land tenure rights, and engage in sustainable forest management practices. By amplifying the voices of those most affected by deforestation, transparency strengthens social resilience and fosters equitable conservation outcomes.

Strengthening forest governance: Forest data transparency strengthens governance structures by promoting stakeholder engagement, participatory decision-making, and collaboration across sectors. By democratizing access to forest information through open data platforms, governments can engage civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and local stakeholders in forest management processes. This inclusive approach fosters transparency, builds trust, and fosters social cohesion around shared conservation objectives. Strengthened forest governance frameworks based on transparent data facilitate the implementation of sustainable forest management practices and support the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Catalyzing climate finance and investment: Transparent forest data is essential for attracting climate finance and investment in forest conservation and restoration initiatives. By providing credible data on carbon stocks, ecosystem services, and biodiversity values, transparent forest data enables stakeholders to quantify the climate and environmental benefits of forest projects. This information is instrumental in mobilizing funding from public and private sources, including climate finance mechanisms such as carbon markets, green bonds, and international development assistance. Transparent forest data enhances the attractiveness of forest-related investments by reducing uncertainty, mitigating risks, and demonstrating measurable impact, thereby catalyzing greater financial support for climate action.

Innovation and scaling up ambition: Ultimately, forest data transparency serves as a catalyst for scaling up ambition in climate action. By providing a solid foundation of credible and reliable information, transparent forest data enables stakeholders to leverage available data to generate innovative solutions, set ambitious targets, implement effective strategies, and measure progress toward forest conservation and climate mitigation goals. Transparency builds confidence, fosters collaboration, and inspires greater ambition in safeguarding the world's forests for future generations.

Increased public trust: Transparent forest data increases public trust in the organizations and institutions providing that data. This trust is essential for maintaining positive relationships with communities, stakeholders, and the broader public, ultimately enhancing support for forest conservation efforts and sustainable development initiatives.

To boost transparency and drive effective climate action, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Global Environment Facility have been collaborating on the CBIT-Forest project since 2019. This initiative aids countries in enhancing the quality, availability, and accessibility of forest data, including deforestation rates, forest degradation, carbon emissions, and restoration efforts. By improving the capacity to gather, analyze, and share accurate forest data, FAO and the GEF enable countries to formulate and execute ambitious conservation and climate strategies.

The project underscores the importance of international collaboration and knowledge sharing. Through workshops, training, and forums, it promotes the development of skills necessary for robust forest monitoring and reporting. Additionally, it supports the enhancement of national forest monitoring systems leveraging satellite imagery, remote sensing, and GIS technologies. These technical solutions help countries track forest cover changes, carbon stock levels, and measure and report progress towards climate objectives more precisely.

With these enhanced capabilities, countries can be better equipped to make strides toward safeguarding their forests, ensuring that their climate and environmental efforts are both effective and sustainable.