Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) is a coordinated international effort to provide ongoing space-based and in-situ observations of forests and other vegetation cover for the sustainable management of terrestrial resources; and to obtain an accurate, reliable, quantitative understanding of the terrestrial carbon budget. GOFC-GOLD is working to accomplish its objectives by:
- Providing a forum for users of satellite data to discuss their needs and for producers to respond through improvements to their programs;
- Providing regional and global datasets containing information on:
1. Location of different forest types,
2. Major changes in forest cover,
3. Biological functioning of forests (to quantify the contribution forests make as absorbers and emitters of greenhouse gases);
- Promoting globally consistent data processing and interpretation methods;
- Promoting international networks for data access, data sharing, and international collaboration; and stimulating the production of improved products;
- Stimulating the production of improved products.
START’s role is to strengthen the participation of developing country scientists in NASA GOFC/GOLD-related projects and in the implementation of GOFC/GOLD at the regional scale. In June 2000, the GOFC/GOLD Science and Technical Board agreed that regional networks perform an essential cross-cutting role in the implementation of the existing GOFC/GOLD components, as well as in additional components to be developed in the future.
In particular, START, with funding from NASA, works to:
1) Provide support for developing country scientists and NASA-GOFC/GOLD resource people to attend GOFC/GOLD thematic and regional coordination and implementation meetings;
2) Provide support for compilation of regional data for use by developing country scientific and forestry resource management communities through a small training and fellowship program;
3) Foster the operation and development of GOFC-GOLD regional networks in support of NASA goals in developing countries; and
4) Provide overall coordination of the developing country component of GOFC/GOLD.
GOFC-GOLD Project Office
Dr. Michael Brady
Natural Resources Canada / Canadian Forest Service
5320-122 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T6H 3S5 CANADA
Phone: (780) 435-7210
Fax: (780) 435-7359
E-mail: GOFC-GOLD@nrcan.gc.ca
Further information on GOFC/GOLD activities can be found on the project website at: http://www.fao.org/gtos/gofc-gold/index.html or contact START
at start@agu.org
