1. Outline of the Session
09:30 Introductions: Sasha Alexander (UNCCD) and Alex Zvoleff (CI)
10:00 Land Cover and Land Cover Change: Marc Paganini (ESA)
10:15 Discussant: Alex Held (CSIRO)
10:30 Land Productivity: Jorge Enrique Pinzon (NASA)
10:45 Discussants: Mariano Gonzalez-Roglich (CI) and Neil Sims (CSIRO)
11:00 Open Discussion: Possible GEO initiative
In this PPT I will introduce SDG indicator and its method of computation. I will then briefly explain what the UNCCD is doing for its methodological development and in support to countries. Finally, I will present next steps and the possible involvement of GEO

2. SDG indicator
Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
The UNCCD is custodian agency of SDG target 15.3 and its indicator “Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area”
GEO Week Side Event
23 October 2017
Sasha Alexander, Policy Officer, UNCCD secretariat

3. SDG target 15.3 and SDG indicator 15.3.1 What is the UNCCD doing?
Outline of the presentation
SDG target 15.3 and SDG indicator
What is the UNCCD doing?
Mandate
Methods and guidelines
Standards and classification systems
Data collection and availability
Next steps and GEO potential involvement
In this PPT I will introduce SDG indicator and its method of computation. I will then briefly explain what the UNCCD is doing for its methodological development and in support to countries. Finally, I will present next steps and the possible involvement of GEO

4. SDG indicator
Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area
Sub-Indicators
Land cover
Land Productivity
Carbon stocks (assessed as SOC)
These 3 sub-indicators:
were adopted by the UNCCD’s governing body (the COP) in 2013
are also Essential Climate Variable (ECV) 
SDG indicator is computed using 3 sub-indicators: land cover, land productivity and carbon stock, assessed as SOC stock. These 3 sub indicators have been adopted by the UNCCD’s governing body, the COP, for reporting on the implementation of the Convention and they are also ECVs. Potential for synergies

5. SDG indicator
Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area
The indicator is estimated by summing all areas subject to “negative” change (i.e., degraded) in one of the sub-indicators and dividing by the total land area  “One Out, All Out” area-based approach
The indicator is derived using a “One Out, All Out” area-based approach; in other words by summing all areas subject to “negative” change (i.e., degraded) in one of the sub-indicators and dividing by the total land area

6. UNCCD’s mandate
The UNCCD is the custodian agency for SDG indicator
The UNCCD leads an Inter-Agency Advisory Group on indicator composed of FAO, CBD, UNFCCC, UNEP and UNSD to further refine the methodology and data tools/options
In Sept. 2017, the UNCCD COP requested the secretariat, as the custodian agency for SDG indicator , to:
use the information submitted by Parties in national reports as a contribution to the overall follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda
continue to cooperate with relevant organizations in the development of methodologies and capacity building approaches for reporting
In 2015, the UNCCD COP also requested the secretariat, in cooperation with relevant specialized institutions, to:
Compile and make available to Parties national estimates of the sub-indicators from available global datasets as default data
Prepare methodological guidelines and provide technical assistance to Parties
Undertake measures aimed at strengthening the capacities of Parties
What is the UNCCD doing? As I previously mentioned the UNCCD is the custodian agency for SDG indicator and is leading an Inter-Agency Advisory Group composed of FAO, CBD, UNFCCC, UNEP and UNSD to further refine the methodological approach for the computation of the indicator.
Earlier in September, the UNCCD COP has recognized the role of the UNCCD secretariat as the custodian agency for SDG indicator and basically requested the secretariat to leverage the well-established UNCCD reporting to contribute to the SDG follow-up and review process.
In addition the secretariat has the mandate to support countries with provision of data, methodological guidance and technical assistance.

7. Methods and guidelines
A scientific conceptual framework for Land Degradation Neutrality underpins a universal methodology for deriving SDG indicator
It was endorsed by the UNCCD’s COP in September 2017
Available at:
In terms of methodological guidance, the UNCCD has developed a scientific conceptual framework for Land Degradation Neutrality which underpins a methodology for deriving SDG indicator and has been endorsed by the UNCCD COP earlier in September.

8. Methods and guidelines
Good Practice Guidance (GPG) is now being finalized based on the established methods for deriving the three sub-indicators together with a method of computation for SDG indicator
GPG is intended to allow countries to select the most appropriate datasets for the sub-indicators and determine their own pathway for deriving the indicator
Significant negative change (i.e., land degradation) is to be determined by national authorities
External review and consultation with the IAEG-SDGs Working Group on Geospatial Information (including GEO/CEOS), NSOs/countries (CEEA/GGIM) and other stakeholders.
The UNCCD is also finalizing jointly with the Inter-Agency Advisory Group some Good Practice Guidance (GPG) for deriving SDG indicator and its sub-indicators. The GPG is intended to provide countries with some general methodological guidance while giving them the flexibility of using the most appropriate datasets and determining their own pathway for deriving the indicator.

9. Standards & Classifications systems
Land Cover: ISO :2012, specifies a Land Cover Meta Language that allows different land cover classification systems to be described based on the physiognomic aspects
LPD: - planned
SOC: Considering ISO
Metadata: ISO :2014, defines the schema required for describing geographic information and services by means of metadata
In terms of international standards related to the SDG indicator and its sub-indicators, the only available standard is the Land Cover Meta Language (i.e. Land Cover: ISO :2012) that allows different land cover classification systems to be described based on the physiognomic aspects and therefore to reconcile national and global land cover classification systems. For land productivity, SOC or land degradation, international standards are currently not available.

10. Data Collection & Availability
National official data sources will be used to the greatest extent possible, and complemented by data derived from Earth observation and geospatial information with availability back to at least 2000
Default data will be sent to national teams or focal points to be shared and validated with NSOs and then reported back to the UNCCD
In terms of data availability, obviously the use of national official data sources will be preferred and encouraged. However, to overcome data gaps and in line with the mandate we have received form the COP, the UNCCD is deriving national estimates from global data sources and making them available to countries as default data for validation and use in the UNCCD and SDG reporting processes. To this end, we are working with some technical partners, namely ESA, JRC and ISRIC. In particular, we are using the ESA Climate Change Initiative Land Cover dataset, which was released in April 2017 and consists of annual maps from 1992 to 2015 at 300m resolution, the JRC land productivity dynamics dataset, which was developed in the framework of the World Atlas on Desertification (to be released in November), and ISRIC’s Soilsgrids at 250m resolution.
ESA Climate Change Initiative Land Cover
JRC Land Productivity Dynamics
ISRIC SoilGrids250m

11. Example: Madagascar
This is just an example of the type of products and maps we can make available to countries using the global products.

12. Current status of implementation
Out of the 113 countries that have committed to set LDN targets, 64 countries have already established a baseline thanks to the data and technical support made available by the UNCCD
Out of the 113 countries that have committed to set LDN targets, 64 countries have already established a baseline

13. Next steps
Upgrade to Tier 2 up for discussion at IAEG-SDG meeting in November
Next UNCCD reporting in 2018, and then every 4 years  results will feed into SDG reporting
Methodology: further development of standards
Data still large and complex: lack of necessary expertise, particularly in developing countries, to access, prepare, process, and utilize raw space- based data. Need for analysis-ready data and capacity building
Moderate resolution is an issue, especially in mountainous regions, small island states and highly fragmented landscapes. Need to move to higher resolution datasets (10-30m)
Reliable consistent product with well defined accuracy and quality at national level (aiming at 92% confidence levels)
Data and application API and open web map services
Development of validation tools
So what’s next and how can GEO contribute?
In November, there will be an IAEG-SDG meeting where we will aim at having SDG indicator upgraded to Tier 2.
The next UNCCD reporting will start in 2018 and then continue with a frequency of 4 years; this implies that from 2019 we will be able to contribute information to the SDG reporting process.
Efforts to improve the methodology and data availability for SDG indicator will continue.
Particularly important: the further development of standards, the provision of analysis-ready data and capacity building to countries, the development of reliable products at higher spatial resolution, and of user-friendly tools for data validation.

14. Possible GEO initiative
In September 2017, the UNCCD Conference of the Parties:
“Invites the Group on Earth Observation to support UNCCD Parties’ efforts at implementation of the Convention by providing space-based information and in situ measurements to assist countries in fulfilling the reporting requirements for Sustainable Development Goal indicator , and fostering data access, national data capacity-building and the development of standards and protocols”
The UNCCD COP has taken a decision that invites GEO to provide space-based information and in situ measurements, foster data access, national data capacity-building and the development of standards and protocols to assist countries in fulfilling the reporting requirements for SDG indicator
Ideally we hope this decision could lead to the establishment of the GEO LD initiative and we would like to solicit ideas on how such an initiative could evolve. There will be a side event at GEO Week 2017 in Washington DC to update the GEO representatives on the work being undertaken by the UNCCD as the custodian agency for SDG indicator and discuss the potential role of GEO.

15. Possible GEO Initiative
UNCCD regional capacity building workshops: Rapid deployment would involve preparing curriculum and conducting training sessions to support countries in preparing and submitting their UNCCD national reports
These 3-day workshops are tentatively scheduled February and March (India, Brazil, Grenada, Samoa, Moldova, Cameroon , and Egypt or Lebanon).
Facilitate access to space-based information and in situ measurements for the three sub-indicators;
Provide advice, tools and training to build national capacities
Federated collaborative platforms: with high computing capacities and big data analytics tools for countries to easily select, access, process, analyze, interpret and quality control large datasets associated with EO and geospatial information; and to host initial global consultations, perhaps in late 2018, to help advance progress on developing international standards and protocols .
The UNCCD COP has taken a decision that invites GEO to provide space-based information and in situ measurements, foster data access, national data capacity-building and the development of standards and protocols to assist countries in fulfilling the reporting requirements for SDG indicator
Ideally we hope this decision could lead to the establishment of the GEO LD initiative and we would like to solicit ideas on how such an initiative could evolve. There will be a side event at GEO Week 2017 in Washington DC to update the GEO representatives on the work being undertaken by the UNCCD as the custodian agency for SDG indicator and discuss the potential role of GEO.

16. Possible GEO Initiative
GEO members: China*, India*, Brazil*, Mexico*, South Africa*, Japan, Canada, Australia, European Commission, USA
GEO participating organizations: UNCCD, GEF**, JRC**, CI**, FAO**, GCOS, UNOOSA, EEA, CEOS
CEOS members: ESA**, NASA**, JAXA, ISRO, INPE, CSA, CSIRO**, SANSA
* UNCCD LDN-TSP participating countries ** UNCCD partners on methodology and data delivery
The UNCCD COP has taken a decision that invites GEO to provide space-based information and in situ measurements, foster data access, national data capacity-building and the development of standards and protocols to assist countries in fulfilling the reporting requirements for SDG indicator
Ideally we hope this decision could lead to the establishment of the GEO LD initiative and we would like to solicit ideas on how such an initiative could evolve. There will be a side event at GEO Week 2017 in Washington DC to update the GEO representatives on the work being undertaken by the UNCCD as the custodian agency for SDG indicator and discuss the potential role of GEO.