About the Community of Practice

Forests are amongst the Earth’s greatest natural resources and are relevant to all nine of the GEO Societal Benefit Areas (SBAs). The current lack of globally consistent map products for forests, however, is significantly limiting efforts to understand these vital ecosystems. Filling this gap and advancing our knowledge about the status of, and trends in, the world’s forest resources and their long-term ability to provide multiple societal benefits will require the coordinated development of Earth observation systems.

The Forests Community of Practice (FMCP) is supporting the forest-related outcomes in the 10-Year Implementation Plan for the Global Earth Observing Systems of Systems (GEOSS). The goals of the FMCP are to link existing and planned forest observation systems around the world, identify new systems where gaps currently exist, and improve access to, and use of, in-situ, aerial and satellite Earth observations.

To ensure steady progress on GEO’s forest-related Tasks, the FMCP organizes regular events focused on ensuring that GEOSS encompasses an integrated forest monitoring system of systems. These events promote coordination, facilitate data sharing and inter-operability, and foster the development of sustained operational systems based on these capabilities.