Montreal Process on Criteria and Indicators for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Temperate and Boreal Forests (2009)

Area of Focus
Forest and Rangeland Assessments

The Montréal Process (MP) Working Group on Criteria and Indicators for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Temperate and Boreal Forests --“The Montréal Process” -- was launched in 1994 as a response to the Rio Forest Principles. Today, the Working Group has 12 member countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Russian Federation, United States of America and Uruguay.The MP Working Group brings together countries with highly diverse ecological, economic and social conditions to share experiences related to forest monitoring, assessment and reporting. Regular meetings of the Working Group are hosted by member countries on a rotational basis and are open to representatives of other criteria and indicators processes, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector.

Related Links
Montreal Process Working Group

Indicators

  • Area and percent of forest in protected areas by forest ecosystem type, and by age class or successional stage
    This indicator provides information on the area and extent of forest by ecosystem type, age class or successional stage protected to safeguard biological diversity and representative examples of forest ecosystem types. This indicator will also help identify forest types of conservation value that are in need of protection. The level of formal protection given to forests is a reflection of the importance society places on their conservation.
  • Forest cover by type, successional stage, age class, and ownership
    This indicator provides information on the area and extent of forest ecosystem types, including successional stage, age class and the nature of tenure or ownership. The sustainability and stability of forest ecosystems may depend on their size and diversity. If these are not maintained, forests may become vulnerable to habitat degradation and loss. Tenures or ownership types may have a variety of management regimes associated with them - each with a different impact on biological diversity.
  • Fragmentation of forests
    This indicator provides information on the extent to which forests are being fragmented over time by human activities and natural processes. Fragmentation may lead to the isolation and loss of species and gene pools, degraded habitat quality, and a reduction in the forest’s ability to sustain the natural processes necessary to maintain ecosystem health.
  • Number and status of native forest associated species at risk, as determined by legislation or scientific assessment
    This indicator provides information on the number and status of forest-associated species at risk or in serious decline. As a result, these species may require specific action or intervention to ensure their survival. The number of species at risk and their status is a measure of the health of forest ecosystems and their ability to support species diversity.
  • Number of native forest associated species
    This indicator provides information on the health of forest ecosystems through the number of native forest-associated species.Knowledge of the number of native forest-associated species highlights the importance of certain forest types in meeting conservation objectives and in understanding the relationships species have within ecosystems. The loss or addition of species in an ecosystem can provide valuable insights into the overall health and productivity of that system.
  • Population levels of selected representative forest associated species to describe genetic diversity
    This indicator provides information on the population status of selected forest-associated species that are considered to reflect the genetic diversity present in forest ecosystems. Some forest species support or rely heavily on particular forest structures, patterns, associations and processes and can therefore be used to describe the status of genetic diversity in forests as a whole.
  • Species at risk of losing genetic variation and locally adapted genotypes
    This indicator provides information on the number and distribution of forest-associated species at risk of losing genetic variation across their population. This erosion in genetic variation makes species less able to adapt to environmental change and more vulnerable to extinction. Some local populations with unique gene pools may also risk being swamped by larger populations introduced intentionally, by accident, or by natural processes.
  • Status of on site and off site efforts focused on conservation of species diversity
    This indicator provides information that describes on site (or in situ) and off site (or ex situ) efforts to conserve species diversity. Some forest species and habitats may have declined to such an extent that intervention is required to safeguard them for the future.