TF Press Release No. 3 - 21 July 1999 

TECHNICAL FORUM (21 July 1999)
FORUM ON GLOBAL INTEGRATED OBSERVING STRATEGY

Enhancing international cooperation between data providers, users and policy-makers is essential to the success of the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS). This is the main conclusion reached by a special forum at UNISPACE III where experts discussed the past, current and future of IGOS and how to unite the major satellite and surface-based systems for global environmental observations of the atmosphere, oceans and land. The way forward, according to participants, is to attain greater proficiency in developing a long-term, space and land-based monitoring programme which will eventually have a social and economic impact locally and on the world as a whole.

Political and scientific partnerships based on several international treaties and initiatives serve as the foundation for the strategy. Its main aim is to create a framework to promote harmonious alliances between providers and end users, avoiding repetition, overlaps and gaps of information. The IGOS partnership is sponsored by a number of international organizations including the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO), the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It functions in such fields as weather forecasting, climate prediction, freshwater resources, desertification and global forest cover.

The practical implications of IGOS were illustrated by Hartmut Grassl, Director of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). He said it was sometimes difficult to get a provider or country to place an observation system where it is most needed, especially if it isn=t within that country=s borders. He also commented on how reluctant some countries were to share useful data with a neighbouring country. He advised the surveillance of international treaties to monitor signatories compliance.

Dr. Arthur Dahl, coordinator of the UN System-wide Earthwatch, said one of the challenges of IGOS is responding to the daily needs of users which are not only scientific organizations but governments, international organizations such as the World Bank, local planners and not least of all, fishermen. He said there should be a common information system to provide comprehensive data.

In answer to whom will provide the finance for the increased number of satellites which are needed for a more effective IGOS, it was suggested that governments will continue to invest but private enterprise is more likely to be the main provider.

There is an obvious difference in the availability of useful data between developed and developing nations which have more land-based stations. The remote areas of developing countries are often not monitored at all because of the impossibility of manning them. Therefore, gaps occur in their monitoring system. In developed countries there are many space as well as land-based observation stations. It was suggested that nations should spread their resources to cover these gaps so there could be a totally integrated global observation system which would serve every country.