Proceedings of the international workshop on monitoring forest degradation in Southeast Asia

Abstract

The international workshop on monitoring forest degradation in Southeast Asia provided a forum for discussion of the technical, social and political challenges and successes that have occurred during recent work in sub-national forest degradation monitoring. The 2012 workshop, held in Bangkok, Thailand, followed recent US Forest Service/LEAF (USAID's Lowering Emissions in Asia's Forests) forest degradation monitoring options assessments that took place in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam. Forest degradation can play a significant role in decreasing forest carbon, and therefore should be included in forest carbon monitoring for purposes of greenhouse gas inventories and participation in prospective carbon markets. Yet despite this, accurate monitoring methodologies are not widely available, and pertinent definitions and drivers are not clearly defined. The workshop allowed for a comprehensive update of techniques being used in case studies worldwide, in addition to the implications of forest degradation definitions and thresholds that lack consensus. Topics discussed included drivers at varying levels, remote sensing techniques and approaches, ground based field measurements, uncertainties and design considerations, integration of monitoring techniques, and regional themes and next steps.