Through studies of land-cover and land-use change (LCLUC), NASA is developing interdisciplinary scientific approaches combining aspects of physical, social, and economic sciences with a high level of societal relevance, using remote sensing tools, methods and data. LCLUC studies use a combination of space observations, in situ measurements, process studies and numerical modelling as well as social and economic science research on land use. 

On a global scale, such studies became possible when the first satellite of the Landsat series was launched about 45 years ago. Since then, land-change science has been rapidly evolving to be able to explain where the changes are occurring, what is their extent and over what time scale, what their causes, their consequences for ecosystems and human societies, their feedbacks with climate change, and what to expect in the future.

This presentation will include illustrations of recent significant results in the LCLUC programme, including for the forestry, agriculture and urban sectors. Regional capacity building is part of the programme, particularly under the "Global observations of forest cover and land cover dynamics" (GOFC-GOLD). The last part of the presentation will be devoted to this aspect of the programme and to the potential for collaboration/coordination with FAO.  

Presented by: Garik Gutman, Manager, Land-Cover/Land-Use Change Programme and Landsat Programme Scientist, NASA

Organized by the Technical Networks on Forestry and on Land and Water and the Geospatial Coordination Unit