The R&D Component of the Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI) addresses methodological and technical challenges that interfere with progress in the forest and land use monitoring and subsequent greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting efforts for reporting countries. Our primary aim is to foster a community of experts to highlight scientific advancements and emerging technical methods that can enhance the efficiency of forest and land use monitoring systems. 

Since 2015 GFOI's R&D Coordination Component activities have been integrated into the GOFC-GOLD Land Cover Project Office (GLC-PO), based at Wageningen University. In 2023 and with support from ESA, coordination efforts of the GFOI R&D Component transitioned to the Global Land Monitoring Group at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences.