1. The role of Earth Observation in monitoring and reporting SDG Indicator 6.6.1
Jason Jabour, UN Environment,

2. SDG Indicator 6.6.1
Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
Sub-indicators:
Spatial Extent
Quantity
Quality*
Freshwater Ecosystems:
Open Water Bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers, estuaries)
Vegetated Wetlands (swamps, swamp forests, marshes, paddies, peatlands and mangroves)
Groundwater 2

3. The role of Earth Observations in measuring indicator 6.6.1
Benefits of EO data:
high resolution
captures lots of water bodies
data collection cost low
(Surmountable) challenges of EO data:
Measurements of national wetland inventories possible but not yet available
Some ecosystem types are difficult to delineate and rivers and small reservoirs may not be captured
Flow data still required from ground measurements, as well as ground truthing of land cover maps
Country ownership of data is critical – investment in training & capacity req’d 3

4. So what’s stopping us…. Global platform √ Country demand √
EO data available √
Global guidance on which EO products can be used for which purposes
Capacity to use global products to create nationally relevant indicators
Resources for ground truthing 4

5. So what’s stopping us….
GEO community to collaborate and coordinate data, including guidance on the use of different global products
UN Environment to build country capacity to own and use geospatial data – including capacity building on turning geospatial data into statistics and indicators 5

6. Thank you www.unep.org Jason Jabbour, Science Division
UN Environment, Washing DC Office .