CRC for Spatial Information

The IFCI forms a key part of Australia’s leadership on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries. A critical component of the IFCI is the development of a global carbon monitoring system (GCMS) that has the capability to provide technical capacity to measure rates of deforestation and forest degradation by monitoring, reporting and verifying (MRV) emissions of greenhouse gases due to these activities.

The GCMS will form a global network of compatible national forest monitoring and reporting systems that meet national reporting requirements, and can potentially be linked to support domestic and international carbon trading initiatives. Through the IFCI, the Australian Government is providing expert advice and assistance to developing countries on MRV issues. The CRCSI will assist to pool and coordinate the body of expertise in Australia to support these training, advice and assistance roles.

To progress this objective it is necessary to complete the following:

• Secure unencumbered access to adequate and cost-effective satellite data
• Ensure interoperability of earth observation satellite sensor technologies
• Produce accepted accuracy assessments of remote sensing and ground monitoring products
• Link remote sensing and ground forest data and models to provide emissions estimating tools