The GEO African Water Cycle Coordination Initiative IGCP 565 Workshop 4 Wits, Johannesburg, South Africa 22 November 2011 Imraan Saloojee Department of Science & Technology South Africa IGWCO UNESCO CEOS GEOWOW Univ. of Tokyo

The Earth is a complex system of systems

© GEO Secretariat Mankind has become a Geophysical Parameter Geophysics has become a Political Issue … Earth Observations are needed to inform decisions

IKONOS QuickBird SPIN-2 SPOT 4, 5 EROS A1 Envisat Aura/Aqua/Terra Grace QuikScat Sage SeaWinds TRMM Toms-EP UARS Landsat 7 SORCE ACRIMSAT CBERS SeaWiFS ERBS Jason Orbview 2, 3 RadarsatALOS DMC Remote Observing Systems

In-situ systems

Need for: Earth observation Coordination Interoperable Architecture and Formats Data Sharing … to benefit fully from Earth Observation Systems The Tower of Babel problem…

U.S. Department of State, Washington DC July 31, 2003 GEO, the Group on Earth Observations An Intergovernmental group with 89 Members and 67 Participating Organizations

 Improve and Coordinate Observation Systems (avoid duplications)  Provide Easier & More Open Data Access  Foster Use (Science, Applications)  Building Capacity  Identify gaps in observations (based on user requirements) …Earth Observation Systems should be coordinated and shared internationally … to answer Society’s need for informed decision making GEO: main objectives

What is GEOSS? an integrating public infrastructure, interconnecting a diverse, growing array of Earth observing instruments and information systems for monitoring and forecasting changes in the global environment supports policymakers, resource managers, science researchers and other experts to support informed decision making for society 10-year implementation plan 2015: Global, Coordinated, Comprehensive and Sustained System of Observing Systems

GEOSS Data Sharing Principles © GEO Secretariat The GEOSS 10-Year Implementation Plan (2005) states: “The societal benefits of Earth observations cannot be achieved without data sharing.” There will be full and open exchange of data, metadata and products shared within GEOSS, recognizing relevant international instruments and national policies and legislation. All shared data, metadata and products will be made available with minimum time delay and at minimum cost. All shared data, metadata and products being free of charge or no more than cost of reproduction will be encouraged for research and education.

© GEO Secretariat The 2010 GEO Ministerial Declaration Commited (GEO Members) to: (i)Maximise the number of documented datasets made available on the basis of full & open access; (ii)Create the GEOSS Data Collection of Open Resources for Everyone (GEOSS Data-CORE), a distributed pool of documented datasets with full, open and unrestricted access at no more than the cost of reproduction and distribution; and (iii)develop flexible national and international policy frameworks to ensure that a more open data environment is implemented, thus putting into practice actions for the implementation of the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles;

Climate Change Ecosystem Degradation Health Access to Water Trans-boundary Rivers Energy Drought Flood Disaster Agriculture Livestock Food Water basins serve as a basis for regional cooperation and development. On track to meet the MDG drinking water target: only 26 of the 53 countries Water related diseases: more than 80%  deaths for children under 5 Deficient agricultural water management: e.g. only 10% of irrigable lands are actually irrigated in WA. Hydropower development < 7% of the potential 5-25% of GDP due to droughts and floods in affected countries Climate impacts are greatest in poor countries.

The 1 st GEOSS African Water Cycle Symposium Jan. 2009

African Water Cycle Coordination Initiative: contributing to GEOSS Participants considered convergence and harmonization of observational activities, techniques, interoperability arrangements, and effective and comprehensive data management as the most fundamental elements that can be addressed under the GEOSS framework, including activities, programs and guidelines under UN agencies and non-UN agencies (AfDB, ESA, JAXA, NASA etc.). from the 1 st African Water Cycle Symposium in Tunis

African Water Cycle Coordination Initiative: contributing to GEOSS It was agreed that a task team be formed for survey of capacity development needs and resources, through: –Assessing water-related issues in Africa –Making an inventory of observations, modeling and information systems –Assessing the data policy –Drafting an implementation plan from the 1st African Water Cycle Symposium in Tunis

The 1 st GEOSS African Water Cycle Symposium The 1 st Task Team Meeting in Geneva Sharing water-related issues and needs in Africa Preparing a task team Jan Summary Report Identifying Task Team Action Items White Paper on GEO Capacity Building and Water Resource in Africa Regular Conference Call for Task Team Management Sept. 2009

The 1st Task Team meeting in preparation of the Second GEOSS African Water Cycle Symposium Geneva, September 2009 GEOSS 2 nd African Water Cycle Symposium Addis Ababa, 23-25, Feb., participants from 26 Countries 4 River basins 4 UN Agencies 6 Space Agencies 21 from Africa 2 from Europe 2 form North America 1 from Asia 5 Development Agencies

The 1 st GEOSS African Water Cycle Symposium Jan The 2 nd GEOSS African Water Cycle Symposium The 1 st Task Team Meeting in Geneva Sharing water-related issues and needs in Africa Sharing water-related issues and needs in Africa Preparing a task team Preparing a task team Feb Summary ReportSummary Report Identifying Task Team Action ItemsIdentifying Task Team Action Items White Paper on GEO Capacity Building and Water Resource in AfricaWhite Paper on GEO Capacity Building and Water Resource in Africa Regular Conference Call for Task Team ManagementRegular Conference Call for Task Team Management Sept Key messages regarding challenges facing Africa in the water sector: lack of access to data and data sharinglack of access to data and data sharing lack of infrastructure for collecting and analyzing datalack of infrastructure for collecting and analyzing data lack of funding and resourceslack of funding and resources need for capacity building, enhancement of capabilities, and retention of expertiseneed for capacity building, enhancement of capabilities, and retention of expertise political buy-in and role of national government is critical to the success of any initiativepolitical buy-in and role of national government is critical to the success of any initiative African Union encouraged to consider application for membership in GEO as a Participating OrganizationAfrican Union encouraged to consider application for membership in GEO as a Participating Organization

Extremes Flood/Drought mitigationadaptation Climate System Water Resources Management System Water Cycle Agriculture/Food Biodiversity/Ecosystem Health Energy Coordinated and Integrated Efforts for Working Together MDGs Climate ChangeBiodiversity Regime Shift Sustainable Development Green Growth

The 1 st GEOSS African Water Cycle Symposium The 2 nd GEOSS African Water Cycle Symposium The 1 st Task Team Meeting in Geneva Sharing water-related issues and needs in Africa Preparing a task team Jan Feb Summary Report Identifying Task Team Action Items Regular Conference Call for Task Team Management Sharing common ideas as the implementation basis: issues, gaps, needs, potentials, benefits, framework, vision Key strategies: “coordination” and “integration” Demonstrations: Niger and Volta River Basin Authorities, IGWCO, GEOWOW, Univ. of Tokyo Contribution to Rio+20 The GEO-UNESCO Joint Workshop Sharing ideas and experiences Planning for working together Capacity building for IWRM Sept Jan. 2012

GEO-UNESCO Joint Workshop on Earth Observations and Capacity Development for IWRM for River Basins in Africa Nairobi, Kenya, January, 2012

The 1 st GEOSS African Water Cycle Symposium The 2 nd GEOSS African Water Cycle Symposium The 1 st Task Team Meeting in Geneva Sharing water-related issues and needs in Africa Preparing a task team Jan June, 2012 Feb Summary Report Identifying Task Team Action Items Regular Conference Call for Task Team Management Rio +20 Sharing common ideas as the implementation basis: issues, gaps, needs, potentials, benefits, framework, vision Key strategies: “coordination” and “integration” Demonstrations: Niger and Volta River Basin Authorities, IGWCO, GEOWOW, Univ. of Tokyo Contribution to Rio+20 The GEO-UNESCO Joint Workshop Sharing ideas and experiences Planning for working together Capacity building for IWRM Sept The 3 rd GEOSS African Water Cycle Symposium Feb Jan Discussing an implementation plan Contribution to Rio+20 Implementation

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