The GEO-Wetlands Initiative Adrian Strauch, Lammert Hilarides, Marc Paganini Side Event: GEOGLOWS and the Harmonization of GEO Water Activities

Mission / Objectives and Goals GEO-Wetlands Mission / Objectives and Goals Mission Develop sustained global approaches to wetland inventory, mapping, monitoring & assessment Objectives Develop a Global Wetland Observation System (Data & Products) Establish a community and governance structure (Users & Management) Build on existing efforts and partnerships (Cooperation & Stakeholders) Goal Build a GEO-Wetlands Community Portal Respond to evolving user and policy needs Strategy and funding for long-term service-provision

GEO-Wetlands Geographical Scope Methodology Satellite-based mapping and monitoring of wetlands According to requirements of users and global stakeholders Current geographical scope of GEO-Wetlands. Started to involve missing regions. Goal is global coverage and cooperation! Project Governance Structure Advisory Board  Top-down advice (virtual) Secretariat  Management Community of Practice  Bottom-up

Significant achievements in 2016-2017 GEO-Wetlands Significant achievements in 2016-2017 Achievement 1 Pilot of GEO-Wetlands Community Portal developed by SWOS project Achievement 2 Mapping Toolboxes developed by SWOS and GlobWetland-Africa Achievement 3 User-engagement, stakeholder involvement & community of practice

Plans and Deliverables for 2018-2019 GEO-Wetlands Plans and Deliverables for 2018-2019 Deliverables Operational and improved Community Portal based on SWOS pilot Global products on Mangroves and other wetland types Best-practice guidelines on EO of wetlands (Ramsar, SDGs) General Plans Establish website as community- and information hub Resource mobilization for continuous activities and maintenance Close collaboration with stakeholders (Ramsar, UN Env.)

Plans for cross SBA linkages and SDG support GEO-Wetlands Plans for cross SBA linkages and SDG support Links to other SBAs or initiatives GEOGLOWS and other water activities GEO BON  FW BON & M BON Energy, Food, Infrastructure, Health, Disasters Contributions to SDGs Especially Indicator 6.6.1 Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time  Provide methodologies, tools, capacity-building and coordination Challenges and Issues: Efficient communication and cooperation between GEO initiatives Securing long-term funding for continued activities and services GEOGLOWS and the Harmonization of GEO Water Activities

Thank You Adrian Strauch adrian.strauch@uni-bonn.de www.geowetlands.org See GEO-Wetlands Poster at Panel 10 of European Commission stand