Michael Brady Canadian Forest Service Land Cover Implementation Plan & Project Office Inauguration Meeting, Jena, 2-4 March 2004

Michael BradyCanadian Forest Service

Land Cover Implementation Plan & Project Office Inauguration Meeting, Jena, 2-4 March 2004

Global Terrestrial Observing System

GOFC-GOLD Acronym

Global Observation of Forest Cover (GOFC)+

Global Observation of Landcover Dynamics (GOLD)

= GOFC-GOLD


Background to GOFC-GOLD

Developed originally under the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) initially as a pilot to test the concept of an Integrated Global Observing System (IGOS): To improve use of Earth Observation data to address major

problems of global concern To improve coordination of national programs To improve co-operation between providers and users of

Earth Observation data for regional and global applications

Has become one of the Panels of the Global Terrestrial Observing System GTOS (FAO GTOS Secretariat) Helping to address the Carbon Theme of the IGOS Partners



Who are the IGOS Partners?

Sponsors of the Global Observing Systems (IOC of UNESCO, FAO, UNEP, UNESCO, WMO,

ICSU) Global Observing Systems

(GCOS, GOOS, GTOS) Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) International Geosphere - Biosphere Programme (IGBP) World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) International Group of Funding Agencies (IGFA)


Uncertainties Concerning Forest Monitoring

Different definitions and protocols between and within countries

Very varying national capabilities to monitor forests and land cover

Remote sensing data are often unavailable Costs Satellite acquisition strategies

Internationally published results yield uncertain results

No current commitment for many key products and services


What is GOFC-GOLD?

A strategy to bring the Earth’s forests under continuous observation

A vision to share data, information and knowledge, leading to informed action

A coordinated program of activities to ensure that earth observation and other data is used effectively for global monitoring of terrestrial resources

A network of participants implementing coordinated demonstration and operational projects

An international organization of space agencies and end users working together


The GOFC-GOLD Mission

A coordinated international effort to supply space-based and in situ forest and land cover observations

The aim of GOFC-GOLD is to obtain an accurate, reliable and quantitative understanding of global change processes


GOFC-GOLD as a catalyst: bringing the parts together

catalyst (noun): 2. an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action


GOFC-GOLD Organization GOFC-GOLD consists of 5 elements:

Scientific and Technical Board (STB) Implementation Teams Regional Networks Project Office Executive Committee


The Organization of GOFCS

cien

tifi

c an

d T

ech

nol

ogy

Boa

rd

Implementation Teams, Activities and Projects

* Fire Monitoring and Mapping……..

* Cover Characteristics and Changes..

* Biophysical Parameters……………

Reg

ion

al Activities

and

Netw

orks

Reg

ion

al Activities

and

Netw

orks

Collaborations e.g. WGISS and WGCV


Scientific and Technical Board

& Executive Committee GOFC-GOLD is coordinated by a

Scientific and Technical Board and Executive Committee made up of leading experts in forest and land cover monitoring

The board is chaired by Dr. John Townshend and vice-chaired by Dr. Alan Belward


Land Cover Implementation Team

Goals and Objectives Improve access to remote sensing data Improve pre-processing of remotely sensed data Improve global land cover products Evaluate and validate global land cover products Demonstrate Land cover change monitoring Prototype coupled remote sensing - in situ systems Program topics include:

Forest cover and carbon Ecosystem Assessment Forest resource assessment and management


Land Cover IT Workshops Regional Networks for Implementation of the GOFC Project in the

Tropics Washington, D.C., March 15-17, 1999 Southeast Asia Regional GOFC Planning Meeting

Bogor, Indonesia, January 31 - February 2, 2000 Atelier de création du réseau GOFC - OSFAC en Afrique Centrale

Libreville, Gabon, February 22-24, 2000 Miombo GOFC Maputo, Mozambique, July 20-22, 2000 Southeast Asia Regional Network, SEARIN formation meeting

Manilla, Philippines, 2001 Regional Science workshop and conference Chiang Mai Thailand,

2001 GOFC Regional Workshop on Remote Sensing of Forest Cover in

Northwestern Russia and Fennoscandia, June 25-27, 2001 - hosted by INENCO Center of RAS, St. Petersburg

Land Cover Implementation Team Workshop, 12 March 2003, Toulouse, France

CEOS Calval Land Cover Validation Workshop, Boston, 2-5 February 2004


Fire Implementation TeamGoals and Objectives

Increase Awareness of Fire Observations Establish a Geostationary Global Fire Network Secure Operational Polar Orbiters with fire monitoring capability Develop a set of standard fire danger models suited for global

and regional application Develop fire emissions product suites Determine product and reporting accuracies Establish user oriented products and facilitate data access Promote new fire observation technologies and fire related

research


Fire IT Workshops GOFC Fire Coordination Workshop – JRC Ispra (1999) S Africa Miombo/GOFC Fire Workshop – Matopos (1999) SAFNET Burned Area Validation Protocols. Zambia (2000) SAFNET Fire Planning Meeting, Gaberone, Botswana, July 2002 Southeast Asia GOFC Fire Workshop – Tokyo (2001) WGISS TF GOFC Workshops – Bangkok/ Tokyo (2000/2001) GOFC presentation / discussion – EARSEL / Paris (2001) GOFC Fire Validation Workshop – Lisbon, Portugal (July ‘01) GOFC SEARIN Fire Validation Workshop, Thailand (Jan 02) GOFC/GOLD SEARIN Fire Validation Workshop, Tokyo (Jan 03) GOFC/GOLD Fire Presentation / discussions – SIVAM/ Manaos, Brazil (Mar 02) GOFC/GOLD – IGAC/BIBEX Workshop on Fire Emissions Models – Maryland, USA (July 02) GOFC/GOLD – I BFRA Joint Meeting Forest Cover and Fire – Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, (July 02) GOFC/GOLD Fire presentation and discussion – SELPER/Cochabamba, Bolivia, (Nov 02) GOFC/GOLD LBA Fire Validation Workshop, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (April 03) GOFC/EARSeL Joint Workshop on Fire Danger Estimation, Ghent, Belgium (June 2003) Far East Fire Network Workshop w. World Bank, USFS – Khabarovsk, Russia (Sept 03) SAFNet Workshop, Kruger Park, South Africa (Sept 03) GOFC/GOLD Fire Presentation, Sydney, Australia, (Oct 03) GOFC/GOLD ACRSP Joint Workshop – Freemantle, Australia (Oct 04)

Annual GOFC-Fire Meeting


Forest Biophysical Processes

Goals and Objectives Objective: provide ready access to

global and regional biophysical products (e.g., LAI, FPAR, NPP) which are calibrated, validated, and documented

Clients: TCO, IGOS-P carbon theme; earth systems scientists; ultimately, national and international policy makers

Status: currently the least advanced GOFC-GOLD component, although there are many ongoing initiatives in this area


Regional Networks(improved dialogue between data providers and users)

Provide guidance on regional needs and capabilities Build on existing science networks Linked closely to national mapping and monitoring

activities Foster lateral transfer of technology and experience Intended to provide transition to operational continuity Current network initiatives

SEARRIN - South East Asia OSFAC - Central Africa Miombo - Southern Africa SAFNET – Southern Africa NEARIN – Fennoscandia and Russia Siberia East Asia - (NEESPI under development) Latin America (under discussion)


GOFC-GOLD Regionalized Network

Data Acq.

Models

Data, Models

Data, Cal/val; training

Components:•Regional cal / val sites for detailed studies•Existing regional forest cover•Overlaid on single source land cover map•National forest cover moving to regional harmonized•Single system for information sharing•ISS Sites

Data Acquisition:•Landsat, Spot VGT, MODIS

X

X

X

X Prod. CtrISS Nodes In placeCurrent receiving


Assessing the Success of GOFC-GOLD in Creating Long-Term Sustainable

Observations

Specification of requirement

Observations available (as data sets)

Research/ prototype

product created

Algorithms/ assimilation established

Validation procedures established and

applied

Product adopted and distributed by

operational agency

Routine quality assurance &

validation

Further improvements needed to meet requirements?

Template for GOFC/GOLD to operationalize its products

Global Terrestrial Observing SystemM a y 2 8 th . 2 0 0 3 C a n a d ia n F o r e s t S e r v ic e , E d m o n to n

F in e R e s o lu tio n C o v e r P ro d u c tsG O F C /G O L D P ro d u c ts G O F C

S p e c .R e q u ire m e n t

O b s e rva tio n s

A lg o rith m s

P ro to typ e

A s s e s sm e n t

O p e ra tio n a l

Q A & V a l

Ite ra te

L a nd C o v e r C la s s if ic a t io n

C N E S W S A p p 3 , p .1 1

Y Y L a n d s a t ,

H R V

Y N (a va ila b le

re g io n a lly )

N N N N

L a nd c o v e r c ha nge (R A D )

C N E S W S A p p 3 , p .1 1

Y Y , L a n d s a t ,

H R V

Y N (a va ila b le

re g io n a lly )

P N N N

L a nd c o v e r c ha nge (ha rv e s t ing , ins e c t

a nd d is e a s e , re ge ne ra t io n )

C N E S W S A p p 3 , p .1 1

Y P , L a n d s a t ,

H R V

P N (a va ila b le

re g io n a lly )

P N N N

F o re s t C o v e r fra gm e nta t io n

C N E S W S A p p 3 , p .1 6

Y Y N N N N N N

(Green indicates substantive progress; tan equals partial progress; and yellow means no progress yet)

Progress Towards Goals

Global Terrestrial Observing SystemM a y 2 8 t h . 2 0 0 3 C a n a d i a n F o r e s t S e r v i c e , E d m o n t o n

C o a r s e r e s o l u t i o n l a n d c o v e r p r o d u c t sG O F C /G O L D P r o d u c t s G O F C

S p e c .R e q u i re m e n t

O b s e r va t io n s

A lg o r i th m s

P r o t o t yp e

A s s e s sm e n t

O p e r a t io n a l

Q A & V a l

I t e r a t e

L a n d c o v e r c la s s i f i c a t i o n

C N E S W S A p p

4 , p . 3 1

Y M O D IS / V e g e t a t i o

n / A V H R R

Y M O D IS s t a n d a r d p r o d u c t ;

G L C 2 0 0 0

P Y ( V I IR S E D R )

N N

F o r e s t d e n s i t y ( c o n t i n u o u s f i e ld s )

C N E S W S A p p

4 , p . 3 3

Y M O D IS / V e g e t a t i o

n / A V H R R

Y M O D IS p r o d u c t

P N N N

L a n d c o v e r c h a n g e ( i n d i c a t o r )

C N E S W S A p p

4 , p . 3 4

Y P ( M O D IS 2 5 0 m )

Y N ( a va i l a b l e

r e g i o n a l l y )

N N N N



Global Terrestrial Observing SystemM ay 28 th. 2003 Canadian Forest Service, Edmonton

Fire ProductsGOFC /GOLD Products GOFC

Spec.R equirement

Observations

Algorithms

Prototype

Assessment

Operational

QA & Val

Iterate

Active fire detection - da ily (po lar)

CNE S W S A pp 4, p.35

Y Y Y M ODIS , A V HRR, DM S P , A A TS R,

V IRS

P Y P N

Active fire detection - diurna l cyc le

(geostationery+polar)

FIRE IT web s ite

Y Y Y GOE S , V IRS

P Y N N

Burnt area CNE S W S A pp 4, p.36

Y Y Y Globscar, GB A -2000,

M ODIS Regional

P N N N

Emiss ion product suite

FIRE IT web s ite

Y P ? N (available regionally )

N N N N

Fire danger rating FIRE IT web s ite

Y ? ? N (available regionally )

N N N N



Global Terrestrial Observing SystemM a y 2 8 t h . 2 0 0 3 C a n a d i a n F o r e s t S e r v i c e , E d m o n t o n

B i o p h y s i c a l P r o d u c t sG O F C /G O L D P r o d u c t s G O F C

S p e c .R e q u ire m e n t

O b s e r va t io n s

A lg o r i th m s

P r o t o t yp e

A s s e s sm e n t

O p e r a t io n a l

Q A & V a l

I t e r a t e

L A I C N E S W S A p p

4 , p . 3 5

Y Y Y M O D IS P ? V IIR S N N

F P A R C N E S W S A p p

4 , p . 3 8

Y Y Y A V H R R , M O D IS

P ? V IIR S N N

P A R C N E S W S A p p

4 , p . 3 9

Y Y Y G O E S P ? V IIR S N N

N P P C N E S W S A p p

4 , p . 4 0

Y Y Y A V H R R , M O D IS

P N N N

B io m a s s C N E S W S A p p

4 , p . 4 1

Y N P N N N N N A




Project Office Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, CANADA

Supported by the Canadian Forest Service and Canadian Space Agency

Acts as panel secretariat. Staff includes Executive Director, administrative assistant, research associate, other professional and technical support as needed.

Supports the Executive Committee and STB Provides external communications/user outreach Supports international participation in GOFC/GOLD meetings Maintains the GOFC/GOLD website and publications Manages project office budget Facilitates access to regional and global data sets Coordinates / promotes Canadian contributions to GOFC-

GOLD


Canada’s Contributions

Earth Observation for Sustainable Development (EOSD) Fine resolution land cover mapping Change Biomass

Canada Land Cover Initiative (CLCI) Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (CWFIS)

Fire danger and behavior observations Fire Monitoring, Mapping and Modeling System (Fire

M3) Global Fire Danger Rating System Project (GFDRS)


Communications GOFC-GOLD produced a number of brochures, CDs

and other communications pieces meetings are available on the GOFC-GOLD website

(http://www.fao.org/gtos/gofc-gold/) The GOFC-GOLD Fire Implementation Team also

maintains a website at http://gofc-fire.umd.edu/ Regional network websites:

SEARRIN: http://www.bsrsi.msu.edu/trfic/SEARRINSEAGOFC: http://www.seagofc.org/OFSAC: http://osfac.freeservers.com/Miombo Network: http://miombo.gecp.virginia.edu/SAFNet: http://safnet.umd.edu/


Publications

Effort now underway to reorganize and re-issue GOFC-GOLD reports and documents for public distribution

Publication list to date includes 14 documents (from 1997)

Now locating original text and designing standard cover and numbering system


Michael BradyExecutive Director

Natural Resources CanadaNorthern Forestry CentreCanadian Forest Service

5320 – 122 StreetEdmonton, Alberta T6H 3S5

Canadatel.: (+1) 780-435-7210fax: (+1) 780-435-7359

email: [email protected]

GOFC-GOLDhttp://www.fao.org/gtos/gofc-gold.html

Natural Resources CanadaCanadian Forest Service

Ressources naturelles CanadaService canadian des forêts

Documents

Michael Brady Canadian Forest Service Land Cover Implementation Plan & Project Office Inauguration Meeting, Jena, 2-4 March 2004