Developing forest monitoring capacity – Progress achieved and gaps remaining after ten years

•A forest monitoring scorecard provides an instant snapshot of current capacity and can track progress.•An assessment in 16 developing countries over the time period 2008–2018 provided a unique dataset.•In 2008, few of the countries had significant capacities, but in 2018 they mostly collect high ratings.•Progress varies between forest monitoring pillars, and is slower for forest inventories than for satellite monitoring.•Countries scored better on output delivery than on institutionalization aspects, governments should focus here.