14.14 I. Petiteville presented the status of AG-06-04, Forest mapping and change monitoring Progress to date:
First meeting Washington Oct 2006 – agreed that FRA 2010 RSS (FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 Remote Sensing Survey) forms the overall framework for GEO task, FAO will lead with wide range of partners.
FRA 2010 launched Rome 4-6 March 2008
FRA 2010 Remote Sensing Survey Task Force of 22 key countries (80% worlds forest) set up with partners at first meeting March 2008
GEO meeting Japan 14-16 April incl. forest monitoring
GEO meeting in Geneva 16 June on proposed new Forest Monitoring Task
FRA2010 RSS funding from EU in Aug 2008 (E3.6m)
Remote Sensing Scientist position was advertised Sept 08
Release of Landsat global datasets (by Nov?) will allow pilot testing of analysis of change detection in 22 Task force countries
GOFC-GOLD Forest Monitoring workshop Germany 13-17 Oct
GEO forest monitoring meeting, Brazil from 4 to 7 Nov
Feb 2009 FAO meeting on forest degradation FRA special study
2009: Capacity building workshops and survey implementation.
2010: Data analysis
Final report expected in 2011 – for Year of the Forests
Concerns/issues which will determine our ability to deliver the end product on time:
A large number of the existing Landsat Geocover images (~1975, 1990 and 2000 datasets) need to be re-rectified. NASA/USGS has indicated that this work will be completed by Oct/Nov 2008.
Need a reconfirmation that this timeline is still valid.
Intending to use the mid-decadal data set, but face a time constraint if this is not ready until end of 2008 (current schedule) or later.
Strong support from countries and goodwill from partners but now waiting for re-rectified LANDSAT from USGS
