Global Forest Observations Initiative Simon Eggleston GFOI SDCG 5, Rome, Italy, 25 Feb 2014,

Climate Change and Forests There are many reasons to protect forests Deforestation and forest degradation globally are significant sources of CO2 (nearly 12% to global total emissions) Forests support indigenous and forest peoples and their livelihoods, preserve biodiversity and maintain water resources Responding to the urgent need to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, the Global Forest Observations Initiative fosters the sustained availability and use of satellite data for national forest monitoring systems.

National Forest Monitoring Systems Essential to plan and monitor forest protection Part of Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Required for REDD+ under the UNFCCC Must be sustainable and efficient Use reliable, timely and affordable data Ground and satellite data Estimate greenhouse gas emissions & removals, carbon stocks and changes in carbon stocks

Development of GFOI GEO Forest Carbon tracking started in 2008 Worked with national demonstrator countries and supported capacity development and provision of satellite data Now we wish to continue and extend this to more countries in a more systematic way. Want to continue to work with these countries in a way that suits country needs This is the GFOI - the Global Forest Observations Initiative GFOI is led by FAO, CEOS, Australia, Norway and the USA

GFOI The Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI) mission is to foster the sustained availability and use of satellite and ground observations in support of national efforts to better manage forest resources. GFOI will: support countries’ national efforts to implement the national forest monitoring and measuring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems that they wish to implement; help countries report in accordance with relevant internationally accepted frameworks, including: UNFCCC guidance and the IPCC Good Practice Guidance

GFOI will: provide a platform for coordinating observations : in order to assure the systematic, sustained and worldwide acquisition and supply of forest observations the GFOI will work with the space agencies of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), commercial data providers and researchers collecting relevant ground data; and provide assistance and guidance on utilising observations : GFOI will collaborate with national institutions and international bodies such as the FAO, World Bank and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to ensure that countries are able to utilize the available data; by developing methods, guidance and advice; providing capacity building; promoting ongoing research and development.

Why GFOI! There are many organisations supporting the implementation of REDD+ GFOI’s unique features are its links to space agencies and their commitment to acquire data needed for annual forest monitoring. Participation by many experts in Earth Observation, organisations involved in REDD+ and developing countries GFOI has: Active support and involvement of 13 space agencies Active involvement of key REDD+ and GHG institutions: UNFCCC, FAO, World Bank, IPCC Explicit endorsement by 90 countries (GEO) and 67 international organisations Active involvement of developing country participants UNFCCC decisions on REDD+, reporting and MRV IPCC guidelines on estimating emissions and removals of GHG, Countries: implementation, specifically national forest monitoring and MRV Support Programmes (UNREDD and FCPF …) Support to Countries GFOI provide a platform for coordinating observations: provide methodological advice and support in using observations

GFOI Methods and Guidance Documentation Satellite Data Acquisition (SDCG) Administration and Management (GFOI Office) Research and Development Capacity Building (SilvaCarbon and bilateral efforts)

Methods and Guidance Aims to provide advice on the use of Earth Observation Data (both remote sensing and ground based) in National Forest Monitoring Systems Advice is consistent with UNFCCC and IPCC Underlies most of GFOI activities: An important input to determining space data acquisition needs Defines future needs and what is operational for R&D component Should be input into capacity building GFOI is working with other (UN-REDD and FCPF) on the use of the MGD

The first MGD Document The document provides operational advice to countries and international organisations ; for the use of earth observations in the development of national forest monitoring and Measuring, Reporting and Verifying (MRV) systems; is consistent with the decisions made in Warsaw; is consistent with IPCC Guidelines; provides advice for each REDD activity; provides advice on using satellite data;

Space Data Work with the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) GEOS has set up the Space Data Coordination Group (SDCG) to support GFOI First met in 2012 and have developed first part of strategy to acquire core data free, annual, cloud-free… Work is continuing to extend this to non-core data Also proposals are being made for delivery and pre-processing mechanisms that are sustainable and long-term

CEOS Baseline Global Acquisition Strategy for GFOI CEOS has agreed a coordinated global data acquisition strategy involving core data streams that can be shared openly and acquired free-of-charge for GFOI purposes. Provides annual, systematic and sustained wall-to-wall acquisitions of forested areas, for National Forest Monitoring and consistent with REDD+ requirements. Global coverage by 2016

Data Delivered for GFOI

Proposed Space Data Services Regional GFOI Space Data workshops Impartial national space data needs assessments National historical coverage reports. Ensured On-going Coverage Core Data Delivery. Cloud storage, processing and analysis of satellite data via a new GFOI Space Data Management System (SDMS)

Capacity Development SilvaCarbon Also bi-lateral efforts e.g.: Indonesia-Australia Kenya-Australia Tanzania-Norway Key is to coordinate with other providing similar support (e.g. UN-REDD) Use of MGD

Research and Development There is a need to develop some techniques to ensure countries can implement National Forest Monitoring Systems and MRV Systems. For example: Monitoring of forest degradation Use of multiple sensors and satellites together GFOI has reviewed the current situation and will produce a plan of topics than need to be addressed Aim is to be very practical and needs oriented

Thank you