REDD+ Training Material for Forest Monitoring

This page provides access to a comprehensive set of technical REDD+ training material which was produced by the FCPF in collaboration with Wageningen University and the Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) initiative. This material responds to the need for technical assistance and guidance for countries to improve operational forest monitoring and capacity to measure, report and verify the results of REDD+ intervention.

A network of international technical experts co-authored the material and independent reviewers helped ensure consistency with established international good practice guidance on pertinent methods and technology for forest monitoring. This material is made publically and freely available under a Creative Commons license.

A modular structure allows the material to be used in different settings such as workshops, hands-on training, or project technical assistance. The material is encouraged to be used in combination with the FCPF REDD+ Decision Support Tool and complementary guidance documents (such as GOFC-GOLD Sourcebook or technical guidance from the Global Forest Observation Initiative).

The fourteen training modules can easily be tailored to different audiences such REDD+ policy experts, technical experts or technical project advisors and includes country examples and training exercises to provide users a practical entry point.

The full set of training material is available in Spanish and French; and, several recorded lectures are accessible on You Tube.

This material is made publically and freely made available under a Creative Commons license.

Click the link to each module below for related resources. These materials are also hosted on the GOFC-GOLD site:

Introduction and Guidance Document

Introduction to REDD+ Training Materials (English)
REDD+ Training Materials Guidance Document (English)

Module 1.1 UNFCCC context and requirements and introduction to IPCC guidelines

This module enables participants to:

Understand the UNFCCC context and requirements for monitoring and reporting of REDD+ activities
Explain fundamental concepts of the IPCC guidelines for national GHG inventories and reporting for forest related activities

Lecture on UNFCCC context and requirements and introduction to IPCC guidelines

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Module 1.2 Framework for building national forest monitoring systems for REDD+

This module enables participants to:

Understand the needs and priorities of a national REDD+ policy and implementation strategy
Assess and characterize current forest monitoring and reporting capacities taking national circumstances into account
Develop a roadmap for building sustained in-country capacities for REDD+ MRV

Lecture on Framework for building national forest monitoring systems for REDD+

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Exercise Materials

Zip file: English

Module 1.3 Drivers of deforestation and degradation

This module enables participants to:

Explain the need for monitoring direct and indirect drivers of deforestation and forest degradation within the UNFCCC REDD+ context
Summarize different approaches to monitor drivers of deforestation and forest degradation
Assess likely direct drivers of deforestation and degradation in a country

Lecture on Assessing and analyzing drivers of deforestation and forest degradation

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Exercise Materials

Zip file: English

Module 2.1 Monitoring activity data for forests using remote sensing

This module enables participants to:

Differentiate between different (remote sensing) approaches to monitor changes in forest areas
Perform forest area change analysis using Landsat satellite data

Lecture on Monitoring activity data for forests using remote sensing

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Exercise Materials

Zip file: English

Module 2.2 Monitoring activity data for forests remaining forests (incl. degradation)

This module enables participants to:

Describe different types of forest degradation and the approaches to monitor degradation
Map and analyze various forest degradation processes using ground surveys and the remote sensing tools provided in the module

Lecture on Monitoring activity data for forests remaining forests (incl. forest degradation)

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Exercise Materials

Zip file: English

Module 2.3 Measuring emission factors

This module enables participants to:

Describe the procedures and methods to develop estimates of emission factors for deforestation and for forest degradation by selective logging within a national forest monitoring system at a Tier 2-3 level
Estimate emission factors including all pools for deforestation for a selected forest region within a country and estimate emission factors for forest degradation by selective logging

Lecture on Estimating emission factors for forest cover change: deforestation and forest degradation

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Exercise Materials

Zip file: English

Module 2.4 Community based monitoring

This module enables participants to:

Present arguments for the benefits of CBM as an element within national REDD+ monitoring
Explain the steps needed to set up CBM as an element within national REDD+ monitoring

Lecture on Incorporating community based monitoring (CBM) in national (or sub-national/ jurisdictional)* REDD+ monitoring

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Introduction to Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Country Example 2

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Country Example 3

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Exercise Materials

Zip file: English

Module 2.5 Estimating carbon emissions

This module enables participants to:

Make an estimation of C emissions and removals from deforestation and forest degradation in accordance with the requirements from the IPCC guidelines and guidance

Lecture on Estimation of carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Exercise Materials

Zip file: English

Module 2.6 Estimation of GHG emissions from biomass burning

This module enables participants to:

Understand the strengths and limitation of satellite remote sensing of fire
Describe a range of fire monitoring approaches and techniques
Use available fire products to calculate emissions from biomass burning

Lecture on Estimation of GHG emissions from biomass burning

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Exercise Materials

Zip file: English

Module 2.7 Estimation of uncertainties

This module enables participants to:

Identify sources of uncertainty in the estimates of area change (â€œactivity dataâ€) and carbon stocks change (â€œemission factorâ€)
Implement the correct steps to calculate uncertainties for estimates in area change and carbon stock change
Understand the possible treatment of uncertainties in a conservative way

Lecture on Estimation of uncertainties

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Exercise Materials

Zip file: English

Module 2.8 Evolving technologies

This module enables participants to:

Mention and characterize existing evolving technologies in remote sensing for measuring and monitoring purposes for REDD+; their status and near-term developments
Describe the measurement techniques using LIDAR and RADAR data

Lecture on Overview and status of evolving technologies

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Module 3.1 National data organization and management

This module enables participants to:

Explain the importance of having a clear and stable institutional set-up
Describe the different types of roles and responsibilities that agencies may have in organizing and managing data
Understand the procedures on how to ensure IPCC reporting principles when collecting and managing data associated with MRV and carbon accounting

Lecture on National data organization and management

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Module 3.2 FRLs

This module enables participants to:

Describe the procedures to develop REDD+ forest reference levels (FRLs)

Lecture on Data and guidance on developing REDD+ reference levels

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Exercise Materials

Zip file: English

Module 3.3 Reporting REDD+ performance

This module enables participants to:

Understand the general reporting and review principles
Perform reporting of GHG emissions using the existing IPCC reporting tables
Implement the conservative approach as a possible way to address potential overestimation of achieved mitigation

Lecture on Guidance on reporting REDD+ performance using IPCC Guidelines and Guidance

PPT: English, Spanish, French; PDF: English, Spanish, French

Country Examples

PPT: English, Spanish, French

Exercise Materials

Zip file: English

REDD+ Training Material for Forest Monitoring

CONNECT WITH US