Photo by flickr/leoffreitas

Resources

Key documents

• VERIFOR Options Paper 1 - Strategies for Independent Monitoring (PDF, 443kb)
• ODI Review of Independent Forest Monitoring for DFID,
  August 2004 (PDF, 458kb)

See also

• Independent Forest Monitoring Bibliography
• ODI Forestry Briefing 5 - Forest law enforcement & governance: The role of independent monitors in the control of forest crime, June 2004.
• VERIFOR Comparative Case Study 7 - Ombudsmen, People's Defenders and Mediators: independence and administrative justice in state transformation (PDF, 402kb)

Independent monitoring (IM) is an important component of
effective verification. It can:

• provide checks to governments and their publics on the veracity of claims;
• give feedback to managers on improving performance;
• strengthen the legitimacy of verification systems.

Though it is still early days, there are already a number of
institutional options on offer. These include external environmental and rights monitors; commercial audit firms and GIS-based monitoring. Pilot activities have mainly been funded by donors. However, as the EU Action Plan advances, there are increasing calls for host governments to develop their own positions.

VERIFOR is considering the options for independent monitoring of the timber trade, as a component of verification systems.

Key considerations
- see Resources for full details

• Independent monitoring is an important component of effective verification, though it may be better seen in functional rather than agency terms.
• There are various possibilities when deciding on IM relating to verification design, and a series of questions regarding the timing of monitoring activities, the mandate of monitors, and the handling of monitoring information.
• IM must consider the state of overall public governance. Good governance implies high levels of public accountability and transparency, both of which require the exercise of political will.
• The ultimate test for IM one of perceptions – namely that the relevant national and international publics have faith in the credibility of the verification decisions delivered.