Innovative and digital technologies for forest monitoring and data-sharing by Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and young people

Local communities and Indigenous Peoples are crucial to conserving and managing forest resources, as their traditional knowledge and long-standing experience with forest ecosystems are invaluable for effective forest conservation and sustainable management. However, reports indicate that their knowledge is frequently excluded from national forest monitoring systems, weakening these efforts. This project aims to strengthen the capacities of Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana and Peru to integrate both scientific and traditional knowledge in the implementation of the United Nations strategic plan for forests UNSPF (2015-2030) by engaging Indigenous Peoples and local communities user-friendly monitoring and assessment activities, identifying existing data gaps and challenges from their perspectives; and facilitating the provision of data on best practices especially the application of user friendly digital technology, experiences, and information for monitoring, assessment, and reporting on the implementation of sustainable forest management and the UNSPF.  The project will be implemented in collaboration with FAO, UNFF Major groups, IUFRO and ECLAC. The project will produce guidelines for integrating community-based monitoring with national forest monitoring system and will build the capacity of the key stakeholders. Crucially, the project will pilot these tools in selected communities to generate new integrated datasets related to forest monitoring in those four countries. The project will explore to adopt digital technology, such as mobile app system for ecosystem monitoring by the Indigenous People and communities. The project will target free, active and meaningful participation of all stakeholders, particularly Indigenous People (IPs), women, persons with disabilities, local communities (LCs) and the youth to ensure that no one is left behind.