National Forest Inventories of Latin America and the Caribbean

Book excerpt: National forest inventories (NFIs) are one of the main sources of forest information. This book describes the importance and history of NFIs in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region that is particularly relevant due to the extension and biodiversity of its forests. Methodologies for data collection and measurement of the most relevant indicators in 21 countries are addressed. In addition, similarities and differences in IFN designs, challenges and opportunities, and prospects for the future are examined. This analysis demonstrates that the information generated by the countries is diverse and must be harmonized to meet the commitments and opportunities for sustainable forest management in the 21st century. This publication represents a milestone in the beginning of the harmonization process towards data transparency within the forestry sector in Latin America and the Caribbean and constitutes the first collaborative effort of a network of NFI experts and collaborators in the region.