Latin America National Forest Inventories: similarities and differences

T5.13 Forest without borders: National Forest Inventory Networks and their potential for large scale monitoring and reporting
Joberto Veloso de Freitas1 , Iciar Alberdi2, David Morales-Hidalgo3, Carla Ramirez-Zea4
1 Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), Forest Science Department, Manaus, Brazil
2 Forests Science Centre (ICIFOR-INIA), CSIC, Madrid, Spain
3 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Forestry Division, Rome, Italy
4 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Forestry Division, San José, Costa Rica

Abstract
National Forest Inventories (NFI) play a crucial role in providing forest information for decision-making processes related to national policies, programs, and projects in numerous countries worldwide. While in the past the main purpose was to guarantee the availability of forest resources, today NFIs also needs to meet other aspects such as climate change, biodiversity and conservation, non-wood forest products and disturbances, meeting the increasing demand for both national and international level. To ensure the quality of information, it is important that countries seek to improve comparability through harmonization initiatives, especially across the borders where similar forest types are shared. The objective of this study is to evaluate the similarities and differences between national forest inventories in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to support the harmonization of variables of common interest and improve collaboration in the region. The evaluation was developed in the framework of the Latin America Forest Inventories Network (IFN-LAC) analysing the NFI´s methodologies of 20 LAC countries, thematic questionnaires sent to the countries IFN-LAC focal points on specific aspects of the methods and virtual meetings held to discuss specific topics with a view to harmonizing variables. Most countries plan their NFI to be permanent and continuous (86%), with 5-year cycles (76%), and there are countries with cycles between 4-10 years, while some prefer its implementation for a single evaluation over time (14%). Some countries (33%) adopt the strategy of carrying out the cycle measurements in panels that define annual sub-samples for data collection. The systematic distribution of sample units predominates among the countries (43%), with some combining random distribution and stratification (29%). Permanent sample units have been preferred by the countries (76%), but temporary plots (14%) and a combination of both are also used (10%). Cluster plots predominate in the region (67%), with circular (50%) and rectangular (25%) sample units being preferred. Remote sensing methods are mainly employed to improve NFI planning (80%). Countries in the LAC region are actively developing their national forest inventories and, by establishing a collaborative tecnical networks, it is possible to significantly improve the availability and quality of information within the region.

1. 26 th IUFRO World Congress Welcome to the Stockholm, Sweden, 23–29 June 2024

2. Latin America National Forest Inventories: similarities and differences Joberto Veloso de Freitas Universidade Federal do Amazonas, UFAM (Manaus, Brazil) Iciar Alberdi , INIA-CSIC (Madrid, Spain) and David Morales-Hidalgo, FAO (Rome, Italy), Carla Ramirez- Zea , FAO (San José, Costa Rica)

3. Introduction NFI planning and conception is a national process , participative as much as possible , and supported by national experts; Other NFIs ’ methods and lessons are often considered ; Primarily the process considers the national circunstances Purpose and objectives , demands for information and available resources ; Compiling information on the NFIs was one of the first steps of the regional network (LAC)

4. Methods Questionnaire answered by 20 countries and 4 territories (35 questions ) NFI´s information (book chapters ) 19 countries and 4 territories 19.6% of the World Forest área Aspects considered General planning of the NFIs Remote Sensing components Sampling design Plot configuration Variable (data collected )

5. Results 1- General planning of implementation NFIs periodicity Continuous (permanente) 86% Temporary ( independent ) (14%) El Salvador, Dominican Republic and Uruguay Not defined (Surinam) Measurement Cycles 5 years (76%) 4 years (Chile and Costa Rica) 10 years ( Dominican Republic ) Not defined (Surinam and French Guyana and territories Martinica and Guadalupe) Implementation in panels ( within cycles ) (33%) Annual 20% sampling Regional subsampling NFI annual report (24%)

6. NFI Implementation in panels ( examples ) Mexico Peru

7. Results 2 - Remote Sensing component NFI planning improvement (80%) Forest/non forest areas and Other land use identification (65-75%) Vegetation mapping for post stratification (50%)

8. Results 3 - NFI sampling design Systematic (43.5%) Systematic random (27.3%) Systematic stratified (18.2%) Multiple designs (>1) (4.5%) Costa Rica

9. Results 4 - Plot configuration Permanent plots (76.2%) Temporary plots (14.3%) Permanent and temporary plots (9.5%) Plot type Clusters, plots agruped in sub plots Single and cluster plots Not defined Plot shape Circular Rectangular Squared Guatemala French Guyana Peru Jamaica Argentina Nicarágua

10. Results 5 - Additional variables collected in the sample unit Traditional variables (100%) Tree species name DBH Total and commercial height Life form ... Aditional variables /atributes Soil sample for organic carbon (57%) Downed wood (100%) Wildlife (Chile) Social atributes based on interviews ( Brazil ) Brazil

11. Final remarks Similarities and differences reflect each of national processes behind objectives, demand for information and available resources; Despite the differences on NFIs all have built under scientific basis , and the knowledge of this work supports the harmonization and comparability The NFI network brings opportunities to all countries to exchange experiences improving information quality and transparency on the LAC forest resources.

12. Thank you for your attention! Acknowledgment : Network Steering Committee : Armando Alanis (MEX), Darlison Andrade (BRA), Carla Ramirez (FAO), Iciar Alberdi (INIA-CSIC) Raquel Leão (BRA), Betina Salgado (HND), Adriana Aguilar (CRI) and Jimena Saucedo (IFN-LAC) Book co-authors: Anibal Cuchieti (ARG), Rubi Cuenca (MEX), Alex Arana (PER), Thomas Brandeis (USA), Rafael Saucedo (MEX) All participants of the IFN-LAC network         [email protected]