The Group on Earth Observation Land Degradation Neutrality (GEO-LDN) Secretariat, hosted by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), expresses its strong support for the international postgraduate programme on LDN hosted at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani – Ghana.
This was made known when the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako led a team from the University comprising the Acting Dean of International Relations, Prof. Amos T. Kabo-Bah and Dr. Abdul-Wadood Moomen at the School of Built and Mines to visit the Secretariat in Bonn, Germany to further discuss and seek support for effective implementation of the programme. In company to secure the Global support for the programme is Prof Mohammed Salifu, Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
The Staff of the GEO-LDN Secretariat will, therefore, be closely engaged throughout the programme. GEO-LDN commit to supporting the programme and being involved in discussions on how to build on the activities and outcomes in the longer term. In particular, the GEO-LDN secretariat will use its international networks, newsletters, website and email list to promote the programme. GEO-LDN will, as needed, provide written and verbal input into project plans, outputs and long-term sustainability and work closely with the Co-Chair and Co-Leads of the GEO-LDN Capacity Development Working Group and UENR.
The GEO-LDN Initiative aims to facilitate the provision of space-based information and in-situ measurements for improved land management and planning. Capacity Development is key to reaching this goal.
In another development, Professor Amos T. Kabo-Bah, Ag. Dean of International Relations Office of the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Monday, May 30, 2022, joined Prime Water on a panel discussion on “Earth Observation Technologies for Improved Water Management organised by the International Water Association at IFAT 2022, Munich, Germany. The Panel aimed to present the state-of-the-art terms of EO technologies in the water sector and it will showcase experiences where EO technologies are being used to prepare and adapt to risks in a planned manner.
In his presentation on Influencing Policy Makers, Prof. Kabo-Bah indicated Water Observation from Space (WOfS) allows users to understand the location and movement of inland and coastal water present in the African landscape, adding that the WOfS shows where water is usually present; where it is seldom observed; and where inundation of the surface has been observed by satellite, which could be useful to water resource management in Africa.
Other Panelists in the session were Prime Water Project Coordinator, Apostolos Tzimas (EMVIS) presented the benefits of using EO technologies in the water sector. Ilias Pechlivanidis (SMHI) also shared his thoughts on the evolution of an EO-enhanced agriculture sector, and Karin Schenk (EOMAP) highlighted how EO technologies can be used in water quality.
