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Manual for Integrated Field Data Collection

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Manual for Integrated Field Data Collection NFMA - Manual for integrated field data collection National Forest Monitoring and Assessment Manual for integrated field data collection . NFMA Working Paper No 37/E– Rome, 2009 FORESTRY DEPARTMENT FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Working Paper NFMA 37/E Rome 2009 National Forest Monitoring and Assessment Manual for integrated field data collection Version 2.3 (2nd Edition) By Anne Branthomme In collaboration with Dan Altrell, Kewin Kamelarczyk and Mohamed Saket National Forest Monitoring and Assessment Forests are crucial for the well being of humanity. They provide foundations for life on earth through ecological functions, by regulating the climate and water resources and by serving as habitats for plants and animals. Forests also furnish a wide range of essential goods such as wood, food, fodder and medicines, in addition to opportunities for recreation, spiritual renewal and other services. Today, forests are under pressure from increasing demands of land-based products and services, which frequently leads to the conversion or degradation of forests into unsustainable forms of land use. When forests are lost or severely degraded, their capacity to function as regulators of the environment is also lost, increasing flood and erosion hazards, reducing soil fertility and contributing to the loss of plant and animal life. As a result, the sustainable provision of goods and services from forests is jeopardized. In response to the growing demand for reliable information on forest and tree resources at both country and global levels, FAO initiated an activity to provide support to national forest monitoring and assessment (NFMA). The support to NFMA includes developing a harmonized approach to national forest monitoring and assessments (NFMA), information management, reporting and support to policy impact analysis for national level decision-making. The purpose of the NFMA initiative is to introduce countries to an alternative approach designed to generate cost-effective information on forests and trees outside forests, including all benefits, uses and users of the resources and their management. Special attention is placed on monitoring the state and changes of forests, and on their social, economic and environmental functions. Another main objective is to build national capacities and harmonize methods, forest related definitions and classification systems among countries. The support to National Forest Monitoring and Assessment is organized under the Forest Management Division (FOM) at FAO headquarters in Rome. Contact persons are: Mohamed Saket, Forestry Officer, [email protected] Dan Altrell, Forestry Officer, [email protected] Anne Branthomme, Forestry Officer, [email protected] or use the e-mail address: [email protected] More information on FAO Support to National Forest Monitoring and Assessment can be found at: www.fao.org/forestry/nfma Bibliographic citation: FAO. 2009. National Forest Monitoring and Assessment – Manual for integrated field data collection. Version 2.3. National Forest Monitoring and Assessment Working Paper NFMA 37/E. Rome. DISCLAIMER The National Forest Monitoring and Assessment (NFMA) Working Paper Series is designed to reflect the activities and progress of the FAO support to National Forest Monitoring and Assessment and Knowledge Networks. Working Papers are not authoritative information sources – they do not reflect the official position of FAO and should not be used for official purposes. Please refer to the FAO forestry website (www.fao.org/forestry) for access to official information. © FAO 2009 - 4 - Acknowledgements The National Forest Monitoring and Assessment – Manual for Integrated Field Data Collection is a result of major effort and collaboration across FAO Forestry, Agricultural and Natural Resources Departments. It is also continuously improved with considerable inputs from national experts and consultants while being adapted and applied in countries. Also international experts have provided guidance and recommendations to the overall methodological development in expert consultations and technical meetings. The National Forest Monitoring and Assessment Programme was initiated and designed by Peter Holmgren and Mohamed Saket. Many persons at FAO have notably contributed and supported the development of the methodology. In particular, all colleagues from Forest Resources Development Service (FOMR) and Global Forest Resources Assessment; Sally Bunning and Hubert George of the Land Tenure and Management Unit (NRLA); Tim Robinson, of the Livestock Information, Sector Analysis and Policy Branch (AGAL); Regina Laub of the Gender, Equity and Rural Employment Division (ESWD); Nadine Azzu, Bart Barten and Linda Collette, of the Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service (AGPS). The contribution of organizations and individuals who were involved in country projects and provided many valuable inputs is also greatly acknowledged. Especially: Lars G.B Andersson (Sweden), Michel Bassil (Lebanon), Carlo Consolacion (Philippines), Soren Dalsgaard (Danemark), Ylva Melin (Sweden), Daniel Mbolo (Cameroon), Nti Méfé (Cameroon), Basile Mpati (Congo), Augustine Mulolwa (Zambia), Stephen Obiero Anyango (Kenya), Jules Blaise Pettang (Cameroon), Carla Ramirez (Guatemala), Rodrigo Rodas (Guatemala), Khemaies Selmi (Tunisia), Charles Situma Amos (Kenya) and Richard Slabý (Check republic). - 6 - National Forest Monitoring and Assessment – Manual for integrated field data collection Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................................................. 4 CONTENTS................................................................................................................................................... 7 LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................................................................ 9 LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................................10 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS........................................................................................................11 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................................13 1. SAMPLING DESIGN...........................................................................................................................15 1.1 SAMPLING UNIT SELECTION AND DISTRIBUTION .......................................................................... 15 1.2 SAMPLING UNIT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................... 17 2. LAND USE/COVER CLASSIFICATION .............................................................................................21 3. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITIES .........................................................26 3.1 ORGANISATIONAL CHART.......................................................................................................... 26 3.2 FIELD TEAM COMPOSITION ........................................................................................................ 27 4. FIELDWORK PROCEDURE...............................................................................................................30 4.1 OVERVIEW OF DATA COLLECTION PROCESS ............................................................................... 30 4.2 PREPARATION FOR THE FIELDWORK .......................................................................................... 32 4.2.1 Bibliographic research ................................................................................................... 32 4.2.2 Contacts with communities and relevant local government departments ..................... 32 4.2.3 Preparation of the field forms ........................................................................................ 32 4.2.4 Preparation of the field maps and GPS set up.............................................................. 33 4.2.5 Field equipment per team.............................................................................................. 34 4.3 INTRODUCTION OF THE PROJECT TO THE LOCAL PEOPLE............................................................. 36 4.4 FIELD DATA COLLECTION .......................................................................................................... 37 4.4.1 Interviews....................................................................................................................... 37 A. Identification and selection of informants and interviewees ............................................................. 41 B. Interview organisation and preparation............................................................................................ 45 C. Data collection through interviews - Interview techniques and tools................................................ 47 4.4.2 Field plot measurements and observations................................................................... 48 A. Access to plot .................................................................................................................................. 48 B. Establishment of permanent plot ..................................................................................................... 51 C. Summary of data collection procedure in the plot...........................................................................
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