Integrated Global Observations for Land (IGOL)

Since its creation in 1998 the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) seeks to provide a comprehensive framework to harmonize the common interests of the major space-based and in-situ systems for global observation of the Earth (http://www.eohandbook.com/igosp/).

Integrated Global Observations for Land (IGOL) is the land theme of IGOS and has the responsibility to design a cohesive program of activities which will provide a comprehensive picture of the present state of terrestrial ecosystems, and build capacity for long-term monitoring of those ecosystems (http://www.fao.org/gtos/igol/).

GOFC-GOLD is strongly involved in developing the IGOL theme. The current IGOL aims at an integrated and operational land observing system (Figure 1) focuses on the following areas:

• Land cover, land cover change, fire
• Land use, land use change
• Agricultural production, food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry
• Land degradation and soils
• Ecosystems, ecosystem goods and services
• Biodiversity and conservation
• Human health, impacts of land properties on vectors
• Water resource management, water use for agriculture, human use
• Disasters (fires, floods, droughts), early warning systemsDisasters (fires, floods, droughts), early warning systems
• Climate change impacts on land properties
• Energy (biomass, fuelwood)
• Urbanization and infrastructure

The Land Cover Implementation team has prepared a comprehensive IGOL report, providing an assessment of the current status of earth observation with regard to the different application areas in the land domain. It provides recommendations and strategies for integrated land observations. The report was presented and formaly approved at the GEO Ministerial Summit.The document is available for download on the IGOL Report Series web site: IGOL Report No. 8: Integrated Global Observation of the Land: an IGOS-P Theme, Report Version 6 (4.2 Mb).

Figure 1: A conceptual framework for integrated land cover observations