1. Lazare TIA General Coordinator of GeoS-NetAfrica Institute of Tropical Geography Félix Houphouet-Boigny University (Côte d’Ivoire) GeoS-NetAfrica and GEONETCast for Education and Biodiversity Conservation in Africa International DAAD-Alumni Seminar 2014 12 - 15 September 2014, Bonn (Germany)

2. Outline 1. GEONETCast 2. GeoS-NetAfrica 3. Biodiversity and Environmental Surveillance 4. Collaborations and Challenges

3. 1. GEONETCast  GEONETCast is a global network of satellite-based data dissemination systems providing environmental data to a world-wide user community (Eumetsat)  Aim: To strengthen international cooperation on Global Earth Observation (Eumetsat)  Key GEONETCast data providers are: EUMETSAT, VITO, NOAA, ECMWF/Met Office, Deutscher Wetterdienst, Météo-France

4. 1. GEONETCast (Cont.)

5. 2. GeoS-NetAfrica  GeoS-NetAfrica: African Experts Network for Environmental Surveillance  GeoS-NetAfrica was established on Nov. 2012 during a regional GEONETCast AGRICAB workshop in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)  Main objective: To contribute to strengthening capacities and to create platforms for the acquisition, harmonization, valorization and sharing of geo-spatial data for decision-making related to environmental monitoring in Africa

6. 2. GeoS-NetAfrica (Cont.)  GeoS-NetAfrica is represented in 11 African countries: Mauritania, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Central African Republic, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo  GeoS-NetAfrica works with International Calice to set up GEONETCast reception stations for the dissemination of satellite-based data, images and products in near real-time, in Africa  Partners of GeoS-NetAfrica: AGRICAB, ITC, VITO, Agrhymet, etc.  For details, visit www.internationalcalice.org

7. 3. Biodiversity and Envir. Surveillance  Setup of GEONETCast receiving station infrastructure at universities and research centers  Validation and valorization of data  Capacity building and creation of new Master Programs

8. 4. Collaborations and Challenges To collaborate with and build on African and international activities including higher education and research in the fields of: (i)Environment and health: mapping potential areas of proliferation of malaria vectors (vector control), (ii)Management of water resources: estimation of volumes and spatial dynamics of surface water resources, (iii)Climate Change: environmental disturbances, food security and natural disasters (iv)Man and environment: human actions and degradation of the natural environment (biodiversity).

9. Thank you !