The work carried out by the Scientific and Technical Planning Group (STPG) was reviewed by Dr. David Norse, with emphasis on the objectives, principles, and defining characteristics of GTOS. The central mission of GTOS, as stated by the STPG, is:
"to provide policy makers, resource managers and researchers with the data needed to detect, quantify, locate and give early warning of changes (especially reductions) in the capacity of terrestrial ecosystems to support sustainable development and improvements in human welfare, and to help advance our understanding of such changes."
This should be accomplished through the development of an equitable partnership between generators and users that meets the short term needs of national governments and the longer term needs of the global change research community.
It was agreed that the Planning Group report is intended as a guide, and that the SC could modify and expand upon it as necessary. The SC discussed the objectives of GTOS and the main characteristics needed to convey a concise and clear message to potential and future partners (see Appendix 2, What is GTOS?).
