Towards the institutionalization of forest data

This publication explores how countries can improve forest data governance by institutionalizing data management and sharing within national forest monitoring systems (NFMS). It highlights the importance of high-quality, accessible data for informed decision-making, sustainable forest management and climate action. Through practical examples from Uganda, Ghana, Costa Rica, and others, it outlines key steps to strengthen coordination, adopt digital tools, and ensure data transparency and protection. The publication also showcases FAO’s role in supporting countries with platforms like Open Foris and the Food and Agriculture Microdata (FAM) catalogue. It offers guidance for policymakers, institutions and technical experts to enhance forest data availability, promote collaboration, and build trust through open, reliable, and inclusive data systems.