1. Siri Jodha S. KHALSA khalsa.s@czechglobe.cz
The Second Decade of GEOSS: Perspectives on the GEO Strategic Plan
Siri Jodha S. KHALSA
15 min + 5 for questions

2. The Group on Earth Observation
Overview of GEO & GEOSS
Origins
Mission, purpose, scope
What GEO is and isn’t
The GEO Work Program
Types of activities and how they get into WP
GEO Initiatives focused on agriculture and forestry
GFOI
GEOGLAM
This talk will describe the different types of initiatives within the Work Programme (community activities, initiatives, foundational tasks, and flagships) and then highlight several of particular interest to the agriculture and forestry sectors.

3. The Group on Earth Observation
Earth Observation Summit - U.S. Department of State, Washington DC, 31 July 2003
Created in 2005, to develop a coordinated and sustained Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) to enhance decision making in nine Societal Benefit Areas.

4. GEO Vision The Global Earth Observation System of Systems
To realize a future wherein decisions and actions, for the benefit of humankind, are informed by coordinated, comprehensive & sustained Earth observations & information.
The Global Earth Observation System of Systems
The Group on Earth Observations, GEO, a global partnership of governments and organizations, seeks to facilitate the delivery of sound and timely environmental information that is derived from observing systems, and processed by information systems contributed by the GEO community.
GEO is also committed to making it possible for members in all part of the world to take full advantage of the Earth observing resources made available through the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

5. GEO Objectives Improve and coordinate observation systems
Advance broad open data policies and data management practices
Foster increased use of EO data and information
Improve decision-makers’ abilities to address pressing policy issues
Facilitate exchange of data and information
Improve decision-makers’ abilities to address pressing policy issues
Enable solutions for the benefit of the society
Deliver the advantages of EO to both data & information providers and consumers world wide

6. 102 GEO Member Countries

7. 95 Participating Organizations

8. The 8 Societal Benefit Areas of GEO

9. Driving Issues Uncertainty over continuity of observations
Large spatial and temporal gaps in specific data sets
Limited access to data and associated benefits in developing world
Inadequate data integration and interoperability
Lack of relevant processing systems to transform data into useful information
Lack of technical infrastructure in many parts of the world

10. GEOSS – Connecting Users with Data
Environment
Disasters
GEOSS
Portal
Biodiversity
Climate/Weather
International Providers
Ocean
Voluntary contributions
Discovery and
Access Broker (DAB)
Cryosphere
Geology/Soil
… more than 100 public providers…
Satellites
Regional & National Providers
Water
Health
Energy
Brazil
Private sector providers
Australia
Canada
Chile
China
France
Germany
Japan
Russia
Spain
Switzerland
USA
Italy
New Zealand
Norway
South Africa

11. Brokering Organizations

12. Evolution of GEO Beginning the 2nd decade of GEO
Support for Policy Mandates (SBAs and SDGs)
Recognition of GEO’s convening power – Member Countries, POs, Development Banks, Foundations, Private Sector
Facilitate international collaboration based on international, national and local programs
Promote international sharing of data and information for science, government, NGOs and industry
Defining User Requirements
Linking Existing Global Systems
Delivering Global Monitoring Initiatives
Supporting Regional GEOSS Activities
Strengthening Policy Mandates and Partnerships

13. Elements of Work Program
GEO, which recently drafted its Strategic Plan, carries out its mission through a Work Programme that includes a diversity of activities.

14. Community Activities - 2016

15. GEO Initiatives

16. Foundational Tasks

17. Global Forest Observations Initiative
The Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI) is led by Australia, Norway, the USA, the United Nations FAO, and CEOS
The GFOI Advisory Committee includes experts from:
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Inventory Bureau. 
the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF)
Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD)
institutions in some of the 100 GEO Member countries
Experts from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the greenhouse gas inventory programme of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) and institutions in GEO member countries are represented on the Advisory Committee.

18. GFOI Components Space Data Capacity Building Methods and Guidance
Works with space agencies through CEOS to ensure the long-term, acquisition of core satellite data
helps countries meet their individual data needs
Capacity Building
Provides capacity building and supports the use of satellite and ground data to monitor forests, and estimate GHGs.
Methods and Guidance
Guidance on integrating remote-sensing and ground-based observations for estimation of emissions and removals of greenhouse gases in forests.
Research and Development
Identifying and promoting R&D needed for practical, global implementation of National Forest Monitoring
GFOI Office
Coordination and Management

19. Governance of the GFOI GFOI Leads
GEO Plenary
GFOI Leads
Aus, Nor, US, CEOS, FAO
Coordination of satellite data supply
CEOS
Capacity Building
US and FAO
Methods & Guidance Documentation
Australia
Methodological R&D
ESA / GOFC-GOLD
Admin & Coordination
Programme Office
GFOI Steering Committee
Leads plus Brazil, China, Japan, MGD AG Chair, IPCC, UNFCCC, World Bank, GOFC-GOLD, GEO Sec Dir , National Demonstrator Reps

20. Methodological advice from GFOI
GFOI Methods and Guidance Document (2013)
Provides operational link between IPCC methods and all the REDD+ activities identified by UNFCCC
Consistent with the annual review of scientific developments provided by GOFC-GOLD Sourcebook
Aimed at technical implementers, negotiators and those responsible for REDD+ nationally

21. SilvaCarbon Program US and FAO Contribution to GFOI
Capacity building component of GFOI
Utilizes expertise of each USG agencies in collaboration with Academia, NGOs and Industry
Areas of work: Remote sensing, forest inventory implementation and analysis, and greenhouse gas inventory

22. GEOGLAM Global Agricultural Monitoring and Early Warning
G20 Meeting of Agricultural Ministers Action Plan on Food Price Volatility and Agriculture. Paris, France, June 2011
“In order to improve crop production projections and weather forecasting,… we decide to launch, via the Group on Earth Observation, an international voluntary network of agricultural production monitoring based on geoinformation” and remote sensing tools
The G20 Ministerial Declaration states thatGEOGLAM "will strengthen global agricultural monitoring by improving the use of remote sensing tools for crop production projections and weather forecasting".

23. GEOGLAM Monthly Global Crop Monitor bulletin
Global Rangelands and Grasslands Monitoring System
Coordination of Capacity Building activities
Coordinate R&D activities to improve crop monitoring methods
Maintain an efficient access to EO imagery
Deliver information for agricultural monitoring in developing countries through the GeoNetCast
Early Warning Crop Monitor in countries subject to periodic food security crises

24. Conclulsions
GEO uses its convening power to marshall the resources of Member Countries, POs, Development Banks and the Private Sector to bring benefits and address pressing societal concerns
GEO facilitates international collaboration around international, national and local programs
Greater participation of the Czech Republic in GEO activities would yield mutual benefits

25. Czech GEO Contacts Radim Tolasz, GEO Principal Vladimir Fanta
Czech Hydrometeorology Institute
Vladimir Fanta
CENIA, Czech Environmental Information

26. khalsa.s@czechglobe.cz khalsa@colorado.edu
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