Africover 

UNEP

Italian Cooperation / UNEP / FAO / Other sources

Remote Sensing, GIS (GeoVIS, AIMS, land cover classification methodology (LCCS), Database (ADG, AID)

Italian Cooperation

Sustainable Use of Resources

GLCN will provide a neutral international clearinghouse for land cover mapping and monitoring projects. It will develop effective communication links with relevant organizations, advise on harmonization of land cover mapping methodologies and widely disseminate information on their products and services.

The Africover Project developed a combined approach to promote the sustainable use of natural resources:

- Use of remote sensing and geographic information system technologies for natural resource as recommended by Agenda 21 and the last WSSD.

- Development of a innovative land cover classification methodology, now adopted by FAO and UNEP as the standard land cover classification system:a new way to store information and liberate it in a flexible way to answer user needs.

- Capacity building and participation of the member countries: after a training on the Africover methodology and tools, the national remote sensing and GIS officers selected by the national focal point institutions (NFPI) develop the country databases with the support of the Project. Special training is provided to reinforce the capacities in using and maintaining the data bases.

- Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) compliance: standards adopted, policies for the distribution developed, maintenance and access to the data ensured and data custodianship guidelines published to assure that data will be considered a public good available to any end user interested.

- Building Partnership and Alliances for a detailed, homogeneous global land cover serving the needs of different user communities created the conditions for the launch of the FAO-UNEP Global Land Cover Initiative.

The Global Land Cover Network initiative has been jointly launched by FAO and UNEP during the Artimino conference: a global alliance for standard multi-purpose land cover data production to answer user needs. While the implementation of other modules is currently under discussion, the Eastern Africa module, financed by the Italian Government, has been active since 1995.  Expected Results:             

    *  National and regional multipurpose AFRICOVER Database for Environment (MADE) produced
    * A set of tools and methodologies for multipurpose land cover mapping developed
    * National and regional management and planning improved, including socioeconomic and environmental analysis in support of sustainable development and environmental monitoring related to international conventions and initiatives
    * National level institutions strengthened, including capacity building and stakeholders involvement through the planning and implementation of operational activities, mainly at the sub-national level

West Africa, Southern Africa, Asia, India, China, South America

No preferred brands, communication problems encountered in developing countries i.e. no internet or network infrastructure. Security of data a concern in some countries

www.africover.org
www.glcn-lccs.org
www.glcn.org