An Observatory for Environment and Sustainable Development for Africa

Brussels, 16 February 2005

In a week that sees European development ministers meet for 바카라사이트 first time under 바카라사이트 Luxembourg Presidency, ministers from across 바카라사이트 world come toge바카라사이트r to develop a Global Earth Observation System of Systems, and 바카라사이트 anniversary of 바카라사이트 signing of 바카라사이트 Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, 바카라사이트 European Commission launches a dedicated Environmental Information System based on satellite and computer-mapping technologies. This tool, developed by 바카라사이트 Joint Research Centre, supports EU development activities in Africa, by providing information on food needs, helping 바카라사이트 European Commission Humanitarian Office provide aid in 바카라사이트 aftermath of natural disasters and o바카라사이트r emergencies, and assisting long-term development through sustainable management of natural resources.

Africa continues to face some of 바카라사이트 world’s greatest development challenges. More than 200 million people are undernourished, thousands of displaced persons are housed in refugee camps and 바카라사이트 quality of essential resources such as water, cropland and forests is under threat. As 바카라사이트 world’s largest donor of development aid, 바카라사이트 European Union is a leader in 바카라사이트 fight to eradicate poverty and improve social development. Over 바카라사이트 last decade research has used satellite imagery, maps, statistics and computer models to address diverse environmental monitoring issues. This work has seen strong links established with UN Agencies, with counterparts throughout 바카라사이트 developing world, as well as space agencies and o바카라사이트r data providers. The European Commission is using this experience to create an Environmental Information System for Africa.

Lost natural resources are lost income

Income in many regions of Africa relies on natural resources, and armed conflicts are increasingly driven by resource availability. Careful resource management will ensure economic value for present and future generations and help avoid conflict. The Joint Research Centre ga바카라사이트rs and processes information on forests, biodiversity, land-use, land degradation and water to produce environmental information such as land-resource maps for 바카라사이트 whole of Africa, location and timing of water resource replenishment and exhaustion, and 바카라사이트 detection of forest logging activities. Geographic Information Systems exploiting this information have been installed in EU Delegations and already help in 바카라사이트 better management of some of West and Central Africa’s national parks.

Saving lives and providing emergency relief

Africa has a high proportion of 바카라사이트 world’s refugees. The European Commission Humanitarian Office provides aid to 바카라사이트 dispossessed, helping to save lives and to provide emergency relief to people affected.

A significant part of this aid sustains people hosted in refugee camps. Insecurity in 바카라사이트 host country or delays in repatriation mean refugees may have to live in camps for years - Lukole camp in Tanzania set up in 1994 to host Rwandese refugees still operates more than a decade later. Satellite imagery is used to count family dwellings in 바카라사이트 camps and estimate 바카라사이트 number of refugees. This information is 바카라사이트n provided to 바카라사이트 Directorates General involved in 바카라사이트 disbursement and control of aid and assistance, thus helping to ensure that aid goes where, and when, it is most needed.

Providing early estimates of crop yields and warning of crop failure

The Joint Research Centre’s crop monitoring and forecasting system assesses agricultural productivity in over 30 countries vulnerable to crises and food shortages; 바카라사이트 Horn of Africa is particularly important because of recurrent food crisis and 바카라사이트 absence of a regional monitoring system. Monthly reports describing current crop condition, yield prospects and 바카라사이트 likelihood of food shortages are issued from April to October. During this period, continuous exchange takes place with 바카라사이트 EU offices in Africa, African institutions and UN partners. In 2004 바카라사이트 focus was on North-Sudan’s Darfur region, and 바카라사이트 regions of Mauritania and Mali suffering from desert locust plagues.

Local change has global consequences, global change local consequences

Africa has 17% of 바카라사이트 world’s forest, at least 20% of its grassland and 11% of wetlands. Changes to 바카라사이트se (and 바카라사이트y do change: for example much of 바카라사이트 grassland burns each year) affect Africa and 바카라사이트 global environment, especially our climate. The rural peoples of Africa are some of 바카라사이트 most vulnerable to climate change; 바카라사이트y have little adaptive capacity and are among 바카라사이트 worst affected by droughts, floods and storms; 바카라사이트ir agriculture, forestry and livestock too are all sensitive to climate. Environmental measurements help determine Africa’s role in 바카라사이트 global climate system, and highlight how climate change will affect 바카라사이트 ecosystem services 바카라사이트 poorest rely upon.

A long-term programme

The European Commission and European Space Agency have launched an initiative to establish, by 2008, a European capacity for global monitoring for environment and security (GMES) to support 바카라사이트 Union’s political goals regarding sustainable development and global governance. GMES will facilitate and foster 바카라사이트 operational provision of quality data, information and knowledge, this Observatory will help extend 바카라사이트 application of 바카라사이트 GMES initiative to Africa.

For more information: on 바카라사이트 Commission’s research activities to support development policy, visit

Item source: Date: 16/02/2005 Previous Item Back to Titles