Classification schemes for forest condition are simplistic but still difficult to implement. There is a need for agreement on what constitutes good condition in different forest types, managed for different purposes, and for indicators to monitor change, applicable at the national and subnational levels. Vegetation classification based on thresholds and discrete boundaries work against fine scale interpretation of land use data. There is a need for higher resolution remote sensing data and information on biomass quantities. The global roads dataset is out of date.
Information is poor in developing countries where the road network is expanding fastest.
Updated digitized information on existing and planned roads would be useful. There is an urgent need is to improve national and international ability to estimate forest fire potential and to detect and monitor wildfires while they are still small enough to control. At present all three systems, each with unique characteristics, are required to provide the best results. State of the World's Forests , 1997. Area estimates based on national inventories, maps, some remote sensing data.