i g o l integrated global observations of the land john s.latham fao-sdrn gtos igol rome, 13 th -15...

I G O L

Integrated Global Observations of the Land

John S.Latham

FAO-SDRN GTOS

IGOL

Rome, 13th -15th September 2004

A new theme for the IGOS Partnership

Outline - Agriculture related applications

Introduction Meeting International Obligations

for Standardized Reporting MEA, Conventions

Land Cover – its central role Agricultural Applications - by

FAO example - but really holistic requirements

Challenges – IGOL/GEO et al. a unique opportunity to improve the situation for an improved integrated earth observing strategy

Terrestrial science community– Build strong, effective groups to secure support for

operational terrestrial monitoring (satellite and in situ) systems as already exist for oceans and the atmosphere

– Enhance the collection and use of data, moving from supply to demand-driven systems that are product orientated and harmonized regardless of scale of observation – global to local and vice versa.

– Define the terrestrial observational requirements jointly with the user community? how to engage and build consensus for IGOL ? User w/s?

– Design and implement observation and information systems with measurements of known accuracy and quality to demonstrate what is needed and why it is worth doing

Roles and Responsibilities

The Conventions and the COP process through International agencies e.g. UNEP, FAO, WMO and UNESCO and their partners provide the principal international coordination mechanisms for specifying requirements for land and in establishing protocols and standards for collection of observations. How do we engage them effectively? How will we reflect true product needs not just observational requirements?

Need to bring the critical role of the Global Terrestrial Observing System ( GTOS) into IGOL which has prime responsibility of the global observing systems for international coordination of terrestrial parameters .

Stake-holders

At an international level improved observations will help organizations in and outside the UN such as FAO, UNEP and WMO as well as NGO’s and carry out improved assessments, monitoring.

This in turn will help national governments make improved policy decisions related to Nat Resources management in all its components – we need to emphasize capacity development as part of the process

Assist Organizations in meeting recommendations of MA and assist the COP improve the definition of their requirements

Recognize that the user community is often limited in executing its programs by the insufficient quality of terrestrial observations esp. in situ. need for improved densification , reliability, periodicity and consistency of information.

Multiple Users among Conventions

Research, UN Data, National and International Research, UN Data, National and International AssessmentsAssessments

Research, UN Data, National and International Research, UN Data, National and International AssessmentsAssessments

IPCCIPCCIPCCIPCC

FCCCFCCCFCCCFCCC

SBSTASBSTA

CBDCBDCBDCBD CCDCCDCCDCCD RamsarRamsarRamsarRamsar

SBSTTASBSTTA CSTCST STRPSTRP

IGOL – products and services should reflect recomm.IGOL – products and services should reflect recomm.

MAMAMAMA

Defining IGOL “Users”

Convention to

Combat Desertification

CONVENTION ON WETLANDS

CONVENTION ONBIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Conventions:

International Orgs:

Private Sector: Individual Companies, ‘intermediaries’Trade Organizations

National and Sub-National Government Ministries

Local Communities & Civil Society

Authorizing Environment

Additional Audiences Targeted

... others

Summary of UN Int. Requirements

UNEP

• Environmental Assessment• Global, regional, sectoral

• Early Warning

FAO (from individual farmers to government policy makers)

• Food security• Sustainable agriculture, forestry

and fisheries -SARD• International obligations -

conventions

Reliable knowledge of land cover and land cover change is central to most aspects of a Land Theme.

Remote sensing with selected in situ data collection has the potential to provide such information both locally regionally and globally- part of an integrated approach

Central role of Land Cover and Remote Sensing in the Land theme

Land Cover / Land Cover Dynamics

Includes vegetation and man-made features as well as bare rock, bare soil and inland water surfaces

Characterized by the arrangements, activities and inputs people have undertaken on a certain land cover type to produce, change or maintain it

Differentiated from "land use" which deals with the socio economic inputs to land – e.g. tenure, rotation, fertilizer etc.

Land Cover- what do we mean?

Oregon, USA

USA-Mexico border

Yangtze River, China

"Observed (bio)physical cover of the earth surface"

Land Cover versus Land Use – we need both – how realistic is this?

"Observed (bio)physical cover of the earth surface"

Includes vegetation and man-made features as well as bare rock, bare soil and inland water surfaces

Characterized by the arrangements, activities and inputs people have undertaken on a certain land cover type to produce, change or maintain it

Differentiated from "land use" which deals with the socio economic inputs to land – e.g. tenure, rotation, fertilizer etc.

1995 1997

Single forest cover - multiple possible ‘uses’

• timber production

• slash & burn agriculture

• hunting/ gathering

• fuel-wood collection

• recreation

• wildlife preserve

• watershed protectionAmazon: parts of Tocantins, Maranhao and Para States, Brazil

Assessing progress made towards conventions and treaties

Quantifying and understanding how policy impacts the composition and configuration of the various land-covers

Measuring agricultural, urban, forestry expansion and the concomitant loss of natural ecosystems and related services

Prioritizing activities (e.g. reforestation) to address multi- objectives (e.g. water quality and biodiversity)

Assessing the magnitudes and distributions of global carbon sources and sinks and the processes controlling their dynamics

Holistic and integrated approach to the conservation and sustainable use of land resources taking into account their multiple roles and functions: sustainability and equity

Land cover information in support of:

Land Cover: multi-purpose information for multi-user

To improve observational requirements we need to articulate:

What are the primary drivers and processes of land cover change at local, regional, and global levels, and how can land cover be projected over time?

What tools or methods are needed to allow a better characterization of historic and current land cover characteristics and dynamics?

What are the consequences of land cover change on ecosystem services at regional and global scales?

Others…?

Challenges

Ecosystem Services

Provisioning: e.g. Food, Water, Fibre,

Fuel, Other biological products

Supporting:e.g. Biodiversity,

Soil formation, Pollination, Waste treatment, Nutrient

cycling,

Enriching:e.g. Cultural, Aesthetic,

Social relations

Ecosystem services are the conditions and processes supported by biodiversity through which ecosystems sustain and fulfil human life,

including through the provision of goods.

Human institutions

Population conditions, size and distribution

Social and economic factors

Resources access, availability, utilization

Climate and land use changes

Large, infrequent or recurrent disturbances (flooding, drought, volcanic eruptions, fires, and large storms)

Drivers of land cover change of primary interest

Biophysical/biogeochemical consequences of land use change

Human drivers of land use change

Impacts on sustainability

Land cover observations

Understanding causes/consequences of land cover/use change

Continuity of data supply – consistency of observations – e.g. Landsat data continuity , SPOT etc

Foundation: harmonised classification – common language – LCCS

Robust and proven methodology for assessing Land Cover dynamics

Consistent in situ measurements

Validation strategy and defined accuracy for all products

What are the tools or methods are needed to allow a better characterization of historic and current land cover characteristics and dynamics?

Climate Change Land Degradation Pollution and Toxicity Food Insecurity Deforestation Carbon Transfers Loss of Biodiversity Changes in fresh water availability

What are the consequences of land cover change on ecosystem services at regional and global scales?

Land Cover and Land Use

Land cover and land use are central to the land theme. Land cover has major impacts on sustainable land use,

biodiversity, conservation, biogeochemical cycles, as well as for land-atmosphere interactions affecting climate and as an indicator of climate change, especially regional climate change.

Fundamental to IGOL are consistent observations for the characterization, monitoring and understanding of land cover and its socio-economic and biophysical drivers.

Specification of requirements for some land cover observations has already been included in the carbon theme, but these may be insufficient for all requirements.

The global provision of both medium resolution (250m-1km resolution) products on an intra annual basis and fine resolution products (25-50m) every year will provide a valuable basic source of information for all the sub-themes.

Land Cover and Land Use

A crucial deficiency currently is the absence of internationally agreed protocols for definition of the products, observations, validation of land cover and land cover change products. Regular collection of in situ data is critical for an integrated and calibrated range of products.

land cover at tens of metres should be obtained globally, every

year – processing and interpretation bottlenecks – instit. partitioning

Satellite: Land cover

Global Land Cover Product (1992, 1 km) Source:

Townshend/UMD, U.S.

land cover at hundreds of metres can be obtained globally, every

3 months or less – should be timed to assess growing season longevity/AEZ zonation

Satellite: Land cover

Source:

Belward/JRC, EUActive fires distribution (2000/10/12, 1 km)

burning can be mapped globally, daily/weekly –

need for susceptibility, real time fires and scars

Needs Instit. ownership &

uptake

Satellite: Fires

Integration of earth observationsNeeds coordination mechanism? What is that? how can it improve?

Ex situ In situ

Other FAO Requirements

FAO strategic framework 2000-2015

Contribution to eradication of food insecurity and poverty Promotion of enabling policies and regulatory framework Creating sustainable increase in supply of food and other

agriculture products Supporting integrated management and sustainable use of

natural resources Information and knowledge management

FAO activities with RS and geo-spatial components

Global, regional and national early warning for food security Crop conditions monitoring, yield forecasting Food insecurity and vulnerability information mapping Land cover mapping Desert locust monitoring Land Degradation assessment Global forest resources assessment Natural disaster and emergency support Poverty mapping Fire monitoring Corporate spatial information standardization and dynamic, open access

provision – GeoNetwork and Dynamic Atlas

FAO - Institutional Needs

Technical Cooperation Department

IGOL

Economic and

Social Department

Sustainable Development Department

Fisheries Department

Agriculture Department

Forestry Department


Promotes food security and sustainable development into the next millennium, and implement FAO’s major programmes on agricultural

production and support systems

Land cover information in support of:– Monitoring changes in land degradation and the water regime (e.g. due

to deforestation, overgrazing, diversion of water resources, urbanization, etc.)

– Early warning information on Locust invasion

– Identifying adequate unused potential farmland

– Developing agricultural policies leading to sustainable and intensified farming practices including diversification where technically feasible and economically, socially and environmentally viable

– Prioritizing watersheds for conservation and restoration

– Minimizing the environmental impacts of agriculture and making sure that the benefits reach to the poor and marginal areas: sustainability and equity

Land cover change assessment (Madagascar)

1. Indicators on State of land degradation1. Indicators on State of land degradation

ExamplesExamples of biophysical indicators of land degradation:

•Soils:Soils:

•Erosion - rate of soil lossErosion - rate of soil loss

•Soil organic matter - top soil carbonSoil organic matter - top soil carbon

•Soil nutrient balance, calculated for present land useSoil nutrient balance, calculated for present land use

•Vegetation:Vegetation:

•Annual rate of forest clearance, percentAnnual rate of forest clearance, percent

•Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI)Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI)

•Water resources:Water resources:

•Monitored levels of water tables; monitored river flow regimesMonitored levels of water tables; monitored river flow regimes

•Degradation of agricultural land:Degradation of agricultural land:

•Changes in crop areas, yields, crop mixturesChanges in crop areas, yields, crop mixtures

•Changes in livestock numbers, outputs, kinds of livestockChanges in livestock numbers, outputs, kinds of livestock.

Indicators on State of land degradation

Examples of biophysical indicators of land degradation:– Soils:

Erosion - rate of soil loss Soil organic matter - top soil carbon Soil nutrient balance, calculated for present land use

– Vegetation: Annual rate of forest clearance, percent Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI)

– Water resources: Monitored levels of water tables; monitored river flow regimes

– Degradation of agricultural land: Changes in crop areas, yields, crop mixtures Changes in livestock numbers, outputs, kinds of livestock.

Objectives of LADA

“The main objective of LADA is to provide basic standardised The main objective of LADA is to provide basic standardised information and methodological tools for land degradation information and methodological tools for land degradation assessment at national,regional and global levels”.assessment at national,regional and global levels”.

The project will also:

•Assess the Assess the impactsimpacts of land degradation on of land degradation on ecosystems, ecosystems, international waters, shared river basinsinternational waters, shared river basins...(other impacts)....(other impacts).

•Consider relations between degradation and Consider relations between degradation and carbon carbon sequestrationsequestration..

•Analyse linkages with GEF focal areas: Analyse linkages with GEF focal areas: biological diversity, biological diversity, climate change, international waters, (the ozone layer).climate change, international waters, (the ozone layer).

•Provide Provide priorities of GEF interventionspriorities of GEF interventions in the cross-cutting area in the cross-cutting area of land degradationof land degradation

•biodiversity:biodiversity:

•decrease of indigenous species of importance for the agriculture decrease of indigenous species of importance for the agriculture sectorsector

(croplands, trees, rangelands)(croplands, trees, rangelands)

•carbon :carbon :

•as derived from soil organic matter as derived from soil organic matter

•as derived from vegetation biomassas derived from vegetation biomass.

More difficult ( very little agreement yet)...and could be More difficult ( very little agreement yet)...and could be considered as impact indicators? considered as impact indicators?

ExamplesExamples of biophysical indicators of land degradation: are they observable?











Active desert locust breeding habitats in NE Mali following seasonal rainfall and vegetation development

(Aug/Sep 1999)

Support to analysis and interpretation of dynamic low resolution datasets for food security early warning and locust forecasting at national and sub-national levelsSupport to environmental characterization and habitat mapping for food security related applications.

Locust risk map (Eritrea)

3 dimensional digital terrain view

Landsat TM




Land cover information in support of:– Monitoring changes in land degradation and the water regime (e.g.

due to deforestation, overgrazing, diversion of water resources, urbanization, etc.)


– Definition of farming systems – linking land cover and length of growing season , environmental impediments to agric., including irrigated/non irrigated area



Farming Systems

River Basin Management- understanding water availability/transfers

8

10

12

14

16

18

LEVE

L [M

ETER

S]

MAY. JUN JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. NOV. DEC.Year 1998/99

ABS.MAX.(45-95)

ABS.MIN.(45-95

LONG MEAN (45-95)

OBS.98/99

MAX.YEAR(64/65)

MIN.YEAR(84/85)

LEVEL REGIME AT KHARTOUM BLUE NILE

10 October



IGOL

Economic and

Social Department




Forestry Department

Helps nation manage their forests in a sustainable way

Monitoring large scale deforestation, changes in wetlands and areas of cultivated land for quantification of carbon sinks and sources

Inventorying of global forest cover loss of biodiversity, habitat degradation and fragmentation

Protecting the environmental services provided by forests

Promoting forestland patterns and systems more resistant to disturbances

Prioritizing areas for management, rehabilitation and conservation of forestlands:sustainability and equity


Forestry Department

Led by Erika LepersDepartment of GeographyUniversity of Louvain, Belgium

Draft mapAreas of rapid deforestation

World

Information framework for Global Monitoring of Forests, Land use and the Environment

Objectives– To better link global, regional and national studies on forest,

land use, and the environment– To improve standardization, homogenization, compatibility

and efficiency of information provided by different applications and providers – send a common message

– To provide information that improves design and efficiency of sampling for national forest assessment linked to improved global observing strategies and disturbances

– To increase use and sharing of remote sensing data

Proposed scope of GFRAForest Resources Assessment

Global and regional monitoring of forest extent done through application of remote sensing and sampling schemes.

1998

19881977



IGOL

Economic and

Social Department




Forestry Department

Economic and Social Department

(1) Ensures the development of policies, strategies and guidelines and provides advisory and technical services to FAO members; and (2) collects, analyzes and disseminates information in the relevant fields of competence to FAO members

Assessing the impact of land cover dynamics on the different socioeconomic and environmental dimensions of food insecurity, which include peoples’ livelihoods and vulnerability

Strengthening population livelihoods by taking advantage of the synergies between urban, agricultural, forestry, and fisheries activities

Exploring successes and constraints in adapting food security policies to prevailing drought conditions. – definition of onset of adverse conditions

Advancing the understanding of community dynamics, and assist decision-making at the community and national levels for food security and reduction of vulnerability: sustainability and equity


The FAO Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) was established in 1975 and monitors the global food supply and demand in order to provide timely warnings of impending food supply problems facing individual countries.

The system issues reports in up to 5 languages and make extensive use of computer technologies to assist in its analysis. GIEWS reports to the international community through its regular publications and through the FAO WWW server.

The GIEWS provides detailed country specific level information on FAO website at WWW.FAO.ORG/GIEWS

Global Information and Early Warning Systemon Food and Agriculture (GIEWS)

GIEWS has developed a new internet-based system known as GeoWeb which allows users to access GIEWS Workstation databases and tools via the Internet in three languages.

Users can develop their own maps on demand by combining the latest satellite images and digital maps.

GIEWS has developed an on-line database on food and agriculture for for many countries in Africa. The on-line database contains base maps, up-to-date satellite images provided by ARTEMIS, information on crops, climate, and population.

Observational Needs – and Socio / Econ. Needs -

Have access to data related to the food security indicators listed below:– Environmental

Weather (precipitation, temperature, soil moisture, special events, disasters) Vegetation (Biomass/greenness, stress)

– Primary Production Crop situation (Start of growing season, planting, evolution, peak of season biomass, harvest

time, yield forecast, production estimates) Better definition of land cover/ use, agricultural area by crop type and, if possible, crop

acreage estimates

Capacity to verify NDVI interpretation based on higher resolution sensors

– Economic and Social data Integration – Macro – micro levels scaling issues- aggregation, disaggregation, data collection issues – sampling , census? Quality control and validation? Terminology highly variable between countries.

World market (availability, prices) Local market (availability, prices), Trade, accessibility, productivity indicators, pop data, etc..etc etc. demographics human and

animal, Reliability and availability of time series? Global needs some improved consistency RS observations are Tran boundary how do we harmonise the same for socio/econ variables

e.g. FAO/CESIN new pop product, human influence over time on land management, pop movement – urbanization/ degradation/loss of agric land , huge geographical variations in availability and quality

North Hamgyong

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041 042 043 051 052 053 061

Month

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1999 DROUGHT IN THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA



IGOL

Economic and

Social Department




Forestry Department

Facilitates and secures the long-term sustainable development and utilization of the world’s fisheries and aquaculture

Monitoring the degradation of fisheries resources

Integrated planning of both terrestrial and marine environments to prevent their degradation through the sound management of land and coastal resources

Reducing land degradation and enhancing coastal protection through, inter alias, intensified soil conservation, deforestation and reforestation activities Ensure that aquaculture practices are compatible with the ecosystems services

Introducing or strengthening aquaculture and inland fisheries where technically feasible and economically, socially and environmentally viable: sustainability and equity



Suitability of small-scale farming and potential yield (crops/y) of Nile tilapia in Africa. Source: Aguilar-Manjarrez, J., and Nath, S.S. (1998);

http://www.fao.org/docrep/W8522e/W8522E00.htm#TOC

GIS / Remote Sensing at FAO-FIRI

Products

Inland fisheries– Fishery planning and management.

GLC for wet and dry season: importance of seasonal wetlands, marshes, and lakes in regards to inland fisheries – fisheries food security index

Aquaculture– Planning aquaculture development.

Determining high-potential aquaculture development areas and evaluating impact on the environment at the regional level.

Constraints– Mapping aquaculture structures.

Aquaculture farms cannot be seen or can be confused with other features at GLC resolution

African Water Resource Database

GIS Manual SAR

Aswan Dam Construction (low - 1902, high - 1964)– change hydrological/sedimentological/nutrient cycles– erosion -> risk to coastal cities & infrastructure– siltation (lagoons/waterways) -> water quality issues &

shipping endangered– land subsistence -> sea level rise risk heightened– salinization of agricultural lands -> production

compromised – fishery yields decline & change composition fish

communities Demographic pressures (est.100million by 2025) &

economic growth– land development– pollution / water quality problems– food security

-->– public health issues– coastal habitats, wetlands, lagoons threatened– biodiversity threatened (eg. overwintering bird

populations)– pressures on agriculture, capture fisheries &

aquaculture

Anthropogenic Impacts on Nile Delta EcosystemAnthropogenic Impacts on Delta Ecosystem high observ req – coastal analysis E.G . Nile Delta



Forestry Department


IGOL

Economic and

Social Department



Responsible of the operational activities of FAO, including policy assistance, investment support and the overall management of activities associated with the formulation and implementation of in-country, sub regional and regional programmes and projects, including those in response to a natural or man-made disaster

Minimizing the vulnerability to and spatial and temporal impacts of natural and man-made hazards, climate fluctuations, fires, pests and diseases through the formulation of disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies

Evaluating the impact of a natural and man-made disasters on land cover services

Linking preparedness, relief, response, rehabilitation and development activities

Prioritizing areas for emergency interventions: Sustainability and equity





IGOL

Economic and

Social Department




Forestry Department

How much will you harvest?How much will you harvest?

Weather is the main single factor responsible for Weather is the main single factor responsible for the year-to-year variations in crop yield.the year-to-year variations in crop yield.

FAO agrometeorologists closely monitor FAO agrometeorologists closely monitor crop conditionscrop conditions in Africa and in Africa and extreme phenomenaextreme phenomena, such as El Niño., such as El Niño.

Crop-weather models are also used for the assessment of Crop-weather models are also used for the assessment of environmental riskenvironmental risk and and climate change impactclimate change impact..

Agrometeorology can tell you!Agrometeorology can tell you!

0 50 85 115 150 252

0.78

1.06

0.75

0.55

0.31

0.72

0.55

Sahe lian C ountries - C ropping Season 1998C erea ls Y ie ld Forecast

Percentage of Average

0.75 Average Y ie ld (1993-97) in t/ha

Depending on the country,

up to 70% of the yield can be lost due to poor weather!

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1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991

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Milk productionMilk production andand rainfall rainfall in Niger, Mali and Chadin Niger, Mali and Chad

E stim ated Y ie ld (p ercen tag e o f a vera ge )

C E R E A L S Y IE L D - 19 9 8-99 S E A S O NE stim a ted Y ie ld a s a t 3 0 A p ril 19 9 9

a s P ercen ta ge o f L a st 5 -Y ear A v erag e

10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00 40.00 45.00- 35.00

- 30.00

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0 % 5 0 % 8 5 % 1 1 5 % 1 3 5 % 1 8 0 % 2 0 0 %

Weather Weather impact can impact can

be quantified be quantified with the use with the use

ofof

Climate maps

Climate data

Computer tools

Agrometeorology (SDRN)

Serves a global reference centre for knowledge and advice on biophysical, biological, socio-economic and social dimensions of sustainable development

Improve weather forecasting techniques by linking local and global climate with hydrological processes

Harmonized land cover classification and reporting - GLCN

Support early warning systems at the national and regional levels for crop monitoring and food security analysis

Linking land access to food security in relation with legal and institutional frameworks

Detecting hot spots of rapid land-cover changes and/or natural disasters in order to better mitigate the impact of these changes

Assessing long-term environmental and social costs triggered by agricultural development, deforestation, and urbanization guiding policy-making: sustainability and equity



GLCN Initiative

The major identity of the GLCN Network is user-oriented, stressing operational applications

The Major Objectives of the GLCN Network will be to support the processes of:

– Harmonization/standardization of classification of cover types – Determination patterns of land-cover change– Projections of human response scenarios– Support to integrated global and regional modeling– Global assessment of land cover for conventions and treaties– Development of databases on land surface, biophysical

processes and their drivers.

World Land Cover Scale 1:5-2,000,000 - raster based

IGBP

1991Global Land Cover 2000- JRC at Scale 1:1,000,000 - raster based

GLC

2000

Globcover 2005/6Globcover 2005/6

Georeferenced Land Cover Initiatives -Africover/Asiacover - National Scale : 1:250,000-1:100,000 - vector based

Member States Catchment Information System at

Scale 1:50,000 - vector based

RegionsLocal Soil Information System at Scale 1:20,000 - vector based

Local

Global assessments

Spatial planningLocal Planning

LCCS 2 LCCS 2

harmonisation/harmonisation/

translationtranslation

Applications using LCCS: e.gGLC 2000, Global mapAfricover, Asia cover, S. C America, ME, SADC, Sahel many national

Iraq, Afghan, GOFC/GOLD test bed

GLCN

Conclusion

Identify common cross-cutting observations between IGOS themes.

Avoid duplication with existing themes

Be product orientated

Link to social benefit areas of GEO

Follow recommendations of MEA

Meet Requirements of the Conventions

Roles and Responsibilities Thematic Applications

For a one date data set 2005 land systems that include both geomorphologic units 9 using DTM’s and land cover associations LCCS land cover classes with special emphasis on: More emphasis on Intensive agricultural areas (size, density, distribution of fields) presence of irrigation, evidence of mechanization, periodicity of cultivation -longevity Break down of woodland classes, Afforestation plots, coastal zone, mangrove, low veg. cover- grassland classes, burned area, Water bodies ( temporary and permanent), Wet and dry season version Urban classes - expanded for villages inhabited area ( rural occupation density) For Multi-temporal Series: Land cover changes - 5 yrs. in areas of high human pressure (e.g. likely to be under degradation in many dev. dry land countries) showing: areas under agriculture expansion area sunder reduction of woody and /or d-grass cover Yearly classification with pre-identification of areas of change Data required by UN programmes , Environmental Conventions and RAMSAR

i g o l integrated global observations of the land john s.latham fao-sdrn gtos igol rome, 13 th -15...

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