GFOI RD Component Session Introduction Background and Context

GFOI R&D Component Session - Introduction, Background and Context Ake Rosenqvist, Anthea Mitchell, Alex Held Prepared in collaboration with Brice Mora (GOFC-GOLD) and Frank Martin Seifert (ESA) 27. 11. 2020 GFOI Components meetings Sydney, Australia, March 2 -6, 2015

R&D component accomplishments (1/2) Key outcomes from the R&D component during 2013 -2014 : • Review of Priority Research & Development Topics (Dec. 2013) – – • Peer-reviewed (200+ experts, country reps. , stake holders, GFOI/FCT leads invited) Assessment of the operational status of MGD and GFOI supplementary forest map products Identification of R&D topics of priority for GFOI to progress towards operational status http: //www. gfoi. org/sites/default/files/GFOI_Review. Prioity. RDTopics_V 1. pdf Landscaping study (July, 2014) – Mapping of priority R&D topics vs. interests of potential research and partner organisations – Identification of possible funding sources • MGD component interactions – Support to the definition of the MGD and GFOI supplementary Forest Information products (MGD, Table 6) – Authoring of MGD chapter on radar applications (MGD, section 3. 2. 4) – Co-drafting of summary note for GFOI Leads meeting (Oct. 2014) on MGD and R&D priority research 2

R&D component accomplishments (2/2) Key outcomes from the R&D component during 2013 -2014 : • Capacity Building component interactions – CB support to R&D to assess country R&D needs – R&D participation at GFOI Capacity Building workshops (Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil) – Liaison with the Silva. Carbon R&D programme and identification of areas of common interest • SDCG component interactions – Support to the development of the SDCG Element-3 Strategy (in parallel with R&D Plan development) – Preparations for R&D programme • GOFC-GOLD interactions – Coordination of activities for 2015 – Joint organisation of two R&D Expert workshops • Organisation R&D Expert Workshops – Focus on specific Priority R&D topics and their progress towards operational status • • Sensor Interoperability (Boston, USA - June, 2014) Forest Degradation (Wageningen, The Netherlands, Oct, 2014) Vegetation Biomass Estimation (Brisbane, Australia, Feb, 2015). Workshop reports available online on GFOI. org website 3

GFOI R&D Plan With no GFOI budget available to directly fund research groups to undertake dedicated R&D of relevance to GFOI, GFOI R&D Component aims to capitalise on and catalyse already on-going R&D of relevance to GFOI by external research groups through: • Dedicated expert workshop series on specific priority topics to assess state of the art, obstacles to operational use and actions to progress • External expert research groups invited to participate in a GFOI R&D programme to progress specific priority topics • Focus on a limited number of dedicated Study Sites • Liaison with space agencies (through CEOS SDCG) for provision of relevant space data in support of GFOI R&D programme; • Plans for follow-up of results and progress through compilation of regular status reports and organisation of annual result presentation meetings (science summits) • Release of documents (e. g. degradation synthesis paper) and keeping a live R&D website (http: //GFOI. org/RD).

R&D Plan for 2015+ 1. Launch of R&D programme. - Establishment of agreements with R&D teams outlining responsibilities and time schedules - Consolidation of requests for satellite observations for the SDCG Element-3 Strategy Timeframe: April 2015 2. Coordination of R&D activity - Interface between research teams and SDCG and CEOS space agencies. - Manage participating (external) research teams and coordinate reporting and communication of results to space agencies and other GFOI components’ Timeframe: Continuous during 2015 3. Coordinate Expert workshops - Coordinate at least one Expert workshop on key Priority R&D Topics during 2015 Tentative host: CONABIO, Mexico Timeframe: Q 3 2015 (TBC) 5

R&D Plan for 2015+ 4. Update of R&D Review - Continuous review of scientific literature and reports (i. e. , 'science scanning') for methods and approaches that can be considered operational, and that have been developed outside of the GFOI R&D programme. Timeframe: Annual 5. Liaison with other GFOI components - Liaison with the SDCG, MGD and Capacity Building components to improve awareness of, and encourage their input to the R&D programme, and facilitate contributions to the MGD and future training programmes. Timeframe: Continuous during 2015 6

Points for discussion • Governance: – Continuity: Transition of Lead for R&D component without gaps – Positive to potential option of GOFC-GOLD LC Office as lead for R&D • Funding: – Funding mechanism to be re-established without delay to assure maintained momentum of the R&D Programme and launch of SDCG El-3 plan (SIT-30) (conditional to approval of R&D programme by leads) – Programme duration minimum 3 years. • Membership: – Current R&D coordination membership proposed to be maintained • R&D priorities: – Feedback on organisation of future workshops and science meetings – Approval process for GFOI documents – Website management 7