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In Q1 2021 the biomass reference network concept officially because a GEO Activity, ‘Forest Biomass Reference system from Tree-by-Tree Inventory Data (GEO-TREES)’, which will facilitate coordination on collection of biomass reference data for EO products. While this is now a GEO activity, CEOS agencies are central to the GEO-TREES concept and this activity will be linked to CEOS through both WGCV LPV Biomass and LSI AFOLU Forests. This activity will link forest plot networks, academic institutions, GFOI, and CEOS agencies, and other relevant organizations to help fund, collect, disseminate and process biomass reference datasets. 

• In 2022 we established a GEO-TREES project office. The office is funded for two years by CNES. This will help to intensify the work on the GEO-TREES objectives
• A project executive, Iris-Amata Dion has been recruited and took up duty in June 2022.
• First steps to establish a GEO-TREES trust fund under the auspices of GEO have been taken. This trust fund will be used to hold the donnations made available by funding partners. The trust fund should be fully established by Q4 2022
• The GEO-TREES governance document and Implementation Plan have been drafted and should be released by Q4 2022.
• A GEO-TREES website is currently set up and will be open by Q4 2022.
• The ESA ForestScan activity which will establish 3 reference sites following the CEOS biomass cal/val protocol resumed its activities after being idle due to COVID travel retrictions. Delivery of data for the three sites is expected in 2023.
• Negotiations with a private donor to fund one reference site took place. Funds can be made availabe as soon as the governance document and the trust fund is available

• GEO-TREES received ~15 MEur of philantropic and corportaive funds to establish biomass validation sites across the tropics in 2023-2028 period.
• Current funds are restricted to fieldwork. Funds for data curration, hosting and long term archiving and preservation are still pending.
• CSIRO/TERN has been engaged as partner. TERN will extend their forest sites in Australia. 
• ISRO has been engaged as partner. ISRO currently sets up a validation network in India. 
• First contacts/discussions with GISTDA, INPE and CONAE to engage in GEO-TREES 

• Additional contacts have been made with NCEO and JAXA

The deliverable can be closed. The activity has been Kicked-off successfully.