GOFC-GOLD is being implemented through a suite of well-considered pilot projects. Each project must provide useful information to identified user communities with clearly stated requirements, and must be achievable using proven technology, even though a fully integrated system may not yet exist. Through these projects, data providers and users benefit from increased communication, and the expansion of technological capabilities. GOFC-GOLD has involved the users in the design of these activities in order to ensure adoption by the operational agencies at the completion of the pilot phase

Through this "learning and developing by doing" approach, GOFC-GOLD is working to:

• create and strengthen partnerships between CEOS members and user agencies;
• identify gaps and overlaps in current and planned earth observation satellite programs and make recommendations to resolve them;
• promote common data processing standards and interpretation methods, which are necessary for inter-comparison of regional studies;
• use data from multiple sensors, in combination with in-situ data, to produce validated information products which satisfy clearly identified requirements of user agencies and research groups;
• stimulate advances in the management and dissemination of large volume datasets;
• encourage the increased operational use of earth observation data for decision making at national, regional, and global levels.

While much progress in these areas would no doubt take place independently, GOFC-GOLD is contributing to a more integrated global approach by:

• providing opportunities to compare results from different sensors and different algorithms;
• providing linkages to organizations such as GTOS that facilitate the sharing of in-situ observations;
• promoting ground observation networks and campaigns to validate information products.

The Three Primary Themes
The essence of the GOFC-GOLD implementation strategy is to develop and demonstrate operational forest monitoring at regional and global scales by conducting pilot projects and developing prototype products within three primary themes:

• Forest Cover Characteristics and Changes
• Forest Fire Monitoring and Mapping
• Forest Biophysical Processes

The natural interconnections between these themes (see Figure 1) make implementation of all three components significantly stronger than simply the sum of the individual parts.

Figure 1: Linkages between GOFC-GOLD themes

GOFC-GOLD has assembled implementation teams for each theme to design and execute projects, and to develop consensus algorithms and methodologies for product generation and validation. These teams also develop and demonstrate procedures for improved data access by the user community.

FAO ©   ···   GOFC-GOLD  ···   last updated: 24 September 2003