The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched two new technical solutions to help countries monitor and report changes in their mountain ecosystems. These tools are designed to aid in Mountain Ecosystem Monitoring and tracking progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Life on Land, particularly focusing on indicator 15.4.2, which measures mountain green cover and degraded mountain areas.

FAO has previously calculated these indicators using global satellite data. However, with these new platforms, countries can now use their data to perform the same calculations independently. Anssi Pekkarinen, Senior FAO Forestry Officer, emphasized that these platforms will provide a better understanding of Mountain Ecosystem Monitoring, allowing for national ownership of the process.

User-Friendly Solutions

Developed in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre and 10 countries, these solutions are free and compatible with leading operating systems. The first solution, based on FAO’s SEPAL platform, operates in a cloud-based environment and is supported by Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative.

The second solution uses QGIS software, offering similar geospatial operations locally through Windows, Mac, and Linux. These platforms are a key resource for Mountain Ecosystem Monitoring, expanding FAO’s capacity to support countries, and ensuring they can meet global standards even with limited technical resources.

Additional Support

To assist users, FAO provides step-by-step tutorials and a free e-learning course on land cover data, making it easier for countries to monitor SDG 15 progress. Julian Fox, Senior FAO Forestry Officer, highlighted that this expanded SEPAL platform allows for more timely and accurate assessments as part of Mountain Ecosystem Monitoring.

FAO’s newly launched remote sensing solutions represent a significant leap forward for countries striving to monitor and preserve their mountain ecosystems. By providing user-friendly platforms and comprehensive tutorials, FAO empowers nations to take control of their environmental data and better contribute to global sustainability efforts.

Source: FAO