Proposal for a GEO Community of Practice for Forest Observations Michael Brady, Canada Göran Boberg and Hakan Olsson, Sweden Martin Herold and Christiane Schmullius, GOFC-GOLD GEO II, User Interface Committee Meeting 16 December, Geneva

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 filled 3.Promote consensus-building among producers and users about the highest priority forest observation needs 4.Cooperate in activities with existing forest observation initiatives where GEOSS can add value (e.g., IGOL, FAO- FRA, etc.) 5.Advise the User Interface Committee, other CPs 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 sensing 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),

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

Working Methods Following existing community of practice guidance materials and experiences Recruit CoP members Link to GEO 2006 work plan targets 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 …

Plan of Activities Identify user requirements: consistency and continuity of observations integrating in-situ and local to global scale information international data dissemination (similar to national- level practices) user involvement: from observations to applications Adapting to emerging approaches and technologies

Establish links to related user survey activities anticipated in the GEO 2006 work plan: AG-06-01: Survey of user needs for agriculture, rangelands, forestry and fisheries (FAO) 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) Plan of Activities

Schedule Nov. 2005: Expression of interest Dec. 2005: Presentation at the GEO II User Interface committee meeting March 2006: Draft terms of reference Objectives and framework Define and contact CoP member organizations Summer 2006: Forest CoP initiation workshop Finalize terms of reference and plan of activities CoP chair/co-chair and coordinating office Fourth quarter 2006: Forest CoP established Report to User Interface Committee in Dec. 2006

Thank you - Questions? Point of contact: Martin Herold, ESA GOFC-GOLD Land Cover Office

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: