GEO Community of Practice for Forest Observations Michael Brady, Canada Göran Boberg and Hakan Olsson, Sweden Erkki Tomppo, Finland Martin Herold and Christiane Schmullius, GOFC-GOLD User Interface Committee Meeting September 2006, Ottawa

Objectives 1.Create a community of practice with broad representation of producers and users of forest data and information 2.Identify, gather, and seek agreement on user community requirements for forest observations, their present status and gaps to be filled 3.Cooperate in activities with existing forest observation initiatives where GEOSS can add value (e.g., IGOL, FAO- FRA, etc.) 4.Promote consensus-building among producers and users about the highest priority forest observation needs 5.Advise the User Interface Committee, other CoPs and GEO on matters relating to forest observations and related societal benefits, and on cross-cutting issues of interest 6.Facilitate outreach in support of the above objectives

Justification Combining remote and in situ observations is under utilised Lack of co-ordinated long term observation plans Need to improve joint remote sensing and in situ inventory methods to estimate global forest estimates Earth observation challenges: varying user requirements observation continuity (satellite, in situ) move from research to operations harmonization of forest information data access issues (regional/national data sets, in situ) capacity building and outreach

Heterogeneity of forest estimates in global land cover maps Forest definitions: IGBP legend : percent tree cover >60% / tree height >2m GLC2000 legend : percent tree cover >15% / tree height >3m Credit: M. Herold / GOFC-GOLD

Forest observations and GEO Forests are a key terrestrial ecosystem and habitat GEOSS reference plan: land cover and forests are important for all areas of societal benefit terrestrial observation domain least developed Forests and the environmental conventions: carbon and water cycle response to climate change continued deforestation and forest degradation biodiversity

Hot spots of deforestation Source: Lepers, E., E.F. Lambin, A.C. Janetos, R. DeFries, F. Achard, N. Ramankutty and R.J. Scholes (2005). A synthesis of information on rapid land-cover change for the period BioScience, 55 (2),

Forest Observations Cover Density (crown closure) LAI, FPAR Biophysical processes (NPP, fire) Vegetation type Biomass Species Disturbance, natural/anthropogenic Inundation Regeneration Stand structure Basal area/volume Age class Tree measurements (age, DBH, ht, etc) Forest floor and belowground biomass Variety of remote and in situ observations:

Membership To include producers, developers and users of forest observations and observation systems open access, voluntary, best efforts based Representatives from GEO member states Sweden, Canada, Finland … Participating international organizations CEOS, UN FAO – FRA, GTOS/GOFC-GOLD, … Other stakeholders with similar interests NFI, GSE Forest Monitoring, … Developing and developed countries represented

Forest Observation Community (1) Global Change Science (2) Timber, Fuel and Fiber (3) Watershed Protection (4) Biodiversity and Conservation (5) FCCC and other Environmental Agreements (6) Recreation and Tourism (7) Sustainable Forest Management (8) Forest Perturbations and Protection (fire, insects, disease) Membership determined by range of uses for forest observations and information

Membership Focus on linking (within GEO context) existing networks and international organizations, e.g. FAO ENFIN IUFRO ITTO CGIAR GOFC-GOLD Regional Networks

Work to Date Following existing community of practice guidance materials and experiences Recruit CoP co-leads, establish work routine Address forest observations for societal benefits in: AGRICULTURE:forestry and resources DISASTERS: loss due to forest fires CLIMATE: deforestation and carbon cycle ECOSYSTEMS: services and functioning BIODIVERISTY:conservation of habitats CAPACITY BUILDING: local - global communities … others … Link to GEO 2006 work plan targets

Establish links to related user survey activities anticipated in the GEO 2006 work plan: AG-06-04: Initiate an international assessment effort on forests and forest changes utilizing ongoing land cover mapping projects (e.g. GLOBCOVER) EC-06-05: Survey the research community involved in in- situ observations and modeling for new platform and sensor needs, or for suggestions for better use of existing systems (IGBP) BI-06-02: Conduct a series of workshops and meetings to define the needs and requirements of the biodiversity information users sector (DIVERSITAS, GBIF, UNESCO, GTOS, GEO Members) Work to Date

Preliminary identification of user needs: consistency and continuity of observations Accessible and low/no cost user involvement: from observations to applications Adapting to emerging approaches and technologies integrating in-situ and local to global scale information Initial focus of FCoP: integrating in-situ and space based forest observations Involvement in planning process for upcoming global forest assessment (FRA 2010)

Identify and contact key forest organizations for involvement: FAO Forestry Program, Forest Resource Assessment National Forest Inventory (ENFIN, NAFC) Work to Date

Planned Activities September 2006: Guidance at UIC meeting Membership strategy Coordination with UIC and GEOSEC Communications with GEO members (letter, website) October 2006: Forest CoP meeting Meet with key forest organizations Engage in selected forest observation activity (FRA 2010) Expand FCoP organizational structure and procedures November 2006: Forest CoP introduction at GEO Plenary User Interface Committee side event

Needs from UIC Point of contact among co-chairs Communications and reporting Advice and guidance Guidelines on membership Limitations Communications support GEO protocols UIC, GEOSEC, plenary, website Feedback, lessons learned Other CoPs

Thank you - Questions? Point of contact: Michael Brady, Canadian Forest Service