Rapid Update on GEO FCT, GFOI and SilvaCarbon

This initiative aimed to develop a governance structure around five key components: satellite data supply, capacity building, methods and guidance documentation, research and development planning, and administration and coordination. The GFOI Implementation Plan was endorsed at the 2011 GEO Plenary, outlining the framework for coordination among governments, space and forest agencies, research scientists, intergovernmental and international organizations, and early adopter countries. The plan emphasized the need for institutional arrangements to ensure secure data access and continuity, as well as the development of methods and protocols for comparability and interoperability in observations and integration with ground measurements. The GEO Forest Carbon Tracking Task (FCT) was established to demonstrate the feasibility of satellite data for national forest monitoring systems. Demonstrations and capacity building were conducted in 11 National Demonstrator countries, including Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Peru, Nepal, Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, Guyana, Indonesia, Mexico, and Tanzania. These countries formed a network of national demonstrators, showcasing the elements and operations of a global system of systems. The FCT network focused on developing institutional arrangements for secure data access and continuity, as well as initiating and promoting methods and protocols for comparability and interoperability in observations and integration with ground measurements. The network also prepared an Implementation Plan for a Global Forest Observations Initiative, which was endorsed at the 2011 GEO Plenary. The SilvaCarbon Technical Areas encompassed several key components, including sampling protocols and design, data capture, processing, archiving, and distribution, collection and analysis of in situ data, integration of remotely sensed and in situ data, forest change and degradation, classification and mapping of forest cover, carbon stock and flow estimation, and social networking. The initiative also established a governance structure around these components, with coordination of satellite data supply being a fundamental aspect of GFOI objectives. The GFOI Steering Committee, comprising leads from Australia, Norway, the United States, CEOS, FAO, and other organizations, oversaw the coordination of satellite data supply, capacity building, methods and guidance documentation, research and development planning, and administration and coordination. The committee worked towards developing a governance structure around the five components, with a focus on ensuring secure data access and continuity, as well as promoting comparability and interoperability in observations and integration with ground measurements.