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COMMON DENOMINATOR PROJECTS OF THE
MINIMUM COMMON PROGRAMME
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Development
and applications of a multi-purpose environmental and
natural resources information base for food security and
sustainable development
Problems and needs
The renewable natural resources of many Asian countries
have come under severe strain over the past decades and
most indicators point towards a continuation of this trend.
The rate of degradation and depletion of these resources
has been accelerating in proportion to the increasing
population pressure. Deforestation, loss of biodiversity,
a high rate of land-use change, soil erosion, alkalinization
and salinization have degraded the environment and consequently
threatened the food security and economic development
of many countries in the region. Proper planning, development
and sustainable management of renewable natural resources
in the region require that comprehensive, accurate and
updated information and decision support tools are available
for the development and management of the resources. The
creation of a coherent regional database and the development
of appropriate decision support tools have become prerequisites
for the sustainable development of countries in the region.
Objectives
The overarching objective of the proposal is the enhancement
of regional cooperation in and the development of regional
capacity for the integrated use of information and decision
support tools for improved analysis, planning and decision-making
for food security and sustainable agriculture in support
of poverty alleviation programmes in the ESCAP region.
Implementation strategy
The initial project phase will enhance regional cooperation
for food security and sustainable development in South-East
Asia. The multi-purpose environmental and natural resources
information base for the food security and sustainable
development project will provide a comprehensive basis
for implementing other projects, including those under
the Minimum Common Programme, for the realization of the
goals of food security and agricultural systems, environment
and natural resources management, poverty alleviation
and sustainable development planning. The project will
develop a phased plan to cover the remaining parts of
Asia with a multi-purpose environmental and natural resources
information base, called "Asiacover", for submission
to potential donors.
Main outputs and activities
The expected main outputs include a multi-purpose database
and decision support tools for environmental monitoring
and natural resources management, and improved national
capacity in integrating environmental considerations into
development planning and in participating in relevant
international agreements and conventions. The scope of
the project includes (a) a multi-purpose database for
environmental monitoring, natural resources management
and sustainable agricultural development for participating
countries of the South-East Asian subregion, (b) decision
support tools through integrated analysis of geophysical,
environmental, social and economic information in support
of sustainable agriculture and rural development, and
(c) improved national capacity in integrating the environmental
dimension into development planning at the national and
regional levels, and enabling the countries concerned
to participate more effectively in international environmental
agreements and conventions.
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Integrated land
and water resources management
Problems and needs
The Asian and Pacific region is home to a population
of 3.6 billion, living on 23 per cent of the global land
mass. Arable and permanently cropped land in the region
accounts for 32 per cent of the world's total. The average
amount of arable land per capita in the region as a whole
is 0.15 hectares, lower than the world average of 0.26
hectares. The amount of arable land in the region has
increased, but mostly in marginal lands, causing further
aggravation of land degradation. Arid areas, also covering
large parts of countries of Asia, have constituted a great
problem for social and economic development planning and
ecological conservation. The countries face serious challenges
in utilizing their limited water resources and efficiently
managing their land resources rationally for sustainable
development. Sustainable development planning of land
and water resources is one of the key factors in any social
and economic development. Remote sensing technology provide
efficient means for the rapid collection of current resource
data for a variety of planning purposes. GIS enables integration
of various spatial data with social and economic data
for comprehensive analysis for policy planning and environment
management. An integrated land and water resources analysis,
using variety of sectoral, thematic information on a GIS
platform, along with ground data, provides the decision
makers with information to identify action plans for appropriately
utilizing the land and water resources.
Objectives
The intention of the project is to enhance national capacity
for using space and information technologies and relevant
decision support tools for integrated land and water resources
management, in order to address the issue of food security
as well as the management of the environment and natural
resources.
Implementation strategy
The project will enhance regional cooperation and strengthen
the national capacity towards the integrated applications
of remote sensing and GIS by sharing information, experience
and operational application models through a regional
cooperation approach. The project will be pursued through
the technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC)
approach, with ESCAP providing the necessary technical
cooperation and project coordination. Through this strategy,
it is expected that the sharing of expertise as well as
data and other resources will be facilitated. Successful
practices will be extended to other developing countries.
Regional expertise is to be used in project implementation.
Main outputs and activities
The project will extend successful methodologies using
remote sensing, GIS and other related information technologies
to address practical information needs for integrated
land and water resources management for sustainable development
planning in both humid tropical areas and arid areas.
The main outputs include enhanced capacity at the national
level for using space and information technologies and
tools for integrated land and water resources management
and relevant operational methodology and models.
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Crop-monitoring
and agricultural production forecasting in the ESCAP region
Problems and needs
About three years ago, leaders from 186 countries gathered
in Rome and made a solemn commitment: to halve the number
of hungry people to 400 million by 2015. Based on the
FAO report, The State of Food Insecurity in the World,
1999, almost 800 million people in the developing world
do not have enough to eat, and an overwhelming majority
of the undernourished people in developing countries live
in Asia and the Pacific. The region is home to 70 per
cent of the total population of the developing world and
accounts for almost two thirds (about 526 million) of
the undernourished people as well. Some projects in other
parts of the world have demonstrated the effectiveness
of the estimation of crop yield by integrating crop yield
models with satellite remote sensing technology; it is
a proven, effective tool in agricultural management and
helps in food insecurity mapping. Currently, both high-
and low-resolution satellites are utilized operationally
for crop monitoring in Europe and Africa, and also in
some countries of the region. Crops such as rice have
been directly linked to food security, poverty alleviation
and to the agrarian economy, especially in most of the
developing countries of Asia. Rice is the staple food
of the majority of the population of the region, but rice
production is highly vulnerable to floods and drought.
Objectives
The project will contribute to the attainment of RESAP
goals towards food security and poverty alleviation. Its
specific objectives are to strengthen national capacity
to carry out crop monitoring and assessment using remote
sensing tools, and enhance the regional cooperative framework
for supporting national efforts towards addressing food
insecurity and poverty alleviation using space applications.
Implementation strategy
The project aims to contribute to food security through
a reliable and timely information service by using satellite
data to improve the monitoring of crop growth and the
estimation of crop yield. The core activity of the project
is the development and extension of methodologies. Satellite-based
information will be a major source of information for
crop-monitoring activities. The project will improve the
use of satellite information in combination with weather
information and agro-climatic data. It will develop two
main thrusts: improvement of the use of the satellite
information and agro-climatic data currently available
in the region, and satellite-based crop yield forecasting
models. Both ground data and remotely sensed data will
be integrated at the data and output levels, while forecast
yields will be calibrated against agricultural statistics.
The project will focus on the TCDC approach. Seminars,
training and other capacity-building activities will be
carried out through this approach.
Main outputs and activities
It is expected that the project will strengthen and enrich
the foundation of decision-making processes in food security
and poverty alleviation by integrating remote sensing
and GIS as tools for sustainable development planning
and for formulating polices and programmes. The main outputs
of the project are (a) technical documentation on crop
monitoring with information on remote sensing, GIS and
modelling, and their applications for crop monitoring,
(b) documents on space technology applications relevant
to food security and agricultural planning at the national
and regional levels, and (c) training workshops, seminars
and other human resources development activities.
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Capacity-building
for disaster management in Asia and the Pacific
Problems and needs
The Asian and Pacific region is the region most affected
by major disasters, accounting for over 60 per cent of
the world's disaster-related deaths, and 85 per cent of
the victims of natural disasters in the last decades.
Natural disasters in the region cost about US$ 10 billion
annually, substantially reducing the pace of economic
development and having a large impact on the poorest sections
of affected developing countries, who live in hazard-prone
areas. Disaster management critically needs appropriate
information for disaster preparedness and early warning
and real-time data to support disaster monitoring and
relief action. Space technologies such as remote sensing,
satellite meteorology, satellite communication and geo-positioning
systems offer possible solutions to provide appropriate
and real-time information and tools to the disaster management
community. The Charter on Cooperation to Achieve the Coordinated
Use of Space Facilities in the Event of Natural or Technological
Disasters is an initiative from major space agencies (Centre
National d'Etudes Spatiales, the European Space Agency
and the Canadian Space Agency) to provide support and
satellite information free of charge to countries in the
event of pending disasters. It is important that these
benefits be extended to developing countries in the region.
There is a need for capacity-building in developing countries,
especially least developed countries, that are vulnerable
to and less capable of withstanding disasters, so that
they can access and benefit from space technology applications
for disaster management.
Objectives
The overall objective is to strengthen the national capacity
to integrate space technology applications for managing
natural disasters more efficiently. The immediate objectives
are to promote the operational use of space technology
applications for timely information as well as efficient
decision support to reduce damage due to natural disasters,
particularly flood and drought; and to establish a regional
cooperative framework and institutional partnerships for
strengthening national capabilities for managing these
natural disasters more efficiently.
Implementation strategy
Capacity-building for the integration of space and information
technology for operational applications in disaster management
involves awareness-building, the integration of space
technology with traditional techniques, technology transfer
between countries with and without operationally demonstrated
space technology applications, and operationalization.
The project will focus on enabling the participating countries
to develop their capacity and organize their internal
resources to integrate space technology for natural disaster
reduction, in particular floods and drought, including
their ability to receive efficient support from the Charter.
The project will also explore regional cooperative mechanisms
for providing data and services for disaster management.
Main outputs and activities
The project will enhance the ability of disaster management
communities at the national level to integrate space technology
applications for managing natural disasters more effectively,
particularly flood and drought, and will strengthen the
regional cooperative mechanism to support disaster management
authorities, providing them with useful satellite-based
information to help them make decisions during emergency
situations. Successful practices on early warning, impact
assessment, and vulnerability zonation, especially for
flood and drought, will be demonstrated. A regional mechanism
to help national disaster management authorities to receive
support from the Charter in the event of pending disasters,
and a plan of action towards reorganizing the operational
framework to strengthen natural disaster management efforts
at various levels, will be developed.
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Community-based
communication facilities for rural development
Problems and needs
Asia and the Pacific, home to 3.6 billion people, of
whom 66 per cent live in rural areas, has been confronting
the perennial problems of underdeveloped education, health-care
services and very poor information access. The convergence
of satellite communications and IT, which has enriched
the quality of life and made the societies more knowledge-based
and richer in information, has considerable potential
for addressing the problems of rural development as well.
Enabling this technology to be used in rural development
not only cuts short the circuitous path of spreading technological
developments among rural people but also provides an active
interface to absorb the continuing developments in almost
all sectors, in order to ensure sustainable societal growth.
The provision of basic information and communication technologies
(ICT) applications and value-added services will significantly
improve the quality of life by addressing the issues of
sustainable rural development, poverty alleviation, human
resources development and access to real-time/near-real-time
information. One of the important developments taking
place in the region is that some countries have initiated
satellite-based multimedia transmission networks for distance
education purposes. Affordable satellite broadband services
will also be available in coming years.
Objectives
The development objective of the project is aimed at
capacity-building through the applications of satellite-based
ICT infrastructure for integrated community development
in rural areas, with a focus on distance education, telemedicine
and access to Internet services.
Implementation strategy
The community teleservice centre (CTC) is a key concept
for providing integrated ICT infrastructure, its application
and its services in rural areas through communication
satellites. Such centres provide information and telecommunication
technology services, user support, and training for the
population of a community. Centres are able to access
shared communication infrastructure, to provide access
to data networks (i.e. the Internet) for email, file transfer,
access to electronic libraries and databases, government
and community information systems, market and price information,
environmental watch services, and more, as well as facilities
and equipment for teletraining and telemedicine. The CTC
concept will be further developed to dovetail with ongoing
operational programmes in the region, and subsequently
enhance the national capacity to benefit from communication
satellite-based ICT applications for rural development,
thereby facilitating the improvement of their education
and health care, in particular.
Main outputs and activities
The project is expected to promote awareness among decision
makers about the use of satellite-based communications
for rural capacity-building; enhance the national capacity
of participating countries in the utilization of satellite-based
ICT infrastructure and services for sustainable community
development in rural or isolated areas by developing a
policy framework and operational guidelines; and enhance
cooperation among countries of the region in the integrated
application of Earth observation, satellite communication
and information technologies for sustainable rural development
in the region.
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Capacity-building
in disaggregated poverty mapping and its integration with
environment information
Problems and needs
The Asian and Pacific region is home to 900 million of
the world's poor. The coexistence of poverty and environmental
degradation is widespread, with poor people usually occupying
environmentally fragile or hazard-prone areas. Several
policies and programmes targeted on poverty alleviation
could be strengthened with appropriate information support
tools covering interrelated aspects of poverty and environment.
Disaggregated poverty mapping, as a decision support tool,
enables and facilitates the integration of information
and analysis of the distribution of poverty patterns in
a country at different levels. Projects on disaggregated
poverty mapping by the World Bank, UNDP and FAO in selected
countries in the world have shown the viability of poverty
mapping for the priority-setting of poverty alleviation
programmes. There is a need to provide the developing
countries, in particular the least developed countries,
with guidelines for generating disaggregated poverty maps
and internalizing environmental and natural resources
concerns, in order to provide an information base for
appropriate poverty alleviation policy-making and planning.
Poverty estimates from household surveys, census and other
socio-economic data can be integrated into remotely sensed
environment and natural resources data through GIS to
provide a spatial dimension of poverty and environment
profiles within a country.
Objectives
The overall objective of the project is to strengthen
the capacity of the developing countries in the ESCAP
region by providing them with information tools for poverty
mapping and its integration with environment information
to support poverty alleviation targeting and sustainable
development planning. The project will contribute to the
sustainable development goals of RESAP II by addressing
the need to reduce poverty and minimize food insecurity
in countries of the region by generating updated information
on the vulnerability situation.
Implementation strategy
The project will review best practices in the region,
taking cognizance of activities of the UNDP, the World
Bank, the ADB, FAO and other organizations; it will conduct
consultations with participating countries to assess information
availability and requirements, and identify elements for
a pilot experiment. The draft framework for guidelines
on disaggregated poverty mapping and integration with
environment information will be developed. Pilot studies
will be conducted in countries where national satellite
data and a sufficient information base are available,
involving local agencies with expert support to develop
an operational framework as an input into the guidelines.
The guidelines and their various applications (monitoring,
priority-setting, policy formulation etc.) will be reviewed
by an expert group. Group training on applications of
the guidelines for national experts in participating countries
will be conducted.
Main outputs and activities
The project is expected to enhance the national capacity
to support poverty alleviation and sustainable development
planning and raise the level of awareness of policy makers
and decision makers in using available technologies and
decision support tools for addressing issues on poverty
and food insecurity more effectively, through the formulation
of appropriate interventions and effective policies. The
scope of the project includes guidelines on classification
standards and methodology for poverty vulnerability mapping;
a regional poverty vulnerability map; and a set of indicators
on poverty vulnerability.
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Applications of meteorological
satellite data and information products for sustainable
development
Problems and needs
Satellites have contributed significantly to meteorology
and climatology for nearly four decades. In Asia and the
Pacific, the detection of tropical cyclones and typhoons
and the prediction of their intensification and movement
rely predominantly on meteorological satellite information.
The increasing sophistication of instruments on meteorological
satellites, combined with static or declining investment
in "conventional" (ground-, sea- or balloon-based)
meteorological measurement networks, means that national
meteorological services are becoming more reliant upon
satellite observations, both for their basic weather services
and for specialized functions such as severe weather warnings
and aviation meteorology. National meteorological services
in developing and least developed countries that lack
"real time" access to satellite observations
are therefore poorly equipped to provide weather forecasts
with the level of timeliness and reliability that are
taken for granted in developed economies. The World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) report for 2000 points out that not
every country needs to have its own satellite ground station,
taking into account the rapid development of telecommunication
capacity and the decreasing telecommunication costs, but
could rather be served by means of up-to-date telecommunication
systems and appropriate applications tools, if available.
Objectives
The objectives are to enhance national capacity in applying
satellite data and meteorological satellite information
products to improve meteorological service delivery, and
in improving access to meteorological satellite data,
products and services by the public and the user community.
Implementation strategy
The project aims to assist developing countries in improving
existing satellite ground station facilities and Internet
links to enable those without suitable ground stations
to access the weather satellite information processed
by larger meteorological services, and sharing regional
best practices in the applications of meteorological satellite
information for sustainable development needs. The project
will encourage the use of available expertise and technology
in the countries of the region and will disseminate greater
use of these resources. The TCDC approach will be emphasized
and the exchange of experts encouraged in order to facilitate
the transfer of technology.
Main outputs and activities
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation
with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives
of the project. As for technical assistance and capacity-building,
developing countries will be supported in the establishment
of their own capabilities in accessing meteorological
satellite data. Training courses, workshops and seminars
will be conducted to create a manpower pool with adequate
skills and expertise in utilizing the data.
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Promoting regional
cooperation for integrated coastal zone management
Problems and needs
The coastal areas have always played a significant role
in the social and economic development and ecological
stability of countries of Asia and the Pacific. A large
majority of the region's population is concentrated in
or near coastal areas. It is reported that out of the
largest cities in the world, nearly half are in the Asian
and Pacific region, and of these more than half are situated
on or very near the coast. The rapid economic development
that swept across the region also highlighted some of
the cross-sectoral conflicts in the coastal zone. Recognizing
the great importance of the coastal areas, countries of
the region have carried out numerous projects and programmes
in order to address the various issues confronting the
efficient management of such areas. In all of these initiatives,
the need for updated, accurate information has been vital
in the effective implementation of the project activities.
Remote sensing and GIS have been widely accepted as appropriate
tools for addressing information needs in coastal decision-making,
but their use has not been operationally integrated into
national coastal development processes. Most projects
are sector-oriented and are not able to address all the
issues and problems in a comprehensive and integrated
way.
Objectives
In support of the goals of RESAP relating to environment
and natural resources management, as well as capacity-building,
the overall goal of the project is to enhance regional
cooperation and develop national and regional capacity
for enhanced use and comprehensive analysis of information
using available technologies and decision support tools
for integrated coastal zone planning and management.
Implementation strategy
The project strategy will involve the initiation of a
comprehensive inventory of projects and activities related
to coastal zone management in the participating countries.
A selection of pilot study sites in each country will
be carried out in close consultation with the relevant
agencies involved in coastal zone management. The TCDC
approach is expected to enhance regional cooperation through
the sharing of experience and the development of common
methodologies for integrated coastal planning and management.
The established networking mechanism of RESAP through
its Regional Information Service and Education and Training
Network will be used to enhance collaboration among participating
countries.
Main outputs and activities
Enhanced regional collaboration and TCDC in addressing
coastal environment issues will be possible, and national
capacity for institutionalizing the integrated use of
IT for coastal planning and management will be strengthened.
The scope of the project includes (a) the development
of a metadatabase of past and ongoing projects related
to coastal zone management, with linkages and networking
among countries of the region, (b) a standardized methodology
and coordinated approach to environment and resource data
acquisition, analysis for integrated coastal zone management,
and integrated resource information on the coastal environment
of selected sites, and (c) technology transfer through
training, workshops and advisory services.
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation
with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives
of the project.
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Enhancing the
capacity for urban and rural development planning
Problems and needs
The ESCAP region contains more than half of the world's
megacities, and the number is expected to grow in the
first quarter of the twenty-first century. Unbalanced
development that favours only certain areas has resulted
in an inequitable distribution of income and economic
opportunities, as well as social inequalities. This approach
has resulted in the formulation of urban development policies
that often concentrate on planning and developing modern
cities, which are supposed to be provided with advanced
education facilities, health care and other urban amenities.
Experience indicates that lack of urban and rural planning
and management creates various problems such as overpopulation,
land and resource degradation and pollution hazards. Social
and economic conditions deteriorate in both urban and
rural areas, resulting in tremendous pressure on government
resources. The poor find themselves marginalized. Effective
planning and management of both urban and rural areas
may eventually create the balance necessary to control
rural-urban migration, help alleviate poverty in both
urban and rural areas, and provide equal development opportunities
in these areas. In these endeavours, the need for relevant
dynamic spatial information on various scales becomes
vital.
Objectives
The overarching goal of the project is to enhance capacity
for integrating space and information technology into
the overall development planning process. In addition,
the project aims to assist policy makers and planners
in formulating policies for improved urban and rural management,
thereby addressing economic and social disparities and
reducing the incidence of poverty.
Implementation strategy
The project will involve the development of a suitable/applicable
methodology, under the guidance of experts from donors
and/or developed countries, focusing on the use of remote
sensing and GIS for spatial urban and rural planning that
can be integrated into the overall development planning
process. This will also involve the formulation of policy
instruments in the overall planning and management of
urban and rural areas. To enhance regional cooperation,
the project will harness the existing regional network
mechanism of ESCAP and encourage greater TCDC.
Main outputs and activities
The project is expected to establish a methodology for
integrating space and information technology into urban
and rural development planning. Spatial databases for
urban and rural development planning will be developed
with relevant decision support tools, as well as a network
among participating countries to enhance cooperation and
exchange expertise and experience among them.
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation
with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives
of the project.
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Potential offshore
fishery area delineation and inland aquaculture development
Problems and needs
Overpopulation is a serious problem in the Asian and
Pacific region owing to the tremendous pressure it exerts
on the region's natural resources, especially food and
water, which are depleting rapidly. With more than 3.6
billion people concentrated in 23 per cent of the global
landmass, the region is faced with the challenge of feeding
its population and providing them with basic human services
such as education, labour, housing and health care. A
great source of food supply for the teeming population
of the region has been the marine waters: the region's
annual marine fish catch represents about 22 per cent
of the world total. Despite those resources, however,
the region has yet to optimize its fishery resources and
at the same time protect its wide range of marine resources
and ecosystems. Mangroves are giving way to rice paddies,
shrimp farms and other aquaculture activities. Red tides
occur every year. The current pattern of exploitation
of the region's marine resources is not sustainable in
the long term and would have adverse implications for
the food security of the countries in the region. It is
thus imperative that food security is seen as a larger
regional problem with the goal of sustaining food requirements
and improving the nutritional conditions of the population
of the region.
Objectives
The project is expected to address the goal of sustainable
development and to ensure overall food security without
endangering the ecosystem. Its immediate objectives are
to provide means for improving the fish catch potential
for large coastal populations, especially poor fishermen,
and to identify environmentally suitable sites for brackish
water aquaculture development.
Implementation strategy
Implementation will involve the use of satellite data
for identifying areas of fish concentrations. Networking
for information dissemination will be enhanced to enable
the transmission of digital geographic information indicating
potential areas of fish schools to end-users through appropriate
means on a regular and operational basis. The TCDC approach
will be employed to encourage more participation and cooperation
among countries.
Main outputs and activities
The project work will result in an operational methodology
and technical guidelines for aquaculture site identification,
for enhanced fish production and productivity, and an
operational system for the dissemination of information
on fish concentration to communities. The integration
of remote sensing and GIS techniques will be used to carry
out a comprehensive analysis by integrating all related
wetland information, and collateral socio-economic data
to identify suitable aquaculture sites and determine an
appropriate scale of operations to ensure the preservation
of biodiversity.
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation
with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives
of the project.
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Mapping for
groundwater potential and identification of recharge zones
Problems and needs
Making water available for household purposes, let alone
making safe drinking water available, has become a challenge
in many countries of the Asian and Pacific region. The
demand is increasing annually by about 10 to 15 per cent.
Aside from the above, those agricultural areas hitherto
dependent on groundwater for irrigation are also affected,
causing decreased agricultural production. The water table
is reported to have gone down alarmingly in many parts
of the region in the past two decades, making the lives
of the vulnerable poor population even more miserable.
Optimum "harvesting" of water and appropriate
groundwater recharge mechanisms to ensure sustainable
use of water is a pressing need. Space technology, particularly
remote sensing and GIS, provides an effective, technological
means for identifying the potential areas for groundwater
exploitation, as well as areas for groundwater recharge.
Objectives
The objectives of the project are to enhance national
capacity for using space technologies and decision support
tools for mapping groundwater potential to identify potential
groundwater aquifers in the most affected drought-prone
areas of the region, as well as potential areas for groundwater
recharge to "harvest" the run-off.
Implementation strategy
The project will involve the use of high-resolution remote
sensing satellite data from satellites data to derive
spatial information on various hydro-geomorphological
features. In carrying out this task, the local expertise
available in the region will be utilized. The project
will focus on finalization of methodology, data analysis,
field investigation and output generation.
Main outputs and activities
The output will comprise improved capacity and enhanced
partnership at the national, regional and global levels
for developing an operational methodology for integrated
groundwater potential mapping to identify zones for withdrawal
as well as groundwater recharging. A set of guidelines
on the methodology of database development and appropriate
decision support tools will be disseminated through training
workshops.
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation
with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives
of the project.
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Environmental
monitoring and analysis for health care and hygiene
Problems and needs
Health is a crucial and indispensable part of human resources
development. Poor health is often caused by the lack of
a healthy environment, as well as the absence of information,
awareness and support systems. The emergence and spread
of diseases in developing countries where the health infrastructure
is not yet developed are critical. For the prevention
of infectious disease, it is necessary among other things
to identify the interrelationships between the physical
environment, the human environment and the diseases, and
the dynamics of their extension. The use of remote sensing
and GIS can help identify and monitor areas vulnerable
to some infectious diseases and assist in reducing health
hazards for the rural population.
Objectives
The project aims to develop a comprehensive methodology
for integrating space technology applications to monitor
the environment and identify the health hazards that may
be present, in support of health care and hygiene, the
implementation of appropriate preventive measures, and
rural development planning. In the long term, the project
aims to reduce health hazards among the rural population
through the implementation of appropriate preventive measures.
Implementation strategy
In consultation with relevant national agencies involved
in health care and hygiene, so as to involve public health
specialists, the project will select pilot areas in participating
countries and agree on a work plan. The project will compile
a spatial database of the medical history of study areas
with parameters such as poverty indicators of population
and medical coverage, apply remote sensing to map the
physical environment and integrate data from remote sensing,
GIS and GPS to generate spatial information related to
disease-causing agents. A regional workshop will be organized
to discuss developed procedures and a framework. Participating
countries will contribute resources in terms of the data,
information, technology and experts that are available
in each country, and facilities available to them will
be shared. The project is expected to enhance regional
cooperation by the sharing of information, expertise,
resources and facilities through TCDC arrangements.
Main outputs and activities
The goal is improved health care and hygiene of rural
populations and inhabitants of urban areas. The scope
of the project includes (a) the development of a framework
and procedures for integrating space technology applications
with conventional methods to identify hazardous environments,
(b) the compilation of health hazard maps in pilot areas,
with reports on potential use and recommendations on the
initiation of preventive measures using remote sensing,
GIS and satellite-based positioning in an integrated way,
and (c) the compilation of a database of the medical history
of the area, with parameters such as poverty indicator
of population, literacy rate, support infrastructure,
and medical coverage available to them.
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation
with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives
of the project.
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Telemedicine
for rural populations
Problems and needs
Most people in the Asian and Pacific region suffer from
poor health as a result of social conditions, the absence
of information or awareness, and inadequate health services.
The roles of space technology in providing health care
and hygiene are diverse; they include telemedicine and
telehealth through telecommunication between doctor and
patient, by the use of electronic equipment from remote
locations. The Internet has multiplied access to and delivery
of medical services, not only from urban medical centres
to rural medical clinics but also between medical facilities
for patients located in different countries. However,
in the Asian and Pacific region, which is spread across
a wide swathe of the Earth's surface and even includes
remote Pacific islands, space-based telemedicine is still
considered a practical solution to the need for the health
and medical services of the population.
The implementation of a project on telemedicine for rural
areas will benefit from established community teleservice
centres as operational focal points. Apart from bringing
in improved medical and health services to the rural communities,
such centres may also be used for other applications and
services provision. With several countries in the region
having such facilities and experience in operating them,
other countries may benefit from the experience gained.
In addition, rural communities that will be served by
such facilities will benefit from improved health services
and greater information exchange.
Objectives
The project aims to promote awareness and enhance national
capacity to make use of the possibilities provided by
space and information technology development for providing
and improving health services in rural areas.
Implementation strategy
ESCAP will invite the member countries to participate
in the project and facilitate the grouping of countries
with similar interests and concerns. These groups will
embark upon the project by contributing resources in terms
of the data, information, technology and experts that
are available in each country, and by the sharing of facilities
to undertake relevant activities. The TCDC approach will
be used to facilitate the sharing of resources, expertise
and facilities.
Main outputs and activities
The scope of the project includes enhancing national
capacity in using satellite communications and IT for
providing medical and health-care services to rural and
remote areas, developing guidelines for operating and
maintaining community teleservice centre facilities for
applications in rural telemedicine, and training experts
with adequate skills in the application of the facilities
for rural telemedicine.
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation
with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives
of the project.
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Monitoring
and assessment of impacts of the Asian monsoon using satellite
technology
Problems and needs
The monsoon climate exerts a strong influence on the
socio-economic activities of a large part of the Asian
and Pacific region. In years when the monsoons are weak,
near-drought conditions prevail, causing high agricultural
losses, water resource problems, and forest and grassland
fires. When the monsoon is strong, excessive rainfall
causes widespread floods, resulting in huge losses of
life and widespread damage to property. There are several
regional and global initiatives aimed at studying the
Asian monsoon with various specific purposes. These scientific
endeavors have yet to fully explore the potential of meteorological
satellite for wind and rainfall prognosis as well as for
disaster mitigation.
Objectives
The objective is to determine, using satellite data and
other data, possible indicators of the onset and recession
of the monsoon in participating countries, and early indicators
of monsoon intensity.
Implementation strategy
A scientific steering committee will coordinate the various
activities, adopt appropriate procedures for monitoring
and analysis, and organize training workshops and seminars
for the dissemination of monitoring results. The activities
to be implemented by components will include database
development and data processing, satellite data analysis
and numerical modelling, applications, validation and
impact assessment.
Main outputs and activities
The project is expected to lead to improved early warning
systems for predicting the strength and onset time of
the monsoon. Improved capacity should result in more efficient
advisory notices from national meteorological services,
designed to enable policy makers and beneficiaries to
make adaptive responses to predicted monsoon behaviour.
The scope of the joint regional research will be further
developed by participating countries to provide focus
on the objectives of the project.
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Cropping system
studies
Problems and needs
The "green revolution", initiated in the 1960s,
in the food production scenario in Asia and the Pacific
was phenomenal but left in its trail large tracts of environmental
degradation. A cropping system approach, which has been
envisaged to increase food production mainly through crop
intensification, offers suitable solutions for sustainable
agriculture. There is a need to evolve appropriate scientific
means to ensure sustainable agriculture through an integrated
approach using remote sensing and other ancillary data
in the domain of GIS to generate the required spatial
database and information support to facilitate cropping
system analysis experiments.
Objectives
The project is aimed at evolving appropriate cropping
systems to ensure sustainable crop production and thus
enhanced food security.
Implementation strategy
The project will emphasize a multidisciplinary approach.
The goals of the project have to be achieved through the
partnership of knowledge-based institutions in the field
of agriculture and space technology applications and through
regional and subregional cooperation. The project will
involve the utilization of mostly high-resolution Earth
observation data and GPS. GIS databases on various themes
will be addressed.
Main outputs and activities
The main outputs include institutional partnership and
regional cooperation in addressing issues related to food
security, an innovative experimental design aimed at the
sustainability of agricultural systems, along with meeting
the goals of higher profitability per unit of land, water
and other agricultural inputs used, and a set of technical
guidelines with appropriate decision support tools to
extend the concept of alternate cropping systems in diverse
agro-ecological zones.
The scope of the work will be further developed by participating
countries to provide focus on the objectives of the joint
research project.
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Precision farming
studies
Problems and needs
The region has registered progress in agricultural production
in the last few decades. However, the lack of ecological
integrity of agricultural systems, coupled with massive
deforestation, has caused crises in the agricultural ecosystems,
which consequently threaten the food security and economic
development of many countries in the region. This situation
calls for new and radical paradigms in agriculture that
are environmentally friendly, as well as more productive
and profitable. Precision farming involves the development
and adoption of knowledge-based technical management systems,
with the main goal of optimizing profit without adversely
affecting the natural environment.
Objectives
The project is aimed at developing a prototype experimental
framework to introduce information and knowledge-rich
elements in agricultural systems and enhance the capacity
of member countries for improved applications for food
security and sustainable agriculture.
Implementation strategy
The implementation of the project will emphasize a multidisciplinary
approach. Research institutions in agriculture and space
technology applications from participating countries will
involve experts of various disciplines and from various
sectors to obtain a comprehensive perspective on the various
themes and approaches. This joint research project will
enhance regional and subregional cooperation.
Main outputs and activities
The expected main outputs are a prototype experiment
for evolving information-rich agricultural practices in
harmony with the natural environment and a network of
knowledge-based institutions working in the areas of agriculture,
the environment, rural development and space applications.
Data related to different types of agricultural practices
and systems in diverse agro-ecological zones will be collected
to develop the appropriate methodology.
The scope of the work will be further developed by participating
countries to provide focus on the objectives of the joint
research project.
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