Developing data portals for community forest data in ASEAN Member States

While some ASEAN countries have well-developed community forestry information systems, there remains significant untapped potential value in enhancing data and related systems and practices. This is especially true in cases where data is currently fragmented or inaccessible. 

The Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) and RECOFTC are delivering a training to build the capacity of ASEAN Member States to improve the countries' community forestry information systems. This training will cover many aspects of community forestry data, related systems and data portals. The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is funding this capacity building initiative. 

Government officials and officers from institutions in ASEAN countries working to collect, manage, and utilize community forestry data will participate in the training. The training will take place from 5 to 16 December at the RECOFTC Conference Center at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand.  

During the training, participants will further develop their capacity to improve the quality and availability of community forestry data in their countries. They will learn how to apply knowledge and tools that underpin future investment in community forestry solutions and contribute to climate change mitigation and sustainable economic development in the forestry sector. 

Experts from the Republic of Korea and the ASEAN region will share best practices to establish and sustain community forestry databases and portals. Through presentations, hands-on exercises, and interactions with other regional and national forest information programs, officials from ASEAN member states will be able to design, improve the quality of, and access community forestry data and use these in developing initiatives for improved social, environmental, and economic outcomes. 

The training will ultimately enhance knowledge systems and the potential for investment in community forestry initiatives across the participating ASEAN Member States.  

With effective community forestry information systems in place, stakeholders can understand how and where community forestry initiatives are implemented, assess how they are delivering and contributing to sustainable development, and how to improve these initiatives. 

This training is by invitation only. For more information contact info@recoftc.org.