UPDATE ON GTOS ACTIVITIES
Recommendation 1: a GTOS Newsletter should be developed to keep donors, developing countries and participating organizations regularly informed on GTOS activities. It should be produced with the assistance of ICSU.
Recommendation 2: the post advertisement for two scientific officers at the GTOS Secretariat should spell out more clearly the requirements of the academic exchange programme.
DATA AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Recommendation 3: the new terms of reference of the J-DIMP should refer to custodianship for data sets and to the role of the panel in overseeing the design and operation of the Global Observing Systems Information Center (GOSIC); it should monitor the use of the system and should report regularly to the GTSC. The chairman would convey this to the chairman of J-DIMP and the Directors of GCOS and GOOS.
BUDGET AND FUND RAISING
Recommendation 4: UNEP should send its database of donors to the GTOS Secretariat, in order to start the process of identifying potential donors for GTOS and preparing a package of proposals.
Recommendation 5: the Sponsors should include GTOS proposals in their annual programming meetings with donors and when proposals are requested.
Recommendation 6: the members of the GTSC should be more active in seeking funds for GTOS that are compatible with their own research interests.
G3OS SPONSORS GROUP
Recommendation 7: ICSU, as a sponsor of GTOS, should facilitate the cooperation with IGBP to enhance GTOS activities. It was suggested to bring up this point to Will Steffen in July 1998, during his visit to ICSU in Paris.
NETWORKS
Recommendation 8: GT-Net should not be limited to those networks that attended the meeting in Guernica (Experts meeting on Ecological Networks, 17-20 June 1997, Guernica, Spain). Additional other networks should be encouraged to participate in order to have a wider representation of terrestrial issues (e.g. forests). The networks should be invited according to specific criteria defined by GTOS.
Recommendation 9: a brochure should be developed explaining the demonstration project on NPP as well as the valued added it will bring to the sites/networks participating in GT-Net.
Recommendation 10: closer collaboration between the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) and International Permafrost Association (IPA) should be considered and encouraged.
GTOS PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT
Recommendation 11: GTOS should further develop the concept of regional centres built on existing regional infrastructure. The regional offices of e.g. FAO, UNEP, UNESCO, WMO and collaborating centres of regional importance such as CERN could serve as hosts. GTOS requires a regional representation to raise the profile and visibility of anticipated deliverables and benefits. It was suggested that efforts be made to establish a regional GTOS for Southern Asia.
Recommendation 12: a workshop should be organized between GTOS, NoLimits and other partners (e.g. Man and Biosphere Programme) to clarify the links and the ways and means for collaboration in Eastern and Western Europe.
COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Recommendation 13: the differences and similarities between GTOS and ILTER should be clearly defined. It is important to clarify the interactions also between GTOS and the other participating networks, explaining what are their respective responsibilities and how they complement each other.
Recommendation 14: a GTOS Freshwater Panel should be established in order to explore the potential of hydrological information for GTOS, including the role of GRDC, and to define feasible objectives and deliverables. Such a panel could meet on an ad-hoc basis.
WORKING GROUP ON NON CLIMATIC VARIABLES PANELS
Recommendation 15: to establish a joint GOOS/GTOS coastal panel
Recommendation 16: to reassess the needs for a virtual panel on water resources before the next Steering Committee meeting and to review the major international initiatives dealing with water resources.
WORKING GROUP ON GTOS GOVERNANCE
Recommendation 17: to establish a GTOS Network Panel (GT-Net Panel) composed mainly of scientists designated by the networks participating in GTOS, as well as selected members of the Steering Committee, plus a few independent scientists of distinction.
