DESIRE Project Harmonised Information System http://www.desire-his.eu/index.php/recent-european-research 2016-09-22T20:13:40Z Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Management 2009-07-21T12:59:19Z 2009-07-21T12:59:19Z http://www.desire-his.eu/index.php/en/recent-european-research/334-aidccd Jane Brandt medesdesire@googlemail.com

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"> <td valign="top" width="12%"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>AIDCCD</strong></span></td> <td width="88%"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Active exchange of experience on indicators and development of perspective in the context of UNCCD</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">February 2003 - June 2006</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">The AID CCD project aims at developing and coordinating exchanges of experiences within scientific institutions involved with UNCCD, focusing on "scientific and technical aspects of desertification benchmarks and indicators and remote sensing"; elaborating a review on the use of indicators and benchmarks in the different annexes, with specific references to the response on impact indicators adopted in the NAP within UNCCD; identifying core problems related to indicators to identify future needs to improve UNCCD implementation.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="94">Description:</td> <td width="88%" height="94">The project addresses the issue of the implementation of the UNCCD in a global perspective, by involving all regional Annexes. In all Annexes, desertification benchmarks and indicators, prevention and mitigation activities and the information circulation systems have been recognised as priority issues and much work has been carried out so far to address them. However, due to a lack of exchange of information among Annexes, these issues have been developed in parallel, producing a relevant quantity of data and information that has never been organised systematically. To achieve the objectives above, two thematic seminars will be realized. These constitute the core activities of the project. Their purpose is to draw up the state of the art, to stimulate exchanges of experience and to identify development perspectives. This should lead to the final objective: showing in a qualitative and whenever quantitative way how science and technology can be used to assist decision makers in mitigating desertification in a sustainable development perspective.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">worldwide; partners in Italy, France, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Namibia, China and Argentina</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Website: </td> <td width="88%">http://nrd.uniss.it/sections/aid-ccd/index.htm (link expired)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"> <td valign="top" width="12%"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>AIDCCD</strong></span></td> <td width="88%"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Active exchange of experience on indicators and development of perspective in the context of UNCCD</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">February 2003 - June 2006</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">The AID CCD project aims at developing and coordinating exchanges of experiences within scientific institutions involved with UNCCD, focusing on "scientific and technical aspects of desertification benchmarks and indicators and remote sensing"; elaborating a review on the use of indicators and benchmarks in the different annexes, with specific references to the response on impact indicators adopted in the NAP within UNCCD; identifying core problems related to indicators to identify future needs to improve UNCCD implementation.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="94">Description:</td> <td width="88%" height="94">The project addresses the issue of the implementation of the UNCCD in a global perspective, by involving all regional Annexes. In all Annexes, desertification benchmarks and indicators, prevention and mitigation activities and the information circulation systems have been recognised as priority issues and much work has been carried out so far to address them. However, due to a lack of exchange of information among Annexes, these issues have been developed in parallel, producing a relevant quantity of data and information that has never been organised systematically. To achieve the objectives above, two thematic seminars will be realized. These constitute the core activities of the project. Their purpose is to draw up the state of the art, to stimulate exchanges of experience and to identify development perspectives. This should lead to the final objective: showing in a qualitative and whenever quantitative way how science and technology can be used to assist decision makers in mitigating desertification in a sustainable development perspective.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">worldwide; partners in Italy, France, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Namibia, China and Argentina</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Website: </td> <td width="88%">http://nrd.uniss.it/sections/aid-ccd/index.htm (link expired)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> 2009-07-21T14:04:23Z 2009-07-21T14:04:23Z http://www.desire-his.eu/index.php/en/recent-european-research/335-aridnet Jane Brandt medesdesire@googlemail.com

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr bordercolor="#000000" valign="top"> <td bgcolor="#7b9ebd"><a name="arid" title="arid"></a><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">ARIDnet</span></strong></td> <td bgcolor="#7b9ebd"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">Assessment, Research, and Integration of Desertification research network</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Time span:</td> <td>2004 - ?</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Aim:</td> <td>The projects goal is to provide leadership for developing and testing a new synthetic paradigm for desertification.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Description:</td> <td>ARIDnet is research coordination network. The new synthetic paradigm for desertification, which is called the Dahlem Desertification Paradigm, is based on the simultaneous roles of the meteorological and ecological dimensions of desertification (the biophysical factors) and the human dimensions of desertification (the socio-economic factors). Activities include conducting workshops to debate the Dahlem Desertification Paradigm (DDP) - a product of the 2001 Dahlem Conference on desertification - for critical evaluation and refinement; formulating working groups to develop comparative case studies to test the DDP; conducting a quantitative synthesis of what matters in desertification, when and where it matters, and why; recruiting new researchers and stakeholders into ARIDnet so a broad-based and useful approach to desertification problems can be developed.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Countries:</td> <td>worldwide; partners in USA, Mexico, Honduras</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Website:</td> <td><a href="http://www.biology.duke.edu/aridnet/" target="_blank">http://www.biology.duke.edu/aridnet/</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr bordercolor="#000000" valign="top"> <td bgcolor="#7b9ebd"><a name="arid" title="arid"></a><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">ARIDnet</span></strong></td> <td bgcolor="#7b9ebd"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">Assessment, Research, and Integration of Desertification research network</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Time span:</td> <td>2004 - ?</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Aim:</td> <td>The projects goal is to provide leadership for developing and testing a new synthetic paradigm for desertification.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Description:</td> <td>ARIDnet is research coordination network. The new synthetic paradigm for desertification, which is called the Dahlem Desertification Paradigm, is based on the simultaneous roles of the meteorological and ecological dimensions of desertification (the biophysical factors) and the human dimensions of desertification (the socio-economic factors). Activities include conducting workshops to debate the Dahlem Desertification Paradigm (DDP) - a product of the 2001 Dahlem Conference on desertification - for critical evaluation and refinement; formulating working groups to develop comparative case studies to test the DDP; conducting a quantitative synthesis of what matters in desertification, when and where it matters, and why; recruiting new researchers and stakeholders into ARIDnet so a broad-based and useful approach to desertification problems can be developed.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Countries:</td> <td>worldwide; partners in USA, Mexico, Honduras</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Website:</td> <td><a href="http://www.biology.duke.edu/aridnet/" target="_blank">http://www.biology.duke.edu/aridnet/</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> 2009-07-21T14:05:57Z 2009-07-21T14:05:57Z http://www.desire-his.eu/index.php/en/recent-european-research/336-asmode Jane Brandt medesdesire@googlemail.com

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr bgcolor="#7b9ebd" valign="top"> <td height="13" valign="top" width="12%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">ASMODE</span></strong></td> <td height="13" width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">Assessment of remote sensing techniques for monitoring the extent and progression of desertification in the Mediterranean area</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">June 1992 - September 1994</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">To assess the potential of remote sensing techniques and GIS for the purpose of studying, monitoring, and possibly controlling the dynamics of desertification in the Mediterranean area and as well to close the "scale gap" between site experiments of energy and water exchange at the earth surface, and the desertification processes taking place at national to regional levels.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Description:</td> <td width="88%">Data of several satellite-sensors (NOAA-AVHRR, METEOSAT and LANDSAT) are researched on their usefulness for the monitoring of desertification. Two approaches to monitor desertification are followed in the project: (1) The energy and water balance approach to monitor vegetation activity. Satellite measured land surface temperatures and albedo's are used to estimate aridity parameters like net radiation, actual evapotranspiration, and rainfall. (2) The direct monitoring of the vegetation cover using the vegetation index. The project consists of a one-year monitoring experiment generating satellite derived datasets of Spain to be analyzed in connection with field survey data and existing datasets in a GIS.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">partners in the Netherlands and Spain</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Website: <br /></td> <td width="88%">none found</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr bgcolor="#7b9ebd" valign="top"> <td height="13" valign="top" width="12%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">ASMODE</span></strong></td> <td height="13" width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">Assessment of remote sensing techniques for monitoring the extent and progression of desertification in the Mediterranean area</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">June 1992 - September 1994</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">To assess the potential of remote sensing techniques and GIS for the purpose of studying, monitoring, and possibly controlling the dynamics of desertification in the Mediterranean area and as well to close the "scale gap" between site experiments of energy and water exchange at the earth surface, and the desertification processes taking place at national to regional levels.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Description:</td> <td width="88%">Data of several satellite-sensors (NOAA-AVHRR, METEOSAT and LANDSAT) are researched on their usefulness for the monitoring of desertification. Two approaches to monitor desertification are followed in the project: (1) The energy and water balance approach to monitor vegetation activity. Satellite measured land surface temperatures and albedo's are used to estimate aridity parameters like net radiation, actual evapotranspiration, and rainfall. (2) The direct monitoring of the vegetation cover using the vegetation index. The project consists of a one-year monitoring experiment generating satellite derived datasets of Spain to be analyzed in connection with field survey data and existing datasets in a GIS.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">partners in the Netherlands and Spain</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Website: <br /></td> <td width="88%">none found</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> 2009-07-21T14:07:12Z 2009-07-21T14:07:12Z http://www.desire-his.eu/index.php/en/recent-european-research/337-cameleo Jane Brandt medesdesire@googlemail.com

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"> <td valign="top" width="12%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">CAMELEO</span></strong></td> <td width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">Changes in Arid Mediterranean Ecosystems on the Long term and Earth Observation</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">March 1998 - June 2001</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">The objective of the project is to develop a comprehensive method for monitoring desertification in the south of the Mediterranean basin, which provides information useful for the operational management of arid lands and which involves all the affected countries.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="10">Description:</td> <td width="88%" height="10">The main purpose is to discriminate, at local scale, (and after elimination of seasonal fluctuations) areas where soil and vegetation are degrading, where they are stable, where they are recovering (e.g. after restoration action has been taken). In addition, the understanding of the relationships between those changes and land use will be a major objective. This aim is an answer to the need for reliable and detailed data on the condition and evolution of arid zones as has been strongly expressed by officials in charge of environmental policies. Desertification in the northern shore of the Mediterranean is already a concern at the European level. The southern shore is far more affected because of the dryer climate, the inherent fragility of the ecosystems and high demographic pressure.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">Field sites in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt; partners in France and Italy.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="2">Website: </td> <td width="88%" height="2"> <p>http://www.medaqua.org/forum/CAMELEO.html (link expired)</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"> <td valign="top" width="12%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">CAMELEO</span></strong></td> <td width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">Changes in Arid Mediterranean Ecosystems on the Long term and Earth Observation</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">March 1998 - June 2001</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">The objective of the project is to develop a comprehensive method for monitoring desertification in the south of the Mediterranean basin, which provides information useful for the operational management of arid lands and which involves all the affected countries.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="10">Description:</td> <td width="88%" height="10">The main purpose is to discriminate, at local scale, (and after elimination of seasonal fluctuations) areas where soil and vegetation are degrading, where they are stable, where they are recovering (e.g. after restoration action has been taken). In addition, the understanding of the relationships between those changes and land use will be a major objective. This aim is an answer to the need for reliable and detailed data on the condition and evolution of arid zones as has been strongly expressed by officials in charge of environmental policies. Desertification in the northern shore of the Mediterranean is already a concern at the European level. The southern shore is far more affected because of the dryer climate, the inherent fragility of the ecosystems and high demographic pressure.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">Field sites in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt; partners in France and Italy.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="2">Website: </td> <td width="88%" height="2"> <p>http://www.medaqua.org/forum/CAMELEO.html (link expired)</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> 2009-07-21T14:08:40Z 2009-07-21T14:08:40Z http://www.desire-his.eu/index.php/en/recent-european-research/338-clemdes Jane Brandt medesdesire@googlemail.com

<table border="0" cellpadding="3" style="width: 100%"><tbody><tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"><td width="12%" valign="top"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">CLEMDES</span></strong></td> <td width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">Clearing house mechanism on desertification for the northern Mediterranean region</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="12%" valign="top">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">November 2002 - April 2005</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="12%" valign="top">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">The project aims to set up an internet based network devoted to the improvement of the diffusion of information.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="12%" height="2" valign="top">Description:</td> <td width="88%" height="2">The countries of the Northern Mediterranean region are affected by desertification and for this reason they have prepared national and regional action programmes. One of the priorities identified in these programmes is the diffusion of information among the public. The present project aims to set up an internet based network devoted to the improvement of the diffusion of information.The establishment of an internet based tool will decentralize existing information using the national language. The project aims to identify a common format and terms of reference for the setup of a Mediterranean portal and of national Internet based information facilities. Two workshops are planned for the identification of priorities and the presentation of results at international level. At national level meetings will be organized to involve the various stake holders and collect information and data to be diffused through Internet.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="12%" valign="top">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">partners in Italy, Greece, Israel, Portugal, Spain, Turkey</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="12%" valign="top">Website: <br /></td> <td width="88%">project website (www.clemdes.org) not working</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

<table border="0" cellpadding="3" style="width: 100%"><tbody><tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"><td width="12%" valign="top"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">CLEMDES</span></strong></td> <td width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">Clearing house mechanism on desertification for the northern Mediterranean region</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="12%" valign="top">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">November 2002 - April 2005</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="12%" valign="top">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">The project aims to set up an internet based network devoted to the improvement of the diffusion of information.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="12%" height="2" valign="top">Description:</td> <td width="88%" height="2">The countries of the Northern Mediterranean region are affected by desertification and for this reason they have prepared national and regional action programmes. One of the priorities identified in these programmes is the diffusion of information among the public. The present project aims to set up an internet based network devoted to the improvement of the diffusion of information.The establishment of an internet based tool will decentralize existing information using the national language. The project aims to identify a common format and terms of reference for the setup of a Mediterranean portal and of national Internet based information facilities. Two workshops are planned for the identification of priorities and the presentation of results at international level. At national level meetings will be organized to involve the various stake holders and collect information and data to be diffused through Internet.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="12%" valign="top">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">partners in Italy, Greece, Israel, Portugal, Spain, Turkey</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="12%" valign="top">Website: <br /></td> <td width="88%">project website (www.clemdes.org) not working</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> 2009-07-21T14:10:42Z 2009-07-21T14:10:42Z http://www.desire-his.eu/index.php/en/recent-european-research/339-climed Jane Brandt medesdesire@googlemail.com

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"> <td valign="top" width="12%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">CLIMED</span></strong></td> <td width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">Effects of climate change variability in water availability and water management practices<br />in western Mediterranean</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">March 2001 - May 2004</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">The main objective of the CLIMED project is to provide information on the foreseeable climatic changes in the Western Mediterranean.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="2">Description:</td> <td width="88%" height="2">This will be done through a multiple approach which includes field hydrological databases, together with statistical models and physically based models, performing an evaluation on how fresh water resources will vary. The project addresses evapotranspiration of different land uses, by measuring catchments runoff at small catchments, and performs up scaling through statistical methods directed to the analysis of extreme events, through the use of LISEM model. CLIMED has an important socio-economic dimension, which relates the socio-economic data with the information provided by the climate and hydrological stages, in order to produce, for the selected river catchments, an assessment of the impacts of changes on water availability. Another major goal is to build a conceptual model based on integrated management methodologies, defining guidelines to support decision-making processes and strategic paining for water resources, as well as defining policy recommendations based on combined top-down and bottom-up approaches.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">partners in Portugal, Morocco, the Netherlands and Tunisia, study sites in Portugal, Morocco and Tunisia</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Website: </td> <td width="88%">http://www2.dao.ua.pt/RECNATUR/climed/ (link expired)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"> <td valign="top" width="12%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">CLIMED</span></strong></td> <td width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">Effects of climate change variability in water availability and water management practices<br />in western Mediterranean</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">March 2001 - May 2004</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">The main objective of the CLIMED project is to provide information on the foreseeable climatic changes in the Western Mediterranean.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="2">Description:</td> <td width="88%" height="2">This will be done through a multiple approach which includes field hydrological databases, together with statistical models and physically based models, performing an evaluation on how fresh water resources will vary. The project addresses evapotranspiration of different land uses, by measuring catchments runoff at small catchments, and performs up scaling through statistical methods directed to the analysis of extreme events, through the use of LISEM model. CLIMED has an important socio-economic dimension, which relates the socio-economic data with the information provided by the climate and hydrological stages, in order to produce, for the selected river catchments, an assessment of the impacts of changes on water availability. Another major goal is to build a conceptual model based on integrated management methodologies, defining guidelines to support decision-making processes and strategic paining for water resources, as well as defining policy recommendations based on combined top-down and bottom-up approaches.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">partners in Portugal, Morocco, the Netherlands and Tunisia, study sites in Portugal, Morocco and Tunisia</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Website: </td> <td width="88%">http://www2.dao.ua.pt/RECNATUR/climed/ (link expired)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> 2009-07-21T14:12:24Z 2009-07-21T14:12:24Z http://www.desire-his.eu/index.php/en/recent-european-research/340-corine Jane Brandt medesdesire@googlemail.com

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"> <td valign="top" width="12%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">CORINE</span></strong></td> <td width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">Coordination of information on the Environment</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">long term (from 1985 onwards)</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%"> <p>The three aims of the project are (1) to compile information on the state of the environment with regard to certain topics which have priority for all the Member States of the Community, (2) to coordinate the compilation of data and the organization of information within the Member States or at international level, and (3) to ensure that information is consistent and that data are compatible.</p> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="2">Description:</td> <td width="88%" height="2">If our environment and natural heritage are to be properly managed, decision-makers need to be provided with both an overview of existing knowledge, and information which is as complete and up-to-date as possible on changes in certain features of the biosphere. In order to determine the Community's environment policy, assess the effects of this policy correctly and incorporate the environmental dimension into other policies, we must have a proper understanding of the different features of the environment, including the state of the individual environments; the geographical distribution and state of natural areas and of wild fauna and flora; the quality and abundance of water resources; land cover structure and the state of the soil etc.. A further objective of the CORINE programme is to bring together all the many attempts which have been made over the years at various levels (international, Community, national and regional) to obtain more information on the environment and the way it is changing.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">Land cover data for most EU15 countries and 12 central and eastern European countries and coastal zones of Morocco and Tunisia.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Website: </td> <td width="88%">A project website does not exist, information can be found on <a href="http://www.eea.europa.eu/" target="_blank">http://www.eea.europa.eu/</a> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"> <td valign="top" width="12%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">CORINE</span></strong></td> <td width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">Coordination of information on the Environment</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">long term (from 1985 onwards)</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%"> <p>The three aims of the project are (1) to compile information on the state of the environment with regard to certain topics which have priority for all the Member States of the Community, (2) to coordinate the compilation of data and the organization of information within the Member States or at international level, and (3) to ensure that information is consistent and that data are compatible.</p> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="2">Description:</td> <td width="88%" height="2">If our environment and natural heritage are to be properly managed, decision-makers need to be provided with both an overview of existing knowledge, and information which is as complete and up-to-date as possible on changes in certain features of the biosphere. In order to determine the Community's environment policy, assess the effects of this policy correctly and incorporate the environmental dimension into other policies, we must have a proper understanding of the different features of the environment, including the state of the individual environments; the geographical distribution and state of natural areas and of wild fauna and flora; the quality and abundance of water resources; land cover structure and the state of the soil etc.. A further objective of the CORINE programme is to bring together all the many attempts which have been made over the years at various levels (international, Community, national and regional) to obtain more information on the environment and the way it is changing.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">Land cover data for most EU15 countries and 12 central and eastern European countries and coastal zones of Morocco and Tunisia.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Website: </td> <td width="88%">A project website does not exist, information can be found on <a href="http://www.eea.europa.eu/" target="_blank">http://www.eea.europa.eu/</a> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> 2009-07-21T14:13:52Z 2009-07-21T14:13:52Z http://www.desire-his.eu/index.php/en/recent-european-research/341-cost-634 Jane Brandt medesdesire@googlemail.com

<table border="0" cellpadding="3" style="width: 100%"><tbody><tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"><td><strong><span style="color: #ffffff"><a name="cost" title="cost"></a>COST 634</span></strong></td> <td><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">COST Action 634: On- and Off-site Environmental Impacts of Runoff and Erosion</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Time span:</td> <td>2004 - 2008</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Aim:</td> <td>The COST action aims at coordinating and synthesising European soil erosion research in the contexts of land management and policy formulation so as to limit agricultural runoff and to improve soil conservation.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Description:</td> <td>This will increase agricultural multifunctionality and reduce off-site impacts of runoff and erosion. To achieve this goal, the many barriers hindering the implementation of runoff prevention and soil conservation in Europe have to be identified and analysed on all levels, including the scientific, political, administrative and management level. In simultaneously addressing different levels involved in land use decision-making and soil conservation, COST 634 participants will help to identify and solve conflicts and foster integrated solutions for soil conservation and land management that can be accepted by all interest groups.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Countries:</td> <td>partners in France, Germany, UK, the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark; 25 European countries signed in to the COST Action.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Website: <br /></td> <td><a href="http://www.soilerosion.net/cost634/" target="_blank">http://www.soilerosion.net/cost634/</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

<table border="0" cellpadding="3" style="width: 100%"><tbody><tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"><td><strong><span style="color: #ffffff"><a name="cost" title="cost"></a>COST 634</span></strong></td> <td><strong><span style="color: #ffffff">COST Action 634: On- and Off-site Environmental Impacts of Runoff and Erosion</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Time span:</td> <td>2004 - 2008</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Aim:</td> <td>The COST action aims at coordinating and synthesising European soil erosion research in the contexts of land management and policy formulation so as to limit agricultural runoff and to improve soil conservation.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Description:</td> <td>This will increase agricultural multifunctionality and reduce off-site impacts of runoff and erosion. To achieve this goal, the many barriers hindering the implementation of runoff prevention and soil conservation in Europe have to be identified and analysed on all levels, including the scientific, political, administrative and management level. In simultaneously addressing different levels involved in land use decision-making and soil conservation, COST 634 participants will help to identify and solve conflicts and foster integrated solutions for soil conservation and land management that can be accepted by all interest groups.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Countries:</td> <td>partners in France, Germany, UK, the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark; 25 European countries signed in to the COST Action.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Website: <br /></td> <td><a href="http://www.soilerosion.net/cost634/" target="_blank">http://www.soilerosion.net/cost634/</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> 2009-07-21T14:15:20Z 2009-07-21T14:15:20Z http://www.desire-his.eu/index.php/en/recent-european-research/342-demon-i Jane Brandt medesdesire@googlemail.com

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"> <td valign="top" width="12%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;"><a name="dem1" title="dem1"></a>DEMON-I</span></strong></td> <td width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">An integrated approach to Mediterranean land degradation mapping and monitoring by<br />remote sensing</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">July 1992 - December 1994</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">The objectives are to develop and validate methodological procedures for extracting vegetation and soil surface parameters from remotely sensed data for monitoring changes and trends in areas submitted to land degradation and to develop a GIS oriented approach to erosion hazard modelling and mapping.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="2">Description:</td> <td width="88%" height="2">The field and laboratory measurements will focus, concerning respectively vegetation and soil, on Leaf Area Index, optical properties of leaves, ground checks concerning vegetation mapping, water and chemical content and soil emissivities(box method), soil temperatures (infrared radiometers), soil sample analysis. Major research topic will be the detection and quantification of low amounts of green or dry vegetation (estimation of percent vegetation cover or LAI) and the characterization of soil surface features. This will be done through analysis of spectral indices in relation to vegetation and soil parameters.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">field sites in France and Spain; partners in France, Spain and the Netherlands</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Website: </td> <td width="88%">http://www.geog.uu.nl/fg/demon.html%20 (link expired)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"> <td valign="top" width="12%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;"><a name="dem1" title="dem1"></a>DEMON-I</span></strong></td> <td width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">An integrated approach to Mediterranean land degradation mapping and monitoring by<br />remote sensing</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">July 1992 - December 1994</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">The objectives are to develop and validate methodological procedures for extracting vegetation and soil surface parameters from remotely sensed data for monitoring changes and trends in areas submitted to land degradation and to develop a GIS oriented approach to erosion hazard modelling and mapping.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="2">Description:</td> <td width="88%" height="2">The field and laboratory measurements will focus, concerning respectively vegetation and soil, on Leaf Area Index, optical properties of leaves, ground checks concerning vegetation mapping, water and chemical content and soil emissivities(box method), soil temperatures (infrared radiometers), soil sample analysis. Major research topic will be the detection and quantification of low amounts of green or dry vegetation (estimation of percent vegetation cover or LAI) and the characterization of soil surface features. This will be done through analysis of spectral indices in relation to vegetation and soil parameters.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">field sites in France and Spain; partners in France, Spain and the Netherlands</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Website: </td> <td width="88%">http://www.geog.uu.nl/fg/demon.html%20 (link expired)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> 2009-07-21T14:17:01Z 2009-07-21T14:17:01Z http://www.desire-his.eu/index.php/en/recent-european-research/343-demon-ii Jane Brandt medesdesire@googlemail.com

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"> <td valign="top" width="12%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;"><a name="dem2" title="dem2"></a>DEMON-II</span></strong></td> <td width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">An integrated approach to assess and monitor desertification processes in the Mediterranean basin</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">March 1996 - February 1999</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">The objective is to use an integration of ecological models and information from operational earth observation and meteorological satellites to assess and monitor regional scale indicators of sensitivity to desertification.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Description:</td> <td width="88%">Conceptual and methodological pathways for deriving coherent indicators of vegetation abundance and the erosional state of soils from remotely sensed imagery (reflective and thermal domains) will be optimised, including methodological refinements which permit to use this approach within a larger variety of climatic conditions throughout the Mediterranean. The project further attempts to define the conceptual requirements needed for designing an operational 'Satellitebased Desertification Observatory' for the Mediterranean basin. The development of an approach for future projections of desertification, particularly with respect to the risk of soil erosion and further degradation of vegetation communities (Desertification Susceptibility Index) is an essential part of the project activities</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">field sites in France, Spain and Greece; partners in Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, France and Greece</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="2">Website: </td> <td width="88%" height="2">http://www.geog.uu.nl/fg/demon.html (link expired)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="3"> <tbody> <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#7b9ebd"> <td valign="top" width="12%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;"><a name="dem2" title="dem2"></a>DEMON-II</span></strong></td> <td width="88%"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;">An integrated approach to assess and monitor desertification processes in the Mediterranean basin</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Time span:</td> <td width="88%">March 1996 - February 1999</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Aim:</td> <td width="88%">The objective is to use an integration of ecological models and information from operational earth observation and meteorological satellites to assess and monitor regional scale indicators of sensitivity to desertification.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Description:</td> <td width="88%">Conceptual and methodological pathways for deriving coherent indicators of vegetation abundance and the erosional state of soils from remotely sensed imagery (reflective and thermal domains) will be optimised, including methodological refinements which permit to use this approach within a larger variety of climatic conditions throughout the Mediterranean. The project further attempts to define the conceptual requirements needed for designing an operational 'Satellitebased Desertification Observatory' for the Mediterranean basin. The development of an approach for future projections of desertification, particularly with respect to the risk of soil erosion and further degradation of vegetation communities (Desertification Susceptibility Index) is an essential part of the project activities</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%">Countries:</td> <td width="88%">field sites in France, Spain and Greece; partners in Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, France and Greece</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top" width="12%" height="2">Website: </td> <td width="88%" height="2">http://www.geog.uu.nl/fg/demon.html (link expired)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>