Forest ecosystems are amongst the Earth’s greatest natural resources. They
provide a multitude of benefits to society, ensuring environmental and human health,
water quality and quantity, biodiversity, timber resources and forest products. Forest
ecosystems, however, are globally threatened. Because the knowledge of the extent
and condition of critical forest ecosystems is largely inaccurate, improved Earth
observations are needed to bridge the gaps in forest assessment and monitoring
The goal of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is to
construct the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) by proactively
linking existing and planned observation systems around the world and supporting the
development of new systems where gaps currently exist. These observation systems
are vital for understanding the Earth system and enhancing human health and wellbeing,
alleviating poverty and other forms of human suffering, protecting the global
environment, reducing disaster losses, and achieving sustainable development
Therefore, Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and a number of forest
monitoring institutions are sponsoring the GEO Forest Monitoring Symposium to
promote the integrated observation and monitoring of forest extent, condition and
ecological services.
The main objective of the Symposium is to consolidate the GEOSS approach for a
systematic and integrated Forest Monitoring System of Systems that should ensure
coordination, facilitate and promote data sharing, inter-operability, and improve the
ability of forest monitoring to address relevant issues. Additional goals are to promote
communication and collaboration among various communities working on different
forest related themes, and to strengthen the focus on forest observation world-wide.
Target Attendance
:: Target Attendance
The Symposium should be of interest to decision-makers, researchers, non-governmental organizations and project managers active in all aspects of forestry management, from carbon storage and disaster prediction to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem products and services.
The Symposium will provide a forum where GEO Task teams and key Institutions
worldwide can further their programmes of work as they relate to forest observation.
The Symposium is designed to help participants achieve a greater understanding of the
current status of, and requirements for, critical forest characterization and monitoring,
including carbon and biomass, biodiversity, fire, water, fragmentation and
degradation, and stress and damage. The key outcome will be to advance the
integrated characterization, assessment and monitoring of forests.
Venue
:: Venue
The event will be held at the Mabu Thermas & Resort, in Foz do Iguaçu, state of Parana, Brazil.
Located between the airport and downtown Foz do Iguaçu, the resort is midway to all these wonderful natural and man made attractions, ecology and adventure tours, shows and performances.
Mabu Thermas and Resort
Av. das Cataratas, 3175
CEP: 85863-000
Foz do Iguaçu - Parana - Brazil
Telephone: +55 45 3521 2000
Fax: +55 45 3523 3432
Thematic Group 1 - Biodiversity, Invasive Species, Forest Ecology and Protected Areas
Chairs: Doug Muchoney, Jorn Scharlemann, Mario Hernandez, Bradley Reed
Presentations
Thematic Group 2 - Forest Biomass and Carbon
Chairs: Thelma Krug, Roger Sedjo and Alex Held
Presentations
Thematic Group 3 - Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (including effects of fire and agriculture
Chairs: Michael Brady, Dalton Valeriano, Alberto Setzer
Presentations
Carbon for Poverty Reduction Roundtable
Smallholder Carbon Agroforestry & Carbon for Poverty Reduction
Roundtable (CAPR) - Roberto Porro
World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) / Amazon Initiative Consortium (IA)
Host City
:: Host City
Foz do Iguaçu is a city of 430 km2 located in the border of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, where the Parana and Iguaçu rivers meet. It is the fifth largest city in Parana State, with 300 thousand inhabitants.
Immense water falls protected by forest turn Iguaçu Falls into a dream place of a beauty that goes beyond description. During the rainy season the falls blend into a single thrilling spectacle, while drier months feature hundreds of separate cascades forming a landscape of unforgettable natural beauty.
About twenty separate falls divide Brazil and Argentina.
Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant is the largest of the world and reflects the perfect match between man and nature. It is a binational joint venture on the Parana River, between Brazil and Paraguay. Considered by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, Itaipu supplies 25% of the energy consumed in Brazil.
Foz do Iguaçu is surrounded by forests, gardens and trees like the “ipê-amarelo”. There are more than 165 kinds of birds and 58 species of animals living together in the Biological Reserves, Zoos, and Parks. It is close to the largest cities of South America, no more than one hour flight from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Asuncion. It is considered to be the “Heart of Mercosul” and an important trade center.
The temperature in Foz do Iguaçu, in November, is around 30°C. It is very humid and is usually cooler at night. It is advisable that you bring a light sweater, bathing suit and comfortable clothing if you are planning to enjoy the city outside the event’s hours and duration.
Tourism
:: Options for Tourism
The Travel Agency Chamon Cataratas is the official agency of our symposium. Please, contact them directly if you wish to do any of the tours:
The Iguaçu Falls (Brazilian side)
The Brazilian falls are located 24 km from the Mabu Hotel, inside the Iguaçu National Park, with 185.000 Hectares. Discovered in 1934, it was declared by UNESCO in 1986 Humanity Natural Patrimony. The Iguaçu falls add together 275 cascades of different highs, some of them reach up to 90 meters with an average flow of 1500 m3 per second, that makes the biggest Water Falls in the world. The tour includes a 1km walk, with many pans from the falls.
Price: R$ 50,00/person (includes National Park entrance-ticket, transportation and bilingual guide.)
Group: minimum 20 people (if there are less than 20 people, the price will rise.)
Duration: 2h30min
The Iguaçu Falls (Brazilian side) + Macuco Safari by Boat
The Macuco Safari starts with a 3Km trail in a four-wheel jeep, where bilingual guides provide information about the flora and the fauna of the park. After that, a 600 meters walking trail leads to a small waterfall called “Salto do Macuco”. From there, there is an upstream boat tour towards the “Devil’s throat”, of astonishing beauty.
Price: R$ 190,00/person
Group: minimum 20 people (if there are less than 20 people, the price will rise)
Duration: 4h
Birds in the Forest
This Bird Park of world class standard is situated in 5 hectares of native subtropical forest. It offers tourists, ecologists, photographers and ornithologists an opportunity to enter huge 8-meter high forest aviaries to study and photograph birds in their natural habitat without the restriction of netting and cages. There are over 800 birds, both indigenous and from other continents. Exciting new exhibits show caiman, snakes, humming birds and butterflies. Full facilities are available including a restaurant and a shop. Close to the falls.
Price: R$ 42,00 (includes National Park entrance-ticket, transportation and bilingual guide.)
Group: minimum 20 people (if there are less than 20 people, the price will rise)
Duration: 1h30min
Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant The world’s largest hydroelectric plant in power output, is a binational joint venture on the Paraná River, between Brazil and Paraguay. It has broken its own energy production world records. In 2000, it generated 93.427.598 MWh and in 2006, its second best production, 92.689.936 MWh. Considered by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, Itaipu supplies 20% of the energy consumed in Brazil and 95% of the energy consumed in Paraguay.
Price: R$ 58,00/person (includes National Park entrance-ticket, transportation and bilingual guide.)
Group: minimum 20 people (if there are less than 20 people, the price will rise)
Duration: 2h30min
Steering Committee
:: Steering Committee
Gilberto Câmara, INPE (Chair)
Barbara Koch, Universitaet Freiburg (Co-Chair)
Dalton de Morisson Valeriano, INPE (Co-Chair)
Douglas Muchoney, Group on Earth Observations (Co-Chair)
Ake Rosenquist, EC-JRC
Alex Held, CSIRO, Australia
Dennis Garrity, CGIAR
Giovanni Rum, Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
Hermen Westerbeeke, Borneo Tropical Rainforest Foundation (BTRF)
Jesse H. Ausubel, The Rockefeller University in New York City
Jim Baker, Clinton Foundation
Jinlong Fan, Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
João Vianei Soares, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Brazil
Martin Herold, ESA GOFC GOLD, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
Michael Brady, Natural Resources Canada; GOFC-GOLD, GEO Forest Community of Practice
Peter Holmgren, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Italy
Phillip Gibbs, Consultant, National Geographic
Rick Bossi, Academy for Education Development (AED), USA
Tuomas Häme, Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), Finland
Organizing Committee
:: Organizing Committee
INPE
Hilcéa Ferreira
Terezinha Gomes dos Santos
Márcia Alvarenga
Lise Banon
GEO Secretariat
Natasha Brutsch
Michael Williams
Contact Us
:: Contact with the Organizing Committee
INPE Earth Observations Branch Secretariat
Phone: +55 (12) 3945-6459 / 6450
Fax: +55 (12) 3945-6460
Mail Address:
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, INPE/OBT
Av. dos Astronautas, 1758 - Jardim da Granja, Zip Code: 12.201-970 - São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
Sponsors
:: SPONSORS
Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE)
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Australian Department of Climate Change
Norway
INPE Earth Observations Branch Secretariat
Phone: +55 (12) 3945-6459 / 6450