With successful launches in recent years of Landsat-8 and Sentinel-1 and -2 series, SDCG considers 2017 as the milestone year in which we may claim global baseline coverage for all countries' forests wall-to-wall.
Element 2 support to countries through Space Data Services effort of SDCG and various pilots. All SDCG agencies also remain active in the provision of data for R&D purposes (Element 3).
09/2018: In GFOI's Phase 2 the R&D Component is evolving towards a more specific approach of a funded programme of R&D activities with direct links to countries? needs - e.g. reducing operational obstacles and helping the donor countries in the implemention. This evolution has significant potential to attract funding support for the R&D work. Selection of the R&D topics must remain country-driven (donors and recipients). Current SDCG Element-3 activities will still run into 2019 where a science workshop will be organised to close the R&D effort of phase 1.
=> http://ceos.org/document_management/Meetings/SIT/SIT-33/Documents/GFOI-RD-ProgressReport_2018_v160418.pdf
=> http://ceos.org/document_management/Meetings/SIT/SIT-33/Documents/SDCG-Element-3_v4.1_2018.pdf
09/2018: The Global Baseline Data Acquisition Strategy for GFOI reached maturity with the current core sensors. (see CARB-04). Data streams from upcoming sensors will be integrated related to their suitability for forest observations.