FAO Forestry Department (see separate entry) programmes for national Forest Resources Assessment and related National Forestry Action Plans (NFAP) [previously called Tropical Forests Action Plans (TFAP)] to manage their development.
FRA applies a standard methodology to produce country level report on land covered by forest, percentage change since 1980, areas of forest plantation, assessment of quality of data used. WWW/gopher has country by country descriptions of statistical sources, an assessment of their value and the statistics themselves. A global synthesis report has been prepared.
Methodology and country briefs (from the latest NFAP Updates) are available on FAO WWW/gopher. Country briefs give statistical overview and short description of the sector, government policies and the policy making process, legislation, implementation status of NFAP and national focal point contact address.