Transcript GTOS in Support of UNCCD for Systematic Observations

UNCCD
GTOS in Support of UNCCD for
Systematic Observations
GTOS Steering Committee Meeting, Paris, 30 November – 2 December
Need for observation system
UNCCD
• The ten year Strategy and Framework
asks for monitoring and assessment tools,
methods and guidelines
• UNCCD is the only Rio Convention not
having an observing system
• There is a need to establish such as system
UNCCD
A first step
The two indicators agreed on at COP 9
•Land cover status
•Poverty line
The indicators should be seen in the context
of strategic objectives
•SO1. To improve the living conditions of affected
populations
•SO2. To improve the condition of affected ecosystems
•SO3. To generate global benefits through effective
implementation of the UNCCD
UNCCD
Land Cover Status
In both cultivated and non-cultivated lands
Proposed to be based on NPP and RUE trends as
obtained through long term series NDVI data at
global, regional and national levels
The analysis should be done centrally and made
available to the countries so that ground truthing and
assessment can be carried out
There is a comittment among Country Parties to
report but the capacity and available data is not
always there
UNCCD
Land Cover Status
• There is an need for support to Countries to
access data and for capacity building
• Support is also needed for reporting at
regional and global level
• Significance of the indicator
UNCCD
Land cover Status
Limitations such as:
• No direct link between land cover status as
measured by NPP and land degradation
• Land use change and climatic fluctuation may result
in lower NPP without beeing accompanied by land
degradation
• An increasing trend of NPP may reflect, for instance,
bush encroachment in rangeland or cropland which is not land improvement as commonly
understood.
UNCCD
Further development
An iterative process including
Scientific peer review including:
•Relevance
•Accuracy
•Cost-effectiveness
Application and review by countries
UNCCD
Further development
Some indicators are proposed as starting point in
this iterative process such as:
• change in land use
• level of carbon stocks
• land under SLM
However, the process will not be limited to these
indicators and the set can be extended/changed
during the work
UNCCD
Further development
In the iterative process UNCCD will look for support
and cooperation with organisations and networks as
well as synergies with other conventions
This is also in line with a recommendation from the
UNCCD 1st scientific conference:
A comprehensive, regularized DLDD/SLM monitoring
and assessment system should be established and
harmonized with related systems ...
UNCCD
UNCCD 1st Scientific Conference
”Simple indicators reveal only a small part of the complex
DLDD picture, and do not reflect the dynamic nature of
human-environment systems...”
”Rather than using fixed indicator sets alone, the UNCCD
community should make progressively greater use of the full
range of analytical methods that are available, within the
framework of a carefully-planned, holistic, multi-scalar
monitoring and assessment regime.”
”“Integrated assessment models” serve this purpose,
particularly linking the human and biophysical dimensions of
DLDD in ways that generate useful knowledge for decision
makers.”
UNCCD
Summing up
• The ten year Strategy and Framework asks for
monitoring and assessment tools, methods and
guidelines
• Two indicators were agreed on at COP 9
• An iterative process
• UNCCD first scientific conference
• Support and cooperation with organisations and
networks are necessary