Diapositiva 1

1
Global Forest Observations InitiativeGiovanni
Rum, GEO Secretariat
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The user need link to policy

• Forests absorb and store atmospheric carbon so
  reducing the rates of deforestation and forest
  degradation is fundamental to mitigating global
  climate change.
• To reduce deforestation and forest degradation,
  you need to know your forests and whats
  happening to them.
• Efficient and sustainable national forest
  monitoring systems require reliable, timely and
  affordable observations (a combination of remote
  sensing and in situ data).
• The Global Forest Observation Initiative (GFOI)
  supports countries by facilitating access to
  coordinated satellite data and providing
  appropriate tools and technical guidance to help
  monitor changes in forests and their carbon
  stocks over time.

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History of GEO Initiatives

• 2008
• GEO members developed the Forest Carbon Tracking
  Task to demonstrate the benefits of integrating
  the use of satellite and in situ data for NFMS
  and MRV for REDD
• 2009 - 2011
• GFOI was proposed to explore more formal and
  sustained arrangements and conceptually defined
• 2012
• GFOI Implementation Plan endorsed at GEO
  PlenaryOffice Manager selected

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Forest Carbon Tracking (FCT)

• Objectives
• Show the feasibility of coordinated, large scale
  satellite data acquisitions
• Test and compare the use of various data sets,
  models, tools and methodologies in order to
  provide
• options, advice and guidelines to countries
• Achievements
• Demonstrations and capacity building in 11
• National Demonstrators countries
• International coordination and
• cooperation to acquire and provide data

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FCT National Demonstrators

• From 2009
• Brazil
• Guyana
• Mexico
• Indonesia
• Australia
• Cameroon
• Tanzania
• From 2010
• Colombia
• DR Congo
• Peru
• From 2011
• Nepal

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GFOI initial focus

• GFOI ultimate objective is to support the
  implementation of National Forest Monitoring
  Systems NFMS, which require reliable, timely
  and affordable provision of observations and
  support services best suited to the needs of
  individual countries.
• Considering the urgent need for support emerging
  from the negotiations of REDD policy
  requirements under the UNFCCC, GFOI will
  initially focus on supporting the monitoring and
  reporting of greenhouse gas fluxes from forests.
• Not to forget that REDD also needs monitoring of
  safeguards and drivers e.g. biodiversity,
  conversion to agriculture and conservation of
  natural forests

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GFOI overall objectives and areas of action

• Objectives
• Fostering the sustained availability of
  observations in support of national forest
  monitoring systems
• Supporting countries in the use of observations
  in NFMS respecting national choices of data and
  tools

• Areas of action
• Coordination of satellite data acquisition and
  supply
• Capacity development
• Research, Development and Demonstration
• Methods and guidance documentation

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Coordination of acquisition and supply of
Satellite data

• Fundamental to GFOI objectives Aim is to support
  all countries participation in reporting and
  hence mitigation of forest emissions
• Ad-hoc Space Data Coordination Group (SDCG)
  established by CEOS in support of GFOI needs with
  good participation from necessary agencies
• Plan approved by CEOS in March 2013 (SIT-28)
• SDCG seen as an important new capability for
  CEOS/GEO
• Plan proposes phased provision of data needed for
  REDD, starting with a list of REDD countries in
  2013 and extending globally by 2015.

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Sub 30m core satellite data streams for
continuous, annual, global coverage
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Further data streams of interest
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Capacity Building

• AIM Help nations develop capacity to utilise
  Earth Observation data in credible national
  forest monitoring systems
• US Silvacarbon program 9 workshops in the
  Americas and Asia in 2011 and 2012
• Ongoing bilateral collaborations
• Australia-Indonesias International Forest Carbon
  Initiative
• Norway-Tanzania
• Strategic framework for
• Capacity Building under
• discussion
• Plans for geographic
• broadening in 2013/14 to Asia and Africa

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Research Development

• AIM to identify areas where current operation
  methods cannot deliver according to the GFOI
  goals and to coordinate RD activities and
  country involvement to fill these gaps
• E.g. ensuring time series consistency with new
  sensors capabilities, monitoring forest
  degradation,, mapping of particular forest types
  (mangrove, peat forests, etc), measurement of
  forest biomass
• RD plan being completed
• Coordination with GOFC-Gold
• is in place
• Exploring complementary interests with research
  funding organisations

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Methods Guidance Document (MGD)

• AIM to produce a user-friendly reference on
  available tools and methodologies for the use of
  remotely-sensed and ground based data in the
  establishment of countries National Forest
  Monitoring Systems, compatible with eventual
  funding through REDD
• Advisory Group and Authors Team assembled
• First draft document reviewed
• Further drafting, review and field testing
  2012-2013
• To be submitted for endorsement at GEO-X
• Possible consideration by FAO

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Near term actions

• While continuing to mobilize data and support for
  the countries currently engaged, GFOI is also
  expanding to sustained routine activities aiming
  to
• encourage greater participation by new countries
  
• reflect priorities of UNFCCC, FAO, World Bank
  FCPF
• increase coordination of capacity enhancing
  within GFOI and with other organisations
• continue and enhance data provision and continue
  to develop the MGD
• Continue to perform RD activities and in-country
  demonstrations
• include additional donor countries and
  organisations in GFOI - mobilise resources

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GFOI and EC (FP7)

• Past and present
• FP-7 Projects, namely RECOVER, REDDAF,
  REDD-FLAME, REDDINESS are directly contributing
  to FCT/GFOI objectives.
• In particular RECOVER and REDDAF activities are
  fully coordinated within FCT, providing essential
  contributions and support in different National
  Demonstrators and benefitting of FCT satellite
  data coordination

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GFOI and EC (FP7 and beyond)

• Near future
• Need to move to sustainable operations.
• A GMES-Copernicus service, focused on providing
  support to developing countries in implementing
  and operating their National Forest Monitoring
  Systems seems to be the next logical step.
• This would constitute a suitable and needed
  European contribution to GFOI continued
  implementation and operations.