In a significant step towards achieving a land degradation-neutral world, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has introduced a cutting-edge online module on the SEPAL platform. This initiative is part of the broader UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, aimed at bolstering global efforts in sustainable development and ecosystem preservation.

The SEPAL platform offers high-resolution geospatial data enabling nations to monitor and assess land degradation effectively. This tool is designed to support the generation of precise spatial data for land cover monitoring and reporting on various SDG indicators, including the crucial SDG 15.3.1, which focuses on the proportion of degraded land over total land area.

By facilitating better planning, implementation, and monitoring of land restoration projects, the SEPAL tool is expected to foster enhanced partnerships and collaboration across national, regional, and global levels. This technological advancement marks a pivotal development in international efforts to restore ecosystems and ensure food security for billions affected by land degradation worldwide.

Join the seminar online on April 25 and 26 from 13:00 to 2:30 CEST.

Agenda:

Day 1: Introduction and SEPAL platform 

13:00 - 13:05 (CEST) 

Opening remarks 
Vera Boerger, Senior Land officer, Land and Water Division, FAO 

13:05 - 13:20 

Land degradation monitoring: Opportunities and challenges 
Sara Minelli, Programme Officer for Monitoring and Assessment, UNCCD 

13:20 - 13:30 

Reporting with SDG 15.3.1 
Brian O’Connor, Spatial data Specialist, UNCCD 

13:30 - 13:40

Use of land cover meta language (LCML) and land cover legend in land degradation monitoring and other SDGs 
Fatima Mushtaq, Land monitoring expert, Geospatial unit, Land and Water Division, FAO 

13:40 - 14:25

Introduction to the SEPAL platform and module 15.3.1 
Amit Ghosh, Geospatial expert, Geospatial unit, Land and Water Division, FAO  

14:25 - 14:30

Q&A 
Matieu Henry, a.i. Head Geospatial Unit 

Day 2: Example and demonstration 

13:00 - 13:10 (CEST)

Importance of national land cover data in land degradation monitoring  
Bernd Eversmann, Technical Director Land, (GEOLDN, GIZ)

13:10 - 13:25

Example of monitoring 15.3.1 using global data: Bangladesh 
Rashed Jalal, Remote Sensing and GIS expert, Geospatial unit, Land and Water Division, FAO 

13:25 - 13:40

Example of monitoring 15.3.1 using high resolution data: Angola 
Rashed Jalal, Remote Sensing and GIS expert, Geospatial unit, Land and Water Division, FAO 

13:40 - 14:00

Example of using in-country land cover data for monitoring land degradation using the SEPAL Module 15.3.1 
Amit Ghosh, Geospatial expert, Geospatial unit, Land and Water Division, FAO 

14:00 - 14:10 

Q&A 
Matieu Henry, Technical officer, Geospatial unit, Land and Water Division, FAO

14:10 - 14:25 

Roundtable discussion about comparing results from different tools and platforms 
Daniel Guerrero, Geospatial Specialist  

14:25 - 14:30 

Closing remarks
Erik Lindquist, Forestry Officer Forestry Division, FAO