Progress on incorporating biodiversity monitoring in REDD+ through national forest inventories

• Published in: Global ecology and conservation Vol. 32; p. e01901
• Main Authors: Gillerot, Loïc, Grussu, Giorgio, Condor-Golec, Rocio, Tavani, Rebecca, Dargush, Paul, Attorre, Fabio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: biodiversity; biodiversity conservation; Biodiversity indicators; Biodiversity safeguard; carbon sinks; Deforestation; forest inventory; forests; Measuring reporting and verification; National forest monitoring system; national forests; reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation; Remote sensing; Biodiversity indicators; Deforestation; National forest monitoring system; Biodiversity safeguard; Measuring reporting and verification; Remote sensing
• ISSN: 2351-9894; 2351-9894
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01901

There is a well-documented opportunity and need to incorporate biodiversity conservation priorities into REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) initiatives. This requires thorough monitoring of changes to biodiversity at appropriate temporal and spatial scales. A national forest inventory is one of the essential tools used to monitor carbon stock changes but can also be expanded to include biodiversity indicators. Here we analyse the progress and potential of 70 countries in monitoring primarily non-tree biodiversity using national forest inventories. Progress on national forest inventories among countries participating in REDD+ is variable: 11 countries have not started; 26 have started but do not include non-tree biodiversity indicators; the remaining 33 countries do include non-tree biodiversity indicators but use various methodological approaches, levels of detail and taxonomic groups. Very few of these provide comprehensive and accessible manuals or results, highlighting a need for greater transparency. The capacity of countries to fund ongoing national forest inventories is a constraining factor. Remote sensing technologies can help reduce costs for countries with limited monitoring capacity but the need to understand biodiversity variation at finer scales often limits the utility of such methods.