GTOS
The Global Terrestrial Observing System Programme
Programme Director’s Report
John S.Latham
GTOS Steering Committee Meeting (SC-IV), UNESCO HQ, Paris, 30 Nov - 2 Dec 2009
GTOS Mission
 To provide policymakers, resource
managers and
researchers with
access to the data and
information they need
to detect, quantify,
locate, and warn of
changes (especially
reductions) in the
capacity of terrestrial
ecosystems to support
sustainable
development.
GTOS Vision
 Launched in 1996.
 Provide observations, modeling,
and analysis of terrestrial
ecosystems.
 Facilitate access to the data and
information for policy-makers,
resource managers and
researchers.
 GTOS is a world where
international policy decisions are
based on timely, reliable and
comprehensive information about
the status of the terrestrial
environment.
GTOS’ unique
niche is the union
Global-TerrestrialObservations
GTOS Organization
Steering Committee
 Chair: Riccardo VALENTINI
Members
Panel Chairs
Agency representatives:





Peter HOLMGREN (FAO)
Gisbert GLASER (ICSU)
Norberto FERNANDEZ (UNEP)
Natarajan ISHWARAN (UNESCO)
Wenjian ZHANG (WMO)
André Bassolé
Eric LAMBIN
H.E. Nadia MAKRAM EBEID
Jacqueline McGLADE
Diane WICKLAND
Robert R. CHRISTIAN
Coastal Panel (C-GTOS)
Han DOLMAN
Terrestrial Observation Panel for
Climate (TOPC)
Anthony C. JANETOS
Global Observation of Forest and Land
Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD)
Riccardo VALENTINI
Terrestrial Carbon Observation (TCO)
Secretariat
Programme Director: John LATHAM (FAO)
Staff: 1 Programme Director, 1 Programme Officer, 2 Programme Assistant, 1
Communication Assistant, 1 Information System Officer, 1 Budget Clerk
Host: FAO HQ, Rome Italy
Panels and activities: Science teams working on core mission areas
Advisory Body
Delivery through – panels and activities
Panels are run on a voluntary basis
GTOS Principles
1. GTOS is a ‘system of systems’, a
collaborative undertaking of
organizations, programs and projects
aiming to improve the acquisition,
processing and use of global
terrestrial data for improved policy and
decision making.
2. The principal role of the GTOS per se
is to lead, facilitate, coordinate and
complement contributions of partners
and other collaborators toward this
goal.
GTOS Technical Panels Activity
Terrestrial
Observation Panel
for Climate
(TOPC)
Activities
Contribution to the GCOS progress report
 Assessing the success of terrestrial actions in the
implementation plan. Identified 37 for which TOPC haa
provided its contribution
Essential Climate Variables
 Contribution to standards and methodology work
 Contribution for new ECVs: Ice Sheets and Soil Moisture
GEO and GEOSS
 Contribution to carbon tasks of 2009-2011 Work Plan
Networks
 Institutional support for in situ networks (ECVs)
 Establishment of several Global Terrestrial Networks
(GTNs), e.g. hydrology, glaciers, permafrost
GTOS – Achievements: ECVs
2. Climate and the Essential Climate Variables (ECV)
 GTOS addressing issues of
climate change and climate
variability, especially its effects on
food security, the environment and
sustainable development.
T1 River Discharge
T2 Water Use
T3 Ground Water
T4 Lake Level
T5 Snow Cover
 GTOS also supports the
observational requirements of the
UNFCCC through assisting the
implementation of the 13
terrestrial Essential Climate
Variables (ECVs).
T6 Glaciers and Ice
Caps
T7 Permafrost and
Seasonally-Frozen
Ground
T8 Albedo
T9 Land Cover
 In the last 3 years GTOS regularly
reported on the ECVs progress to
the UNFCCC SBSTA.
 A new ECV is under definition:
T14 Soil Moisture.
T10 FAPAR
T11 Leaf Area Index
T12 Biomass
T13 Fire disturbance
GTOS – Achievements: ECVs

In situ observations are still
underrepresented


Initial standardization to focus on in situ
observations:



The number of long-term and high-quality
standardized in situ measurements should be
increased, covering the main representative land
cover and ecosystem types – ideas are sort as
to how?
Existing standards, guides will be considered
Relevant ISO standards will be included – WMO
joint engagement with ISO.
International agreed standards, protocols
and guidelines, both for in situ and space
based observations should be developed
and approved
GTOS – Achievements: ECVs
30th Session of UNFCCC/SBSTA, Bonn, 1–10 June 2009
 GTOS
 SBSTA
GTOS reported to the 30th
Session of SBSTA on a
Framework for Terrestrial
Climate-Related Observations
and the Development of
Standards for the Terrestrial
Essential Climate Variables
SBSTA appreciated the
progress made by GTOS in
assessing the status of the
development of standards for
the terrestrial ECVs - pathway
for next steps evolving
SBSTA decided to recommend
its decisions for adoption by
COP 15 in Copenhagen.
GTOS – Achievements: ECVs
30th Session of UNFCCC/SBSTA, Bonn, 1–10 June 2009
SBSTA
 welcomed the GTOS proposal for a
joint framework mechanism between
relevant UN agencies and ISO for the
preparation of guidance materials,
standards and reporting guidelines on
terrestrial observing systems for
climate, and encouraged GTOS to
implement the framework. Participation,
priorities?
 invited GTOS to elaborate a work
plan for developing observational
standards and protocols for ECVs and
to report on the results of the
implementation of the framework and
its elaboration of the work plan at
SBSTA 33.
 Noted that priority should be
given to:
- finding new mechanisms for
ensuring sustained long-term
operation of essential in situ
networks
-increasing the coverage of underrepresented areas, such as in least
developed countries esp Africa
 Stressed also the importance of
continuing the development of
methodologies, and validation and
inter-comparison of satellite-based
applications for the terrestrial
domain.
GTOS – Achievements: ECVs
ECV Name
INSitu,SATellite,
Global data sets
produced?
In situ data used and
source?
EQUal_importance
Validation of
methods &
Products
Y (countries/
WMO)
Underway
Y
Y (projects)
Underway
SAT
Y
Y (projects)
Underway
Glaciers&Ice
Caps
EQU
Y
Y (GTN-G)
Underway (for
satellite)
Ground Water
INS
No
Lake Levels and
Reservoir
Storage
EQU
No
Land Cover
SAT
Y
Y (projects)
Underway
Leaf Area Index
SAT
Y
Y (projects)
Underway
Permafrost
INS
Y
Y (GTN-P)
Operational*
River Discharge
INS
Y
Y (countries/
WMO)
Operational*
Soil Moisture
EQU
No
Albedo
SAT
Y
Biomass
EQU
No
Fire Disturbance
SAT
FAPAR
Network in
development
Terrestrial
Carbon
Observations
(TCO)
Activities
Africa Carbon and Climate
 CarboAfrica and ClimAfrica (EU project FP7)
Biomass and Soil inventory
 Assessing vegetation biomass, soil organic carbon and land
cover/use change in Sub-Saharan Africa
 FAO WISDOM and UN-REDD
Essential Climate Variables
 Contribution to the biomass report
GEO and GEOSS
 Contribution to various tasks of 2009-2011 Work Plan
Capacity development
 Training activities in Africa through CarboAfrica
Vegetation sampling and data submission
 Manual on protocols
GTOS Achievements
3. The Terrestrial Carbon
 The Terrestrial Carbon Observation
(TCO) Panel of GTOS supports the
coordination of a global carbon
observation system and its database.
 CarboAfrica (contribution to GTOS of
$250,000) is funded by the EC. Goal is
to coordinate GHGs monitoring network
for Africa.
 Other successful projects supported by
TCO are ICOS (Integrated Carbon
Observation System) and COCOS
(Coordination of Carbon Observing
Systems).
 The last project proposal developed in
collaboration between FAO and GTOS TCO is ClimAfrica...3.4 m Euro 10
countries multiple partners: links into
GCOS
Global Observation
of Forest and Land
Cover Dynamics
(GOFC-GOLD)
Activities
Fire Mapping and Monitoring
 Global Wildland Fire Network and Wildland Fire Advisory
Group
 Contribute to Global Wildland Fire Early Warning System
 Long-term fire observing systems
Land Cover Characteristics and Change
 Land cover data and information products fro global carbon
cycle and biodiversity loss
 Forest monitoring (i.e. REDD, boreal and temperate forest)
 Land cover change accuracy assessment
 Regional networks
Engaging users in the Regions
 Regional Network Data initiative (USGS); Africa pilot
 FRA 2010 ( FAO)
Essential Climate Variables
 Contribution to reports
Global Observation
of Forest and Land
Cover Dynamics
(GOFC-GOLD)
Global Fire Information Management System (GFIMS)
 Integrates RS and GIS
technologies to deliver
MODIS active fire
locations to natural
resource managers
around the world.
FAO/GTOS supporting the
development of a full
operational system
GTOS Achievements
4. Coastal GTOS
 Implementation C-GTOS strategic plan.
 Participation in IGOS Coastal Theme proposal
and linkages with Coastal -GOOS.
 New version of the World Atlas of Mangroves.
 Development of the World Deltas Network and
assessments of LULC changes in deltas expanding DRAGON
 C-GTOS played a leading role
also in the establishment of a
cooperative agreement with the
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
 Membership in the GEO Coastal
Zone Community of Practice
focused on observations
necessary for managing and
mitigating the impacts of human
activities and coastal inundation.
Programmes / Related Projects Activity
GTOS Tasks: ‘maintenance’
 “Maintenance” activities:
 Website
GTOS website is an
‘umbrella’ which serves firstlevel, integrative information
(including summary reports
on the current state of the
global ocean) and then
passes the user on to partner
websites
 Secretariat
Secretariat is the principal
contact point between GTOS,
its partners, and other
agencies relevant to GTOS
activities and plans, and it
coordinates GTOS reporting.
FRA RSS portal
GTOS website
Terrestrial Ecosystem
Monitoring Sites
Database
(TEMS)
Who, what, where:
2060 monitoring sites
44 networks
1200 contact persons
120 environmental
variables and 60 socioeconomic indicators (with
description sheets)
Interactive Maps
Thematic modules related
to biodiversity, coastal
zones, forest, hydrology
and mountain.
Local Climate Estimates,
Geology, Pedology and
Hydrology data.
www.fao.org/gtos/tems
Terrestrial Ecosystem
Monitoring Sites
Database
(TEMS)
GTOS website statistics: unique visitors
WEB statistics
53794
60000
The two charts below report on TEMS Web
site statistics updated at November 2009.
50000
42775
35943
40000
They report the number of unique visitors
and the average of viewed page.
32705
2006
2007
30000
2008
Nov-09
20000
10000
Integration with other programmes
0
2006
 GOSIC/GTOS/GCMD data
matrix
2007
2008
Nov-09
Pages viewed (average per day)
347
Nov-09
 World Data Centres (WDC)
448
2008
321
2007
283
2006
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
GT-NET
Global Terrestrial
Observing Network
Activities
Mountains
Permafrost
Glaciers
Hydrology
River discharge
B-GTOS
Biodiversity in
GTOS
Activities
GEO Biodiversity Observations Network (GEO
BON)
 Making information freely and openly available
Biodiversity Monitoring Initiatives
 Partnership and advocacy of initiatives such as GenBank,
“Barcode of Life”, Global Biodiversity Information Facility, the
World Conservation Monitoring Centre of UNEP, WWF, etc..
Integrated Global
Observations for
Land
(IGOL)
Land theme of IGOS:
 IGOL design activities that will provide a
comprehensive picture of the present
state of terrestrial ecosystems, and build
capacity for long-term monitoring of those
ecosystems.
Recent developments:
 IGOL completed
 IGOL transition to GEOSS
 GEO Ag workshop – July 2007
 Specific GEOSS task, development
of a 10 year strategy for agriculture
(AG-06-01)
 In support of task AG-07-03:
development of an operation
agricultural monitoring system.
http://www.igospartners.org
http://www.fao.org/gtos/igol/
Global Mapping of
Mangroves
Mangroves Atlas
A joint initiative of FAO/UNEP, the International Society for
Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME), and other international institutions
31 countries
mapped
400 Landsat
scenes interpreted
GTOS and
Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)
activities
 the Group on Earth
Observations (GEO) has
initiated a 10-year
implementation plan towards
the Global Earth Observation
System of Systems
(GEOSS).
 Currently GTOS is one of the
main contributors of the
terrestrial monitoring
component of GEOSS and it
is involved in 16 GEO tasks
or subtasks.
AR-09-03, Global Terrestrial Observations
CL-09-03b, Forest Carbon Tracking
DA-09-03, Global Land Cover
DI-09-03b, Implementation of a Fire Warning
System at Global Level
EC-09-01c, Regional Networks for Ecosystems
US-09-03b, Forest Mapping and Change
Monitoring
The areas covered by the GTOS tasks are:
1 Biodiversity (BI)
1 Capacity Building (CB)
1 User Engagement (US)
2 Data Management (DA)
2 Disasters (DI)
2 Ecosystems (EC)
3 Architecture (AR)
4 Climate (CL)
GTOS Achievements
9. GTOS main Publications
 The total number of the GTOS
21 in the
last 2 years!
publications series is 71
• GTOS-69: GTOS submission to UNFCCC SBSTA 29, December 2008: Terrestrial
framework mechanisms and assessment of available standards and guides to
terrestrial ECVs
• GTOS-68, ECV 13: Fire Disturbance: assessment report on available
methodological standards and guides
• GTOS-67, ECV 12: Biomass: assessment report on available methodological
standards and guides,
• GTOS-66, ECV 11: LAI: assessment report on available methodological standards
and guides, 31 July 2008
• GTOS-65, ECV 10: FAPAR: assessment report on available methodological
standards and guides, 31 July 2008
• GTOS-64, ECV 09: Land cover: assessment report on available methodological
standards and guides, 31 July 2008
• GTOS-63, ECV 08: Albedo: assessment report on available methodological
standards and guides, 31 July 2008
• GTOS-62, ECV 07: Permafrost: assessment report on available methodological
standards and guides, 31 July 2008
• GTOS-61, ECV 06: Glaciers and Ice Caps: assessment report on available
methodological standards and guides, 31 July 2008
• GTOS-60, ECV 05: Snow Cover: assessment report on available methodological
standards and guides, 31 July 2008.....
Budget
Total funds received from 1996 to 2007
350,000.00
250,000.00
200,000.00
150,000.00
100,000.00
Donors
UBS
UNESCO
UNEP
WORLD
METEOROLOGICAL
ORGANISATION
-
OTHER
UNIDENTIFIED
CONTRIBUTIONS
50,000.00
ICSU
US$ Milions
300,000.00
Budget
Total funds received from 2008 to 2009
60,000.00
40,000.00
30,000.00
20,000.00
10,000.00
Donors
UBS
UNESCO
UNEP
WORLD
METEOROLOGICAL
ORGANISATION
-
ICSU
US$ Million
50,000.00
Budget
Annual Contributions by Donors
45000
40000
35000
ICSU
25000
UNESCO
20000
WMO
15000
10000
5000
0
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
US$
30000
UNEP
GTOS Secretariat: sponsor contributions
UPDATED
2003 (US$ 410 000)
FAO (319K)
ICSU (20K)
UNEP (25K)
UNESCO (21K)
WMO (25K)
FAO contributions include staff costs and regular programme cash contributions
GTOS Secretariat: sponsor contributions
UPDATED
2004 (US$ 320 000)
FAO
18000
Standard dpoICSU1/,
UNEP, UNESCO/, WMO)
NOAA
40000
CarboEurope
UNEP/IGOL
70000
192000
CarboAfrica (Tuscia Univ.)
Italy
GLCN
Total
2004
Donors
FAO
FAO contributions include staff costs and regular
programme cash contributions
192000
Standard dpoICSU1/, UNEP,
UNESCO/, WMO)
70000
NOAA
40000
CarboEurope
18000
UNEP/IGOL
0
CarboAfrica (Tuscia Univ.)
0
Italy
0
GLCN
Total
0
320000
GTOS Secretariat: sponsor contributions
UPDATED
2005 (US$ 377 000)
FAO
Standard dpoICSU1/,
UNEP, UNESCO/, WMO)
NOAA
146000
156000
CarboEurope
UNEP/IGOL
CarboAfrica (Tuscia Univ.)
Italy
25000
50000
GLCN
Total
2005
Donors
FAO
Standard dpoICSU1/, UNEP,
UNESCO/, WMO)
FAO contributions include staff costs and regular
programme cash contributions
156000
50000
NOAA
0
CarboEurope
0
UNEP/IGOL
25000
CarboAfrica (Tuscia Univ.)
0
Italy
146000
GLCN
Total
377000
0
GTOS Secretariat: sponsor contributions
UPDATED
2006 (US$ 622 000)
FAO
193000
Standard dpoICSU1/,
UNEP, UNESCO/, WMO)
NOAA
CarboEurope
UNEP/IGOL
379000
50000
CarboAfrica (Tuscia Univ.)
Italy
GLCN
Total
2006
Donors
FAO
Standard dpoICSU1/, UNEP,
UNESCO/, WMO)
FAO contributions include staff costs and regular
programme cash contributions
193000
50000
NOAA
0
CarboEurope
0
UNEP/IGOL
0
CarboAfrica (Tuscia Univ.)
0
Italy
379000
GLCN
Total
622000
0
GTOS Secretariat: sponsor contributions
UPDATED
2007 (US$ 459 000)
FAO
Standard dpoICSU1/,
UNEP, UNESCO/, WMO)
NOAA
155000
CarboEurope
UNEP/IGOL
254000
CarboAfrica (Tuscia Univ.)
50000
Italy
GLCN
Total
2007
Donors
FAO
Standard dpoICSU1/, UNEP,
UNESCO/, WMO)
FAO contributions include staff costs and regular
programme cash contributions
155000
50000
NOAA
0
CarboEurope
0
UNEP/IGOL
CarboAfrica (Tuscia Univ.)
Italy
GLCN
Total
0
254000
0
0
459000
GTOS Secretariat: sponsor contributions
UPDATED
2008 (US$ 227 500)
FAO
Standard dpoICSU1/,
UNEP, UNESCO/, WMO)
NOAA
40000
6000
CarboEurope
131500
50000
UNEP/IGOL
CarboAfrica (Tuscia Univ.)
Italy
GLCN
Total
2008
Donors
FAO
Standard dpoICSU1/, UNEP,
UNESCO/, WMO)
FAO contributions include staff costs and regular
programme cash contributions
131500
50000
NOAA
0
CarboEurope
0
UNEP/IGOL
CarboAfrica (Tuscia Univ.)
Italy
GLCN
Total
0
6000
0
40000
227500
GTOS Secretariat: sponsor contributions
UPDATED
2009 (US$ 260 144)
FAO
40000
Standard dpoICSU1/,
UNEP, UNESCO/, WMO)
NOAA
6000
CarboEurope
50000
UNEP/IGOL
164144
CarboAfrica (Tuscia Univ.)
Italy
GLCN
Total
2009
Donors
FAO
Standard dpoICSU1/, UNEP,
UNESCO/, WMO)
FAO contributions include staff costs and regular
programme cash contributions
164144
50000
NOAA
0
CarboEurope
0
UNEP/IGOL
CarboAfrica (Tuscia Univ.)
Italy
GLCN
Total
0
6000
0
40000
260144
Director’s Report
Activities of the Secretariat
Programme Director /
Admin Ass
Programme Officer/Programme Assistant
Communication Officer
Management of GTOS
(Exec. Bodies of sponsors,
GTOS Panels, Prep of Pres
and Docs)
UNFCCC
(IP, Progress Report)
Website content
Management
Environmental monitoring
and Assessment FAO
Satellite Activities
(CEOS, CGMS, ESA)
development of communication
plan
Steering
Committee/Panels GCOS +
GTOS/TOPC
Terrestrial Activities
(i.e. GOFC, GCOS, TCO)
assist in preparation of
documents on latest activities
Budget GTOS &
Fundraising
IT
(Meetings, IT, Fundraising)
assist in preparation of all
communication material
Reporting to
UNFCCC/SBSTTA on
behalf of Sponsor on
Terrestrial UN ISO
Framework
Outreach
(Website, Newsletter, Print)
assist in preparation of
documents on latest activities
Regional activities
CarboAfrica/ClimAfrica
Regional activities: CarboAfrica, ClimAfrica
Donor liaison
MoU/LoA
Interactions with GEO, WCRP, IPCC
Interaction/Representative
GEO/CEO/WIGOS/ESA
Other
GTOS
The Global Terrestrial Observing System Programme
Thank You
John Latham (NRCE)