GEO Community of Practice for Forest Observations Michael Brady, Canada Göran Boberg and Hakan Olsson, Sweden Erkki Tomppo, Finland Martin Herold and Christiane.

GEO Community of Practice for Forest Observations

Michael Brady, Canada

Göran Boberg and Hakan Olsson, Sweden

Erkki Tomppo, Finland

Martin Herold and Christiane Schmullius, GOFC-GOLD

User Interface Committee Meeting

September 2006, Ottawa

Objectives

1. Create a community of practice with broad representation of producers and users of forest data and information

2. Identify, gather, and seek agreement on user community requirements for forest observations, their present status and gaps to be filled

3. Cooperate in activities with existing forest observation initiatives where GEOSS can add value (e.g., IGOL, FAO-FRA, etc.)

4. Promote consensus-building among producers and users about the highest priority forest observation needs

5. Advise the User Interface Committee, other CoPs and GEO on matters relating to forest observations and related societal benefits, and on cross-cutting issues of interest

6. Facilitate outreach in support of the above objectives

Justification• Combining remote and in situ observations is

under utilised

• Lack of co-ordinated long term observation plans

• Need to improve joint remote sensing and in situ inventory methods to estimate global forest estimates

•Earth observation challenges: varying user requirements observation continuity (satellite, in situ)

move from research to operations harmonization of forest information data access issues (regional/national data sets, in situ) capacity building and outreach

Heterogeneity of forest estimates in global land cover maps

Forest definitions:IGBP legend : percent tree cover >60% / tree height >2m GLC2000 legend : percent tree cover >15% / tree height >3m

Credit: M. Herold / GOFC-GOLD

Forest observations and GEO

• Forests are a key terrestrial ecosystem and habitat

• GEOSS reference plan: land cover and forests are important for all

areas of societal benefit

terrestrial observation domain least developed

• Forests and the environmental conventions: carbon and water cycle

response to climate change

continued deforestation and forest degradation

biodiversity

Hot spots of deforestation 1980-2000

Source: Lepers, E., E.F. Lambin, A.C. Janetos, R. DeFries, F. Achard, N. Ramankutty and R.J. Scholes (2005). A synthesis of information on rapid land-cover change for the period 1981-2000. BioScience, 55 (2), 115-124

Forest Observations

• Cover• Density (crown closure)• LAI, FPAR• Biophysical processes (NPP, fire)• Vegetation type• Biomass• Species• Disturbance, natural/anthropogenic• Inundation• Regeneration• Stand structure• Basal area/volume• Age class• Tree measurements (age, DBH, ht, etc)• Forest floor and belowground biomass

Variety of remote and in situ observations:

Membership

• To include producers, developers and users of forest observations and observation systemsopen access, voluntary, best efforts based

• Representatives from GEO member statesSweden, Canada, Finland …

• Participating international organizationsCEOS, UN FAO – FRA, GTOS/GOFC-GOLD, …

• Other stakeholders with similar interestsNFI, GSE Forest Monitoring, …

• Developing and developed countries represented

Forest Observation Community

(1) Global Change Science (2) Timber, Fuel and Fiber (3) Watershed Protection (4) Biodiversity and Conservation (5) FCCC and other Environmental Agreements (6) Recreation and Tourism (7) Sustainable Forest Management (8) Forest Perturbations and Protection (fire, insects, disease)

Membership determined by range of uses for forest observations and information

Membership

• Focus on linking (within GEO context) existing networks and international organizations, e.g.FAOENFIN IUFRO ITTOCGIARGOFC-GOLD Regional Networks

Work to Date

• Following existing community of practice guidance materials and experiences

• Recruit CoP co-leads, establish work routine

• Address forest observations for societal benefits in:

AGRICULTURE: forestry and resources

DISASTERS: loss due to forest fires

CLIMATE: deforestation and carbon cycle

ECOSYSTEMS: services and functioning

BIODIVERISTY: conservation of habitats

CAPACITY BUILDING: local - global communities

… others …

• Link to GEO 2006 work plan targets

Establish links to related user survey activities anticipated in the GEO 2006 work plan: AG-06-04: Initiate an international assessment effort on

forests and forest changes utilizing ongoing land cover mapping projects (e.g. GLOBCOVER)

EC-06-05: Survey the research community involved in in-situ observations and modeling for new platform and sensor needs, or for suggestions for better use of existing systems (IGBP)

BI-06-02: Conduct a series of workshops and meetings to define the needs and requirements of the biodiversity information users sector (DIVERSITAS, GBIF, UNESCO, GTOS, GEO Members)

Work to Date

Work to Date

• Preliminary identification of user needs: consistency and continuity of observations Accessible and low/no cost user involvement: from observations to applications Adapting to emerging approaches and technologies integrating in-situ and local to global scale information

• Initial focus of FCoP: integrating in-situ and space based forest observations Involvement in planning process for upcoming global

forest assessment (FRA 2010)

Identify and contact key forest organizations for involvement:

FAO Forestry Program, Forest Resource Assessment National Forest Inventory (ENFIN, NAFC)

Work to Date

Planned Activities

•September 2006: Guidance at UIC meetingMembership strategyCoordination with UIC and GEOSECCommunications with GEO members (letter, website)

•October 2006: Forest CoP meetingMeet with key forest organizationsEngage in selected forest observation activity (FRA

2010)Expand FCoP organizational structure and

procedures

•November 2006: Forest CoP introduction at GEO Plenary

User Interface Committee side event

Needs from UIC

•Point of contact among co-chairsCommunications and reportingAdvice and guidance

•Guidelines on membershipLimitationsCommunications support

•GEO protocols UIC, GEOSEC, plenary, website

•Feedback, lessons learned Other CoPs

Thank you - Questions?

Point of contact:Michael Brady, Canadian Forest Service

([email protected])