"This issue of ProSus brings stories of impact from across the GOFC-GOLD networks, showing how involvement in these networks has allowed scientists to not only increase their skills but also their visibility and connectivity to the global community of land-use change research."
Jon Padgham, Executive Director, START International
ZOOM ON THE GOFC-GOLD REGIONAL NETWORKS
1. Mediterranean Regional Information Network (MedRIN)
2. Miombo Network
3. Observatoire Satellital des Fôrets d’Afrique Centrale (OSFAC)
4. Red Latinoamericana de Teledetección e Incendios Forestales (RedLaTif)
5. South Central and Eastern European Regional Information Network (SCERIN)
6. Southeast Asia Regional Research and Information Network (SEARRIN)
7. South Asia Regional Information Network (SARIN)
8. Southern Africa Fire Network (SAFNET)
9. Caucasus Regional Information Network (CaucRIN)
10. Central Asia Regional Information Network
11. Mekong Regional Information Network (MekRIN)
12. West African Regional Network (WARN)
THE GOFC-GOLD REGIONAL NETWORKS
OSFAC (Observatoire Satellital des Forêts d’Afrique Centrale)
In just a few years, and in collaboration with numerous partners, OSFAC has become a center of excellence, and is now training and helping others to increase their capacity in earth observations. 95 percent of the DRC’s GIS users were trained in one of OSFAC’s training labs.
Landing Mané, OSFAC Director
Southern Africa Fire Network (SAFNET)
The Southern African Fire Network fosters collaborative efforts in fire monitoring and management across Southern Africa. Major activities include collaborative research and training on the use of remote sensing and other geospatial information technology to achieve more effective and appropriate fire management policies and practices in southern Africa.
Miombo Network
Founded in 1995, the Miombo network is the oldest regional GOFC-GOLD network in Southern Africa. It has a strong legacy of producing scientifically credible and relevant information in support of regional resource management, strengthened research and publication capacities, and increased awareness about the critical importance of Miombo woodlands and their conservation needs.
South Asia Regional Information Network (SARIN)
The SARIN network provides a platform for strengthening the capacities of researchers, educators and students involved in land-cover and land-use change (LCLUC) science with respect to use of state of- the-art geospatial science and technologies. The network also promotes integration of LCLUC sciences with social sciences to develop solutions that advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Southeast Asia Regional Research and Information Network (SEARRIN)
The SEARRIN network promotes collaboration and capacity building (through annual meetings and training events) that enhance the use of remote sensing data for LCLUC studies.
Recent meetings include an International Regional Science Meeting held in Malaysia in 2019, which brought together 170 participants from 16 countries, explored the availability, potential, and limitations of different data sources and methodologies for research and monitoring LCLUC in the region. A 3-day hands-on training for 85 young researchers followed the meeting.
South Central and Eastern European Regional Information Network (SCERIN)
SCERIN provides excellent opportunities for networking and connecting with experts in the region. Since its establishment in 2012, we have held annual meetings in seven different countries, and this has greatly helped expand the network.
Jana Albrechtova, Charles University (Czech Republic)
Mediterranean Regional Information Network (MedRIN)
MedRIN is the newest of the GOFC-GOLD networks, providing coordination on remote sensing to monitor land-cover change, inform soil and water resource management and monitor fire and other hazards. Launched in 2018, as of June 2020 it counted 75 members.
Red Latinoamericana de Teledetección e Incendios Forestales (RedLaTif)
The RedLaTif network has been fundamental in facilitating collaboration and information sharing on earth observations in the region. Thanks to the network, advanced programs such as Brazil’s INPE and Mexico’s CONABIO have shared their knowledge and technology with the other countries, and institutions across the region have been able to share data with end users, to improve fire management and solve real-life issues related to fire.
Nicolás Alejandro Mari, Investigador - extensionista, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Argentina
TRAINING AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
My involvement with the GOFC-GOLD network and my participation in the 2014 Data Initiative training have helped me deepen my knowledge and have provided concrete resources and tools that I have used while advising the government on fire management policies.
The Data Initiative helped me gain crucial skills on data management and archiving practices. These skills have been very useful in my current role and have allowed me to join an important taskforce of the Government of Nepal.
The Data Initiative training helped me to better understand the importance of using satellite imagery and helped improve my skills in using remote sensing techniques, geographic information systems and statistical analysis focused on the change of vegetation and land use.
ProSus is a biannual e-magazine published by START International.
START provides opportunities for training, research, education and networking that strengthen scientific skills and inspire leadership for advancing solutions to critical sustainability challenges.