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Highlights

	Evaluating the GEO Portal prototypes Components registration Standards registration The assessment phase for the GEO Portals runs until May 2009. The Portals are updated regularly so please make repeat visits and provide your feedback. The GEO community is invited to register its data bases, catalogues, services and tools in the GEOSS Components and Services Registry The GEO community is encouraged to register standards, protocols and other specifications for ensuring an interoperable “system of systems” in the GEOSS Registry

Brazil to host GEO Forest Monitoring Symposium

The Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) are organizing a major symposium on forest monitoring in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil from 4 to 7 November. The goal of the Symposium is to advance international collaboration on monitoring the extent, condition and ecological services of the world’s forests. This event should be of interest to decision-makers, researchers, non-governmental organizations and project managers active in all aspects of forestry management, from carbon storage and disaster prediction to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem products and services. For more information about the agenda and registration procedures, please visit the Symposium web site

Bangladesh’s Meghna to be model basin for flood forecasting

Dhaka, Aug 11 (IANS) -- Bangladesh is set to evolve a model for forecasting floods and rainfall starting with the Meghna river after which the other river basins of the country would also also be included in the proposed system. The 10-year plan has been initiated with Meghna and the first model is set to be complete by 2011, the Daily Star reported Monday.

Flowing as the Ganga from the Himalayas in India, the river acquires the name Meghna once the Brahmaputra joins it in Bangladesh and is the major river system of the country.

The plan is being initiated in view of looming impact of climate change, under the framework of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) to improve sustainable water resource management in Bangladesh. Read full article

Atlas of Africa’s Changing Environment demonstrates power of Earth observations

The Africa edition of the United Nations Environment Programme's “Atlas of our Changing Environment” highlights how modern Earth observation systems can support action to address humanity’s growing impact on the natural environment.

By comparing satellite images and ground photos of specific locations taken 30 years ago and then again today, the Atlas makes it possible to truly comprehend the decade-scale changes occurring in the African environment.

UNEP has presented the Atlas, which was released on 10 June, as a contribution to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems. For more information and a link to the Atlas, you can open or download the press release.

2nd GEOSS Asia-Pacific Symposium concludes in Tokyo

	Speakers and organizers at the 2nd Asia-Pacific Symposium, from left to right: Dr. Mamoru Mohri, Prof. José Achache, Dr. Rajendra K Pachauri, Mr. Yukihide Hayashi, Dr. Rabinder N. Malik, Mr. Shin Aoyama

The Government of Japan welcomed some 300 scientists and experts from across the Asia-Pacific region to a three-day symposium in Tokyo on 14 - 16 April 2008. Keynote speaker Dr R.K. Pachauri, Chairman of the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said, "Global observing systems such as GEOSS promote information sharing and the synthesis of information; they serve the climate as a global public good."

The symposium considered new technologies and strategies for assessing and predicting climate change, which will be needed for future assessments by the IPCC and others. Other issues included adapting to the expected impacts of climate change on biodiversity and on water resources. The meeting also explored the potential role of GEOSS in monitoring forests and tracking the carbon cycle.

The aim of the Symposium was to strengthen GEOSS while supporting international efforts to understand and address climate change and its impacts on the region.
For more information, see the summary report, conference home page and press advisory

Developing Countries Get Help to Cope with Climate Change

(Environmental News Service, 28 February 2008)
WASHINGTON D.C. -- A new agreement between the World and the National Oceanic and Aeronautics Administration (NOAA) of the US promises to help realize the societal benefits of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems, particularly in the Americas. Read full article

Idea of Flying Earth Climate Observation Sensors on Iridium NEXT Gains Universal Approval, Focus Moves to Funding

Bethesda, Md., January 30 - Iridium(R) Satellite and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Secretariat are pleased to announce the successful conclusion of a meeting at the Royal Society in London on January 22, 2008. The meeting, "Exploiting the New Earth Observation Paradigm," organized by Trident Sensors Ltd., was a follow-up to the GEO IV Plenary and Ministerial Summit in Cape Town last November... Download full text

A global revolution in Earth management

An editorial by the GEO Co-Chairs.

Climate change, the depletion of natural resources, the emergence of new diseases, and the loss of biological diversity are amongst some of the most serious and complex challenges facing the human race today... Download full text

GEO and ITU join forces on Earth observation satellites, emergencies and capacity building

Geneva, 10 December 2007 - The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation on remote sensing of the Earth, particularly in the field of disaster preparedness and response... Download full text

"The Full Picture"

The Full Picture is an exciting new full-colour publication detailing selected Early Achievements and other Earth observation projects and services. You can download "The Full Picture" by clicking on the image on the left.

The First 100 Steps to GEOSS

The Early Achievements that governments and organizations have contributed to GEOSS have each been summarized in a two-page brief and collected in a document entitled “The First 100 Steps to GEOSS”.

What are GEO and GEOSS?

The Group on Earth Observations (or GEO) is coordinating international efforts to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). This emerging public infrastructure is interconnecting a diverse and growing array of instruments and systems for monitoring and forecasting changes in the global environment. This “system of systems” supports policymakers, resource managers, science researchers and many other experts and decision-makers.

Click here to learn more about GEOSS. You can find more details on how GEO functions on the "About GEO pages" and in the GEO Information Kit.

What's new?

GEO joins forces with Biodiversity Convention

The member governments of the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a decision last May formally recognizing the role that GEOSS can play in achieving the Convention's goals. In an effort to enhance their collaboration on meeting governments' expectations, the heads of the GEO and CBD Secretariats signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 8 September. The MOU is posted here.

Estonia becomes the 75TH member of GEO

The Government of Estonia has joined the Group on Earth Observations, bringing the total GEO membership to 74 countries plus the EC. Estonia's Minister of the Environment informed the Secretariat of his government's decision on 17 July. The Head of the Remote Sensing and Marine Optics Department, Estonian Ministry of Education and Research will serve as GEO Principal and the Counsellor on Monitoring o the Ministry of the Environment will serve as GEO Alternate. See the updated GEO membership list.

Registration open for 2008 GEOSS in the Americas Symposium

The second annual Symposium for the Americas region will take place in Panama City, Panama from 30 September to 3 October. The Symposium will increase regional understanding of GEOSS, promote GEOSS activities and opportunities, and strengthen partnerships and engagement. For more information, including how to register, please visit the Symposium web site.

Towards a new GEO work plan for 2009-2011

The GEO community has started to develop its next three-year work plan. The first draft of the new plan, together with a description of the development process, links to the current task sheets, and other information about GEOSS implementation, can be found here

Central America gets new storm alert system

COSTA RICA (Daily News), 25 June 2008 — A new system of early forecasts for storms and bad weather, with alerts every 30 minutes, will be in operation this summer in Central America and southern Mexico, the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations announced.

The system, dubbed NextStorm, will provide short-term forecasts of powerful electrical storms or heavy rainfall likely to cause flooding. The news came while Costa Rica is still fixing up the damage in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Alma.

NextStorm represents “a major advance in putting earth observation data and other tools to work in protecting people and livelihoods in southern Mexico and throughout Central America,” GEO Secretariat director José Achache said... Read full article on-line or download full text.

US plans storm warning system for East Africa

GENEVA (AP), 25 June 2008 — Cell phone users in East Africa will be able to receive warnings when a storm is brewing thanks to a low-cost alert system U.S. scientists are hoping to set up in the next few years, officials said Tuesday.

The NextStorm system — a computer program that analyzes recent satellite images to predict where thunderstorms are likely to occur in the next hour — should be in place by the end of the decade, said Jacqueline Schafer of USAID told journalists in Geneva.

The U.S. development agency has already set up a similar system set to begin operating this summer in Central America together with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA and local partners... Read full article on-line or download full text.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) supports GEO BON

The 190 member governments of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted a decision on 30 May recognizing the importance of the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON). The decision on "Monitoring, Assessment and Indicators" has not yet been posted at the CBD web site. The paragraphs inviting governments, organizations and other stakeholders to support GEO BON can be read on the GEO BON home page. The Group on Earth Observations is currently developing the implementation plan for GEO BON with the aim of adopting it at the GEO annual meeting next November in Beijing.

Turkey joins GEO

The Republic of Turkey has decided to join the Group on Earth Observations, bringing the total GEO membership up to 73 countries plus the EC. Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs informed the Secretariat of his government's decision on 16 May. Turkey's Scientific and Technical Research Council will serve as both GEO Principal and GEO Alternate.

To see the updated GEO membership list, click here.

Science & Technology:

Because scientific and technological knowledge and research are so vital to our understanding of the global integrated Earth system, a document has been written which seeks to sensitise potential partners and relevant funding agencies to the important relationships between GEOSS and science and technology and the many societal benefits that GEOSS can provide

Read more in:

• The Role of Science and Technology in GEOSS

Launching the GEO Biodiversity Observation Network - GEO BON

Dozens of leading scientific and intergovernmental organizations are joining forces to build a global Biodiversity Observation Network. Dubbed GEO BON, this bio-diversity arm of GEOSS will monitor and assess the status of the world’s species and ecosystems in order to prevent their further loss.

GEO BON was launched in Berlin on 8 - 10 April.

For more information see

• press release: Ambitious new monitoring network will advance international efforts to rescue the world’s vanishing biological diversity
• press clipping: Species Monitoring Seen Helping Slow Extinctions
  (Reuters, 10 April 2008)

and also:

• the GEO BON home page

Communities of Practice

The GEO Communities of Practice (CoP) provide a framework through which governments and organizations work together on projects and objectives of mutual interest. Each Community is organized around a particular theme, such as agriculture or biodiversity, and includes both producers and users of Earth observations.

Go to Community of Practice web pages related to the following themes:

• Global Agricultural Monitoring System
• GEO BON (Biodiversity Observation Network)

Meningitis Environmental Risk Consultative Meeting Report is now available

In collaboration with the World Health Organization and other leaders from the environmental and public health communities, the GEO Secretariat hosted a Meningitis Environmental Risk Consultative Meeting in Geneva last September. The meeting explored how user-friendly climate data and other types of Earth observations could be used to predict and mitigate meningitis epidemics in Africa. Download the final report and other meeting documents

Global push to predict weather

(Courier Mail Australia, 21 February 2008)

Australia's Governor-General has spoken to the leaders of China, Russia and the US about a joint "space-age" project for more accurate forecasts of floods, drought and weather. This high-level support for strengthening Earth observations highlights the importance of GEO's Project on "The socio-economic and environmental benefits of a revolution in weather, climate and Earth system analysis and prediction". Download full text

Related article: Download excerpt from The Full Picture

The Bush Plan for Climate Change

(Wall Street Journal, 26 January 2008)
Following the adoption of the “Bali Roadmap”, the White House emphasizes the role that the Global Earth Observation System of Systems can play in supporting climate monitoring and adaptation. Read article here

The Cape Town Ministerial Summit

The Cape Town Declaration as adopted on the 30th of November 2007 during the Cape Town Ministerial Summit.