The Global Forest Observation Initiative - GFOI A GEO Flagship Douglas M. Muchoney, Ph.D. Senior Scientist for Forests, Carbon and Climate U.S. Geological Survey 12 November 2015 Mexico City

Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI) The Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI) is a Group of Earth Observations (GEO) initiative led by Australia, Norway, the USA, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) The GFOI Advisory Committee includes experts from: –the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) –the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is represented through the IPCC Inventory Bureau. –the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) –Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) and –institutions in some of the 100 GEO Member countries The UK supports

GEO Plenary GFOI Leads Aus, Nor, US, CEOS, FAO GFOI Leads Aus, Nor, US, CEOS, FAO Coordination of satellite data supply CEOS Coordination of satellite data supply CEOS Capacity Building US and FAO Capacity Building US and FAO Methods & Guidance Documentation Australia Methods & Guidance Documentation Australia Methodological R&D ESA / GOFC-GOLD Methodological R&D ESA / GOFC-GOLD Admin & Coordination Programme Office Admin & Coordination Programme Office GFOI Steering Committee Leads plus Brazil, China, Japan, MGD AG Chair, IPCC, UNFCCC, World Bank, GOFC-GOLD, GEO Sec Dir, National Demonstrator Reps GFOI Steering Committee Leads plus Brazil, China, Japan, MGD AG Chair, IPCC, UNFCCC, World Bank, GOFC-GOLD, GEO Sec Dir, National Demonstrator Reps Global Forest Observations Initiative Development of a governance structure around the 5 components GFOI and FCT elements in all components

Global Forest Observation Initiative fostering the sustained availability and use of satellite data for forest monitoring to better manage forest resources coordinating observations CEOS (Committee on Earth Observation Satellites) has setup Space Data Coordination Group (SDCG) Assures annual, wall- to-wall, worldwide long-term data Assists with country specific requirements assisting countries in the use of satellite data Methods & Guidance on use of satellite and ground data to estimate GHGs Capacity Building in coordination with others such as UNREDD Research & Development to address practical problems

Wall-to-wall monitoring Integration of ground data and remote sensing Captures leakage Capture small changes Consistency with UNFCCC and IPCC Follow IPCC guidelines Vital for reporting REDD+ and GHGs to UNFCCC Maps 5 REDD+ categories onto IPCC methods Affordable and Practical Based on medium resolution data (10-30m) Can use higher resolution data if needed Based on widely useable methods Co-operation with Partners Coordination of capacity development (FAO…) GOFC-GOLD IPCC and UNFCCC GFOI Principles

Space Data GFOI works with space agencies through CEOS to ensures the long-term, world-wide acquisition of core satellite data helps countries meet their individual data needs Capacity Building GFOI provides capacity building in coordination with others such as UN- REDD. It supports the use of satellite and ground data to monitor forests, and estimate GHGs. Methods and Guidance Guidance on integrating remote- sensing and ground- based observations for estimation of emissions and removals of greenhouse gases in forests. Research and Development Identifying and promoting R&D needed for practical, global implementation of National Forest Monitoring GFOI Office Coordination and Management GFOI Components

Space Data Coordination Group: 3 Elements: Assuring the availability of consistent time-series of optical and radar (SAR) satellite data over global forest cover. At least one annual national cloud-free optical coverage over each country. Publicly open (“core”) satellite data, phased implementation - full global coverage by 2016 Implementation of Baseline Global Data Acquisition Strategy A coordinated strategy for national data acquisitions accommodating countries’ specific technical requirements, heritage, or experience. Covers a wider range of satellite data sources, including commercial. Space Data Services Available Includes support for science studies assisting the development and evolution of the MGD for GFOI. Data Supply in Support of GFOI R&D Activities

GFOI R&D Programme Methods and Guidance only includes operational methods and approaches. Component aims to stimulate R&D on developing approaches that are not operational but could be widely available and useful R&D Workshops to discuss major topics, on-going work and how to promote further development, some with GOFC- GOLD Identifying and provision of space data to meet R&D carried out through CEOS & SDCG Identification of new approaches that can be included in future versions of the Methods and Guidance Identifying funding opportunities

Methodological advice from GFOI GFOI Methods and Guidance Document published in 2013 Provides operational link between IPCC methods and all the REDD+ activities identified by UNFCCC Consistent with UNFCCC Warsaw Framework on REDD+ Coordinated UN-REDD, World Bank, IPCC and GOFC-GOLD Consistent with the annual review of scientific developments provided by GOFC-GOLD Sourcebook Aimed at technical implementers, negotiators and those responsible for REDD+ nationally Supplementary documents being produced For report and additional material see:

MGD Additional Material and Developments Relationship between GFOI, GOFC-GOLD Sourcebook, FCMC Global Datasets Improved cross-referencing with GOFC-GOLD Sourcebook Modules Capacity Needs Assessment Tool (checklist of CB needs aligned with the MGD) MGD Decision Trees (Emissions Factors, Ground Sampling, Activity Data, Uncertainty) On-line tool: MGD Portal Experience and feedback In-country use Spanish and French Translation Inventory, approach donors, application development, testing, user manual, maintenance Open Source software linked to MGDCatalogue of existing training materialsVersion 2 – revisions and updates

Methods and Guidance Document Integrating remote-sensing and ground-based observations for estimation of emissions and removals of greenhouse gases in forests Development Lead by the Australian Government Lead Author: Dr Jim Penman (IPCC Lead Author) More than 50 contributing authors 2 years in development Published December 2013 In country use and feedback 2014 Development of training materials and decision support tools Available in English, French, Spanish

Methods and Guidance Document Version 2.0 will be released in June 2016 Technical material related to the following themes is currently being updated –Institutional arrangements –Use of global data sets –Integration methods –Updates on emerging operational technologies –Extension of guidance on biomass estimation –Case studies from REDD+ countries

Capacity building for implementing Monitoring, Reporting and Verification systems for REDD+

Capacity Building In coordination with others including UN-REDD, FAO and WB Major effort through SilvaCarbon, other activities with Australia and Norway Tailored to meet country needs and requests Aims to build networks of experts in countries Programmes in South America, SE Asia and Central Africa

SilvaCarbon Program – US and FAO Contribution to GFOI Capacity building component of GFOI USG Program that utilize the expertise of each USG agencies, and collaborate with Academia, NGOs and Industry. Currently active in 3 regions, starting in 2011, and plan to be operative until 2016 Areas of work: Remote sensing, forest inventory implementation and analysis, and greenhouse gas inventory

The Future 2016 GFOI Plenary and Open Forum Week of 22nd February 2016 at ESA ESRIN, Frascati, Italy GFOI Programme Office at FAO Rome, November 2015 MGD Version 2.0 will be released in June 2016 MGD Web Application - April 2016 MGD Version June nd GFOI Data Summit: 1 st quarter 2016 Continued development of data services tools for data acquisition planning, data storage, and data processing to support country needs Expansion of R&D data supply

18 Thank you! Douglas Muchoney (USGS): #silvacarbon gfoiseasiacapacitybuilding/home tybuilding/home/