Forest inventory, assessment, and monitoring, and long-term forest observational studies, with special reference to India

Abstract

National forest assessments are attracting increasing attention owing to their role in providing information related to manifold forest functions. Large-area information is in high demand, both for the forest in its role as ecosystem and in its role as resource and service provider. Of particular current interest are forest assessment systems at national level by countries that wish to engage in the REDD+ initiative. Large-area forest monitoring has never had a prominent place on the curricula of forestry faculties in India or many other tropical countries. As a consequence, in many tropical countries, there is only very limited technical capacity for large-area forest monitoring. The discipline of “forest inventory” has developed a versatile toolbox of techniques and methods useful for national level assessments, and remote sensing technology has, over the last few decades, added some exciting options to this toolbox. This article analyzes the process of national forest monitoring and identifies key areas where national capacity may be developed. A brief description of forest assessment in India, long-term observational studies, and synergy with the national forestry inventory is also presented.