The FRA is the monitoring of the state of the world's forests at intervals of 5 to 10 years since 1946. Global Forest Resources Assessments (FRA) based on data provided by responding countries according to a standardized form. FAO collects, analyzes information and presents the state of the world's forest resources and their changes over time. While the first forest resources assessment focused only on the volume of timber harvested, gradually the scope of issues under study has expanded considerably.

Today, the FRA2020 forest resources assessment includes eight main areas, providing a holistic view of the world's forest resources, their management and use:

1. Forest area and forest attributes.

2. Stand stock, biomass, carbon.

3. The purpose and management of forests.

4. Ownership and management rights

5. Forest damage and forest degradation.

6. Forest policy and legislation.

7. Employment, forest education.

8. The goal of balanced development.

The FRA2020 cycle is synchronized with the reporting of the European Forest Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management.

For more information on the results of the latest forest resource assessment, please visit the FAO website at http://www.fao.org/forest-resources-assessment/en/.