Building on the success of the Paris Conference of the Parties, this Forum provides an excellent opportunity to hear from international experts, implementation agencies and other developing countries and discuss the activities, ambitions and outcomes that have been made possible by the GFOI.

The GFOI provides guidance and supports capacity development activities for implementing forest Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems. This ensures such systems comply with United Nations rules and facilitates potential participation in REDD+. A key role of the initiative is to foster the supply and use of satellite observations to facilitate national reporting on greenhouse gas emissions.

The GFOI holds an annual Plenary that brings together the international experts that are involved in the GFOI. This year, the GFOI is integrating an Open Forum which will involve participation of a broad range of developing countries that are designing MRV systems. This session will:

1. showcase and provide a hands on experience of the guidance material available through the GFOI and the new online portal;
2. provide an opportunity for countries to present on the development and implementation of MRV systems and provide guidance and feedback to GFOI partners, users, producers and distributors

All countries and institutions that have an interest in the application of satellite data in the development of national forest monitoring systems that are compliant with IPCC-guidelines and UNFCCC reporting, will have an interest in attending.

The week will also feature meetings of the individual GFOI Components: Space Data; Methods and Guidance; Research and Development; and Capacity Building. The Components will come together in plenary sessions to share news, showcase new tools and systems and discuss the cooperative activities of the GFOI.
 
Registration is open no later than Monday 1 February 2016, via the link: http://www.gfoi.org/2016-gfoi-plenary-and-open-forum/