Global Observation of Forest Cover and Land Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD): “Increasing the Capacity of Developing Countries Scientists to Access and Use Satellite Data”.

MedRIN Objectives

An initiative for forming a new regional information network for the Mediterranean Region has been started, following a series of discussions with European, African and American colleagues. This would be a network, which may be coupled upon our joint decision and a formal request, with the framework of the Global Observations of Forest Cover and Land Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD; https://start.org/programs/gofc-gold/) and would serve as a liaison between Land Cover Land Use Change (LCLUC) remote sensing scientists and stakeholders in the Mediterranean region.

GOFC-GOLD is a coordinated global effort involving space agencies, international organizations, including United Nations agencies, universities and research organizations. START’s efforts are funded by a grant from NASA, and START works closely on this project with NASA, the US Geological Survey’s Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science (USGS-EROS), Boston University, the University of Maryland, GOFC-GOLD Regional Networks and a range of universities, space agencies and NGOs in partner countries throughout the world.

The Mediterranean Regional Information Network (MedRIN) constitutes one of the GOFC-GOLD Regional Networks which will keep its members abreast with the latest advancements in Earth Observation applications based on NASA and ESA satellite data and data products. The Network will support tackling regional and local challenges, as described by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). MedRIN will not replace existing networks in the region but will leverage additional networking capacity and build on the existing networks and systems with actions and ways that may only be of support to a peaceful utilization of Earth Observation in citizen’s everyday life.

Specifically, the objectives may include (and to be discussed further at the meeting):

  1. better coordination and linkage of monitoring systems and databases across Mediterranean,
  2. strengthening and upgrading regional/national EO networks,
  3. alignment of multi-modal and multi-source data compliant to international norms,
  4. utilization of Copernicus and relevant freely distributed services in the region by end users,
  5. contribution to free publicly-available data through interoperable databases and services.

These will be enriched and fine-tuned based on your experiences, wishes and needs for the MedRIN.