Develop country by country demonstrators for use of CEOS products in their national reporting
[Ref. GST Strategy Paper v3.1, Recommendation #6]
Ongoing endeavors spearheaded by the USGS SilvaCarbon program: The USGS CEOS team has been working with SilvaCarbon countries to scrutinize global datasets and leverage in-country data to validate and refine products derived from satellite information. These initiatives underscore the significance of collaborative efforts with nations to enhance the precision of global products. By integrating local data and expertise, these products can more effectively meet decision-makers demands and bolster sustainable development objectives.
SilvaCarbon assessed three global biomass products across four countries to gauge their accuracy and applicability for national-level monitoring. Results indicated varying degrees of accuracy contingent upon the country and forestry type, underscoring the necessity for country-specific validation processes.
The SilvaCarbon program convened a regional workshop in Thailand, in collaboration with GISTDA, convening representatives from countries within the region to evaluate the applicability of various forest biomass products derived from space-based sources. This collaborative exercise illuminated the necessity for heightened emphasis on uncertainty analysis and accuracy assessment of these maps, mainly when applied across diverse forest typologies. Valuable feedback was gathered during the workshop, prompting the Biomass team to embark upon further methodological developments geared towards closely scrutinizing uncertainty estimation methodologies.
A notable achievement of the SilvaCarbon program lies in its collaboration with the Paraguayan Forest Institute (INFONA). The US Forest Service devised a tailored methodology utilizing space Lidar data to enhance national forest inventories. This methodology is being customized and implemented in Paraguay to augment the number of plots with carbon measurements stipulated by the National Forest Inventory Objectives.
Furthermore, SilvaCarbon tested five distinct land cover products across seven countries. The forest/non-forest map developed by Dr. Matt Hansen's lab at the University of Maryland emerged as the most utilized global product for establishing deforestation baselines and integrating them into the National Forest Monitoring System.
In the coming year, SilvaCarbon has planned two regional workshops for 2024. By the end of July 024, enhanced outcomes are expected as a result of the imminent regional workshop in Cambodia, held in partnership with JAXA, ESA, and FAO, according to the USGS projections.
SilvaCarbon has organized four regional workshops focused on utilizing Global Mangrove Datasets and integrating ground-based data. These workshops took place in Thailand, Guatemala, Peru, and Gabon. Each workshop consisted of hands-on and fieldwork sessions involving the collection of soil core samples and transferring expertise utilizing a mangrove inventory protocol developed by CIFOR.
In incorporating global datasets for mangrove monitoring, the program has achieved significant success in garnering support from participating countries to adopt the protocol. This entails combining ground-based and Earth Observation (EO) data into their forest carbon reporting to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Two forthcoming workshops in Belize and Cambodia will conclude the coverage of global regions under the program's purview.
AFOLU group is engaged in country-level transfer actions
THre have been several efforts lead by the USGS SilvaCarbon program aimed at testing global datasets and using in-country data to validate and claibrate products made with satellite information. Overall, the efforts demonstrate the importance of working with countries to improve the accuracy of global products. By incorporating local data and expertise, the products can better serve the needs of decision-makers and contribute to sustainable development.
SilvaCarbon has tested three global biomass products in four countries to evaluate their accuracy and usefulness for national-level monitoring. The program found that the accuracy of these products varies depending on the country and foresty type, highlighting the importance of country validation.
One success story for the SilvaCarbon program is its partnership with the Paraguayan Forest Institute (INFONA). To improve national forest inventories, the US Forest Service has developed a tailored methodology that uses space Lidar data. the methodology called GEDI is being adapted and applied in Paraguay to increase the reached the number of plots with carbon measurements targeted by the National Forest Inventory Objectives.
SilvaCarbon has also tested 5 different land cover products in 7 countries. The global product most used for developing deforestation baselines and to be included in the National Forest Monitoring System is the forest/non-forest map developed by Dr. Matt Hansen lab at the University of Maryland.
Silvacarbon is planning 4 regional workshops in 2023. At the end of February 2023 USGS will have better results from the upcoming of the regional workshop in Thailand in collaboration with GISTDA.