Earth Information Needs of UNCCD Connecting GEOSS and its Stakeholders in Science and Technology

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification & Drought Mitigation UNCCD is a Rio Convention: UNFCCC, CBD, UNCCD General Objective << …To combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa >> << …Through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements in the framework of an integrated approach consistent with Agenda 21 with a view achieving sustainable development…>> "desertification" means land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities “drought’’ means means the naturally occurring phenomenon that exists when precipitation has been significantly below normal recorded levels

Vulnerability of Drylands 41.3% of the global terrestrial area 34.7 % of the global population (mostly poor people) 25% of the African drylands have been degraded 3

The 10-years Strategy The Strategy identifies long-term objectives ( c.a. 10 years) which will guide the actions of all UNCCD stakeholder in the period 2008-2018 4

Decision 17/COP.9 Provisionally accepted set of Impact Indicators Source: Decision 17/COP9 (Annex) (UNCCD 2009)

COP Decision By its decision 17/COP.9, the COP requested the CST: using an iterative process to develop proposals to refine the set of impact indicators and associated methodologies, taking account of: Application and review of the impact indicators by affected countries; Scientific peer review of the relevance, accuracy and cost-effectiveness of the impact indicators; Possible synergy with relevant programmes, projects and institutions, including those associated with the other Rio conventions; Relevant contributions from UNCCD scientific conferences.

White paper (version 1) The scientific review produced: a refined conceptual framework, a refinement of the indicator set hierarchy, metrics/proxies proposed to measure them, and a set of general proposals designed to guide refinement and next steps. http://www.unccd.int/science/menu.php?newch=l41

Amended DPSIR framework integrated with ecosystem services provisions Proposed Framework Amended DPSIR framework integrated with ecosystem services provisions Scientific framework: to support indicator set organization, use and communication to capture causality, interactions and tradeoffs, so that the indicator set would further support decision making Initial framework: combination of DPSIR and ecosystem services approaches to be regularly re-evaluated for appropriateness as monitoring and evaluation efforts mature, for its usefulness for the decision making processes, and because needs may change Adapted from GEF KM:Land2010 & LADA 2010

Indicator set hierarchy Decision 17/COP.9 : I. Strategic Objectives a. Core indicators i. Provisional Indicators Proposed refinement : I. Strategic Objectives a. Core indicators ii. General indicators 1. Metrics/proxies General indicators (what should be measured) Metrics/proxies (methodologically defined measures to make the General indicators operational) This refinement essentially splits apart two, often confounding aspects of the debate in indicator development and selection: what the indicator should measure, and the metric or proxy that should be used to measure it.

Refine the Metrics/proxies level Candidate Metrics/proxies: how an indicator might be measured have been proposed for each of the general indicators by a number of synergistic activities: GEF KM:Land, LADA and CBD the information for each metric/proxy provided includes: purpose, description, source, spatial and temporal refinement, and noted strengths and weaknesses. they were evaluated during the Initial Expert Review and discussed during the Technical Workshop they were rated based on their “readiness” for testing, so that indicators deemed necessary, but not yet ready to implement would remain under consideration (Green = ready for testing, Yellow = requires fine tuning, Red = requires further development) level of agreement among the experts varied point to point

Data requirements :scale issues Global Regional National Filling gaps / desaggregation Local Aggregation/Compilation 11

Further steps: data requirements SOCIETAL BENEFIT AREAS Information and data provided CLIMATE Basic hydroclimatological data Global carbon observation WATER Drought forecast and impact Basic data for water management ECOSYSTEMS Land Cover/Land Use Mapping (changes) EcosytemS Function and Services (Productivity) AGRICULTURE Land management practices Agricultural productivity BIODIVERSITY Agro-ecosystem biodiversity (pant, animal and soil) Soil capacity and level of degradation Socio-economic data 12

Next steps  Capacity building and data management Cooperation and synergies with organization and networks of data providers. Facilitation to access to global and regional data sets Need for developing regional and national capacity building Advocacy for Global Drylands Observing System The only Rio Convention not having an observing system Recommended by the UNCCD 1st Scientific Conference

Next steps  Pilot testing Pilot tests are being launched with the technical support of the UNEP-WCMC They will inform the process of impact indicators refinement and will allow to gain experience with their successful use in preparation for the reporting in 2012 The results of the tests will be presented to the COP 10 Specific objectives assessing the availability of data; assessing existing and proposed methodologies for the collection and analysis of data; considering how different methodologies can be reconciled and aggregated to move from the national to the global level; ascertaining the capacity gaps that need to be addressed; identifying what institutional arrangements already exist and/or would be necessary at national level for successful compilation, validation and reporting of indicators; contribute to the refinement of the set of impact indicators.

Summing up The ten year Strategy ask for tracking the progress made in the achievements of the strategic objectives.In 2012 affected country Parties will report for the first time against impact indicators 2 mandatory indicators: Proportion of the population in affected areas living above the poverty line; Land cover status; The remaining impact indicators optional for inclusion in reports An iterative process for refinement Needs for support, cooperation in providing and sharing data and capacity building Reporting on impact indicators is part of the new performance review and assessment of implementation system (PRAIS) 15

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