G T O SGlobal Terrestrial Observing System

3rd GTN-H Coordination Panel Meeting

Koblenz – 17-19 September 2007

Overview of presentation

GTOS mission Organizational structure Overview of activities Specific developments Other issues

GTOS Creation

The 1992 Rio Summit, along with other international ecology conventions, reinforced the need for specific, reliable international data on environmental conditions and trends

In 1996, four United Nations bodies and an international scientific community created the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) to help confront this challenge

Over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in comparable period time in human history

Unprecedented ecosystem change

Approximately 60% (15 out of 24) of ecosystem services evaluated being degraded or used unsustainably

More land converted to cropland since 1945 than in 18th, 19th centuries combined

Coral reefs reduced by 20% and a further 20% degraded in last decades

Mangrove area reduced by 35% in last decades

Water in reservoirs quadrupled since1960

Withdrawals from rivers and lakes doubled since 1960

Biological nitrogen flows in terrestrial ecosystems doubled since 1960; phosphorus flows tripled

GTOS Mission

To provide policy-makers,

resource managers and

researchers with access

to the data and

information they need to

detect, quantify, locate,

and warn of changes

(especially reductions) in

the capacity of terrestrial

ecosystems to support

sustainable development.

Key Issues

Changes in land quality

Availability of freshwater resources

Loss of biodiversity

Climate change

Impacts of pollution and toxicity

GTOS Organization

Steering Committee Chair: Berrien Moore

Members Extended and revived

Sponsor representatives: Jeff TSCHIRLEY (FAO) Thomas ROSSWALL (ICSU) Norberto FERNANDEZ (UNEP) Mario HERNANDEZ (UNESCO) Buruhani NYENZI (WMO)

Programme Director: John LATHAM Secretariat Staff: 1 programme Director, 1 professional programme

officers, 1 support consultants, 2 support staff, up to 4 volunteers

Panels and activities: Science teams working on core mission areas

Secretariat hosted at: FAO HQ, Rome Italy

International Framework and Sister Organizations

Delivery through – panels and activities

Panels are run on

a voluntary basis

Terrestrial Observing Panel for Climate (TOPC)

Focuses on the identification of terrestrial observation requirements, assisting the

establishment of observing networks for climate, providing guidance on observation standards and norms, facilitating access to climate data

and information and its assimilation, and promoting climate studies and assessments.

http://www.fao.org/gtos/TOPC.html

Terrestrial Observing Panel for Climate (TOPC)

Developments

New Panel formation: Han Dolman (TOPC Chair), Anatoli Brouchkov, Jay Famiglietti, Wilfried Haeberli, Gen Inoue, Ulrich Looser, Jan Polcher, Shaun Quegan, Michel Verstraete, Valery Vuglinsky.

First TOPC meeting planned for the end of 2007.

Priorities remain assisting GCOS and GTOS in the execution of the GCOS Implementation Plan, development of the next adequacy report and preparation of material on status of the development of standards for each of the essential climate variables in the terrestrial domain.

TCO – Terrestrial Carbon Observations

TCO MISSION

1- Identify the potential users and the required data and scale.

2- Collect, organize, harmonize and coordinate carbon data and models (from local to regional and global scale) considering:- in situ data- remote sensing data- terrestrial ecosystems data.

3- Link among science, policy and end users.

TCO New Implementation Plan

1- Coordination of the carbon observations system2- Use and synthesis of data and methodological development3- Capacity building4- Links to the Conventions

CARBOAFRICA: a new way for funding

EU–funded project (STREP - 6FP)Priority: Global Change and Ecosystems

Coordinator: University of Tuscia

15 International Institutions (11 European, 3 African, FAO)

Funds: 2.8 M€

Duration: 3 yearsQuantification, understanding and prediction of carbon cycle, and other GHG gases, in Sub-Saharan Africa.

CARBOAFRICA

The overarching goal is to set up a first attempt of a GHGs fluxes monitoring network of Africa, in order to quantify, understand and predict, by a multi-disciplinary integrated approach, GHG emissions in Sub-Saharan Africa and its associated spatial and temporal variability.

Eddy covariance sites alreadyavailable for CARBOAFRICA

Eddy covariance sites that willbe established by CARBOAFRICA

stations for atmospheric measurements

CARBOAFRICA NETWORK

16 + 2 flux towers

2 atmospheric stations

Airborne campaigns

Forest & Land Cover Dynamics: GOFC-GOLD

To improve the quality and availability of space-based and in situ observations of forests at regional and global scales and to produce useful, timely and validated information products from these data for a wide variety of users.

GOFC-GOLD: activities

Fire mapping and monitoring Land Cover Characteristics and Change Regional activities for the above Support to terrestrial ECVs activities Validation of satellite products Participation on GEOSS tasks Support to LCCS

http://www.fao.org/gtos/gofc-gold/index.html

Coastal GTOS (C-GTOS)

C-GTOS Implementation planhttp://www.fao.org/gtos/pubs.html

To detect, assess and predict global and large-scale regional change associated with land-based, wetland andfreshwater (and when appropriate transitionalwaters) ecosystems along coasts.

Advance the development of the initial coastal products

Activities: Coastal module created in

TEMS including linkages with the GCMD

Development of vulnerability of ecosystem services in deltaic systems

Management of conservation and cultural sites in the coastal zone

Distribution of sites appropriate for analyses of delivery systems

Distribution and the rate of change of population, urbanization and land use in the coastal environment

Contribution to a mangroves atlas

Link with different environmental conventions

Project INT 981 ITA

2000

C-GTOS activities

Advance the development of the initial coastal products

Activities: Coastal module created in

TEMS including linkages with the GCMD

Development of vulnerability of ecosystem services in deltaic systems

Management of conservation and cultural sites in the coastal zone

Distribution of sites appropriate for analyses of delivery systems

Distribution and the rate of change of population, urbanization and land use in the coastal environment

Contribution to a mangroves atlas

Link with different environmental conventions

A joint initiative of FAO, the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME), and other international institutions to prepare the 2nd edition of the World Atlas of Mangroves.

31 countries are being mapped through a photo interpretation of satellite imageries at 1:250,000 scale. The final product will be produced at a scale of 1:500,000.

Project INT 981 ITA

C-GTOS

Expand the TEMS database, including additional ecosystem types, global change monitoring data and metadata services.

www.fao.org/gtos/tems

Who, what, where: 2040 monitoring sites 40 networks 1200 contact persons 120 environmental variables

and 60 socio-economic indicators (with description sheets)

Interactive Maps Thematic modules related to

biodiversity, coastal zones, forest, hydrology and mountain.

Local Climate Estimates, Geology, Pedology and Hydrology data.

Project INT 981 ITA

TEMS activities

Output 3.1: Expand the TEMS database, including additional ecosystem types, global change monitoring data and metadata services.

www.fao.org/gtos/tems

TEMS improvements

New digital Terrain Model data available for each T-site (100km2) (3D image will include Landsat ETM+) Landsat TM, MSS and Land Cover will also be extracted

GOSIC data matrix, MAB cooperation, network links

New sites, networks and modules

New 5 year strategy

Project INT 981 ITA

Develop, submit, have approved and print a IGOS land theme report.

1.Improved support for GTOS panels and thematic activities

2. Develop the coastal module into an active GTOS Panel

3.Expansion of TEMS thematic coverage and functionality

4.Global land cover production and identification of user needs

5.Development and implementation of IGOS themes

6.Assistance to the Conventions

IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES:Objective of IGOS land: Seeks to provide a

comprehensive framework to harmonize the common interests of the major space-based and in-situ systems for global observation of the Earth.

Project INT 981 ITA

Land theme of IGOS: IGOL design activities

that will provide a comprehensive picture of the present state of terrestrial ecosystems, and build capacity for long-term monitoring of those ecosystems.

http://www.fao.org/gtos/igol/

Develop, submit, have approved and print a IGOS land theme report.

Project INT 981 ITA

http://www.fao.org/gtos/igol/

Achievements: Theme Team of experts established. Following meetings organized:

1st IGOL theme team meeting, Rome, Sept. 2004 2nd IGOL meeting, Reston, USA, July 2005 3rd IGOL meeting, Beijing, Feb 2006

IGOL Biodiversity meeting, Washington DC, Nov 2005 IGOL Agriculture meeting, Rome, March 2006 IGOL GEO Ag monitoring meeting, Rome, July 2007

Draft IGOL report developed out for review Biodiversity and Agriculture reports developed for GEOSS

Proposed IGOL transitioning paper submitted to IGOS

Fire Information for Resource Management System: FIRMS transitioning from a research to an operational system with an emphasis

on protected areas

Integrates remote sensing and GIS technologies to deliver MODIS active fire locations to natural resource managers around the world.

Real time data on fires in our around protected areas.

Data provided is in easy-to-use formats.

Scope

Fire alerts through e-mails and cell phone text messages.

Active fire info via an interactive Web Mapping interface.

Provision of shape files containing locations of latest fires detected.

Provision of subsets of MODIS imagery.

Services and products

2003

sample e-mail alert

FIRMS will send out notifications when a fire is detected within a user-specified distance of the target area.

interactive Web GIS

Web Fire Mapper (WFM) enables resource managers to access near real time fire information. Users can view and query the full archive of MODIS Terra and Aqua active fires (from November 2000 - present) both globally and for selected regions.

FIRMS main components

To promote the widest possible use, open consensus standards delineated by ISO, Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and the Open GIS Consortium (OGC) will be adopted.

The use of near real-time fire notifications (by cell phone text messaging) in South Africa has also generated a lot of interest and requests have been received to expand this service to other regions.

SMS Alert System

Fire Information for Resource Management System: FIRMS transitioning from a research to an operational system with an emphasis

on protected areas

Prototypes (e.g. in South Africa and other African countries have been very successful.

NASA, FAO and UNEP supporting the transition to a fully operational global system.

The system will be housed at FAO.

UNEP will integrate FIRMS in their current fire decision support system.

Additional specifications will be added, e.g. 5, 10, 15 km buffer zones of protected areas.

additional data, gis layers, imagery form alternative systems.

improved data queries and provision.

Feedback mechanisms for managers and other users.

Product validation and verification.

Document best practices of fire managers -> share data and findings

Current status and next steps

GEO and GEOSS activities

www.fao.org/gtos/tems

GTOS contribution to the 2007-2009 GEO tasks:

17 Tasks (4 lead): 14 old continuing tasks + 3 new tasks derived from old ones

The GTOS secretariat is currently revising the new GEO tasks included in the GEO 2007-2009 Work Plan in order to decide which task is relevant to GTOS and its panels, and the level of involvement.

Key tasks leaded by GTOS:

CL-06-03: Key Terrestrial Observations for Climate

DA-07-02: Global Land Cover

AG-06-04: Forest Mapping and Change Monitoring

Problem:

GEO/GEOSS process causing considerable strain to financial and human resources

GEO and GEOSS activities

www.fao.org/gtos/tems

Main Tasks relevant to GOFC-GOLD:

AG-06-04: Forest Mapping and Change Monitoring

DA-07-02: Global Land Cover

DA-07-03: Virtual Constellations

DI-06-13: Implementation of a Fire Warning System at Global Level

EC-06-07: Regional Networks for Ecosystems

Task relevant to TOPC:

CL-06-03: Key Terrestrial Observations for Climate

CL-06-05: GEOSS IPY Contribution

Task relevant to TCO:

EC-06-01 - Integrated Global Carbon Observation (IGCO)

AG-06-04 - Forest Mapping and Change Monitoring

CL-06-03 - Key Terrestrial Observations for Climate

Activities:Work closely with CBD Secretariat to identify relevant GTOS tools, products and

services, and make these available to the Parties of the Convention .

Survey on needs and requirements of CBD State Parties in order to identify the GTOS products and services to assess issues related to habitat loss.

Elaboration of targeted outreach material relevant to the Delegates to CBD, Ramsar, CMS and CITES.

Raising awareness at Ramsar, CMS and CBD meetings.

Project INT 981 ITA

Assist the CBD towards the achievement of the 2010 Target.

Activities:Collaborate closely with the UNCCD Secretariat, CST, and in particular with the CRIC to

identify relevant GTOS tools, products and services. Develop training modules specific to the collection, analysis and exchange of land degradation in collaboration with GLCN and other specialized centres.

Survey on needs and requirements of UNCCD State Parties

Elaboration of targeted outreach material relevant to Delegates to UNCCD statutory meetings (e.g. posters. brochures, CD-ROMs, reports)

Survey on capacity-building and training requirements in affected African countries in order to develop training workshop modules relevant to monitoring trends (and reporting) in land degradation.

Support the work of the UNCCD, with emphasis on capacity building and scientific/technical cooperation amongst the Parties.

Project INT 981 ITA

Execution of the GCOS Implementation Plan in support of the UNFCCC

Project INT 981 ITA

Report developed and submitted.

SBSTA requested GTOS to further develop frame work and standards for terrestrial ECVs

Progress reports to be submitted at SBSTA 26 (May 2007)

SBSTA 26 welcomed GTOS inputs, requested framework and ECV analysis to be completed by SBSTA 27 (Dec 2007) to allow review and development of recommendations and next steps.

Activities are also recognized as an official task of GEOSS (CL-06-03)

Activities:Through its TOPC Panel assist in the preparation of guidance materials,

standards and reporting guidelines for terrestrial observing systems for climate, and associated products and assess the status of the development of standards for each of the essential climate variables in the terrestrial domain.

Terrestrial Essential

Climate Variables• Snow-cover• Glaciers and ice caps• Permafrost layer• River discharge• Water use• Groundwater• Lake levels• Albedo• FAPAR• Active radiation• Leaf Area Index• Surface Temperature• Fire disturbance• Land Cover• Biomass

Execution of the GCOS Implementation Plan in support of the UNFCCC

Project INT 981 ITA

Finalize framework report.

Complete terrestrial ECV standards analysis and allow stakeholder review.

Prepare terrestrial ECV supplement and biennial report for UNFCCC COP and SBSTA (Bali, December 2007).

Preparation of side event and booth at COP.

Raising relevant stakeholder awareness and interest for terrestrial observations (hopefully leading to support the networks and activities required to undertake the observations).

Current activities

Your support required, go to:

www.fao.org/gtos/topcECV.html

For more details see the GTOS Biennial Report GEO

IGOS

GOFC-GOLD

TOPC

TCO

C-GTOS

TEMS

Conventions

Biodiversity

Mountains

www.fao.org/gtos

GTN-G

GTN-P

GTN-H

GTN-R

NPP

GTOS Biennial Report

New edition will be available in December

Thank you

END