Geospatial information for planning, implementation and evaluation of Europe’s Development-Aid

programmes

F. Achard, A. Belward, A. Brink, H. Eva,

and P. Mayaux

Europe’s relations with the wider world

• The EU provides 55% of the € 70 billion of Official Development Assistance*

• EU aid will be increased by € 20 billion / yr by 2010, half of which is destined for Africa**

• EC-managed programmes in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries is c.a. € 3 billion / yr***

(*OECD)(**COM (2005) 489)(***EU Donor Atlas, 2004)

Information for EU Development-Aid policy

• Water, forests, agricultural and grazing land have high economic and social value

• Stable food production is a key foundation of social stability and economic growth

• Natural resource use/availability are among armed conflict drivers

• Environmental mainstreaming in EU aid projects is now a “legal” obligation

e.g. Information for land – tenure policy formulation

• Land cover must be measured,

• land availability & suitability calculated,

• trends and history of change established.

Sample strategy

• Tessellation grid• Stratification

White/ UNESCO vegetation map of Africa

• Sampling rate of 1% in each of the strata.

Measuring change

• Land tenure issues; land cover & use; land availability

Côte d’Ivoire 1974

Côte d’Ivoire 2000

Measuring change

• Land tenure issues; land cover & use; land availability

Sudan 1975Sudan 2000

Measuring change

• Land tenure issues; land cover & use; land availability

Angola 1975Angola 2000

Cover change

• 50,000 km2 of natural vegetation converted to agriculture every year since the 1970s…50% increase

• But population has doubled

TM vs MSS scale issuesTM resolution vs. TM degraded to MSS resolution

R2 = 0.9888

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Linear (Series1)

Systematic sampling strategy (Global + National)

Gaps in sampling frame (1990 – 2000)

Deforestation rates / site (1990 – 2000)

Goals for 2011

• User perspectives from operational policy cycle – product generation, timing, and product delivery issues– environmental impact assessments– project planning and implementation– post project audits

• Project deliverables– Data merging (HR/MR)– Deforestation rates (pan tropical)– Land cover change rates (national)