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COMMON DENOMINATOR PROJECTS OF THE MINIMUM COMMON PROGRAMME
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Development and applications of a multi-purpose environmental and natural resources information base for food security and sustainable development
Problems and needs
The renewable natural resources of many Asian countries have come under severe strain over the past decades and most indicators point towards a continuation of this trend. The rate of degradation and depletion of these resources has been accelerating in proportion to the increasing population pressure. Deforestation, loss of biodiversity, a high rate of land-use change, soil erosion, alkalinization and salinization have degraded the environment and consequently threatened the food security and economic development of many countries in the region. Proper planning, development and sustainable management of renewable natural resources in the region require that comprehensive, accurate and updated information and decision support tools are available for the development and management of the resources. The creation of a coherent regional database and the development of appropriate decision support tools have become prerequisites for the sustainable development of countries in the region.
Objectives
The overarching objective of the proposal is the enhancement of regional cooperation in and the development of regional capacity for the integrated use of information and decision support tools for improved analysis, planning and decision-making for food security and sustainable agriculture in support of poverty alleviation programmes in the ESCAP region.
Implementation strategy
The initial project phase will enhance regional cooperation for food security and sustainable development in South-East Asia. The multi-purpose environmental and natural resources information base for the food security and sustainable development project will provide a comprehensive basis for implementing other projects, including those under the Minimum Common Programme, for the realization of the goals of food security and agricultural systems, environment and natural resources management, poverty alleviation and sustainable development planning. The project will develop a phased plan to cover the remaining parts of Asia with a multi-purpose environmental and natural resources information base, called "Asiacover", for submission to potential donors.
Main outputs and activities
The expected main outputs include a multi-purpose database and decision support tools for environmental monitoring and natural resources management, and improved national capacity in integrating environmental considerations into development planning and in participating in relevant international agreements and conventions. The scope of the project includes (a) a multi-purpose database for environmental monitoring, natural resources management and sustainable agricultural development for participating countries of the South-East Asian subregion, (b) decision support tools through integrated analysis of geophysical, environmental, social and economic information in support of sustainable agriculture and rural development, and (c) improved national capacity in integrating the environmental dimension into development planning at the national and regional levels, and enabling the countries concerned to participate more effectively in international environmental agreements and conventions.
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Integrated land and water resources management
Problems and needs
The Asian and Pacific region is home to a population of 3.6 billion, living on 23 per cent of the global land mass. Arable and permanently cropped land in the region accounts for 32 per cent of the world's total. The average amount of arable land per capita in the region as a whole is 0.15 hectares, lower than the world average of 0.26 hectares. The amount of arable land in the region has increased, but mostly in marginal lands, causing further aggravation of land degradation. Arid areas, also covering large parts of countries of Asia, have constituted a great problem for social and economic development planning and ecological conservation. The countries face serious challenges in utilizing their limited water resources and efficiently managing their land resources rationally for sustainable development. Sustainable development planning of land and water resources is one of the key factors in any social and economic development. Remote sensing technology provide efficient means for the rapid collection of current resource data for a variety of planning purposes. GIS enables integration of various spatial data with social and economic data for comprehensive analysis for policy planning and environment management. An integrated land and water resources analysis, using variety of sectoral, thematic information on a GIS platform, along with ground data, provides the decision makers with information to identify action plans for appropriately utilizing the land and water resources.
Objectives
The intention of the project is to enhance national capacity for using space and information technologies and relevant decision support tools for integrated land and water resources management, in order to address the issue of food security as well as the management of the environment and natural resources.
Implementation strategy
The project will enhance regional cooperation and strengthen the national capacity towards the integrated applications of remote sensing and GIS by sharing information, experience and operational application models through a regional cooperation approach. The project will be pursued through the technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC) approach, with ESCAP providing the necessary technical cooperation and project coordination. Through this strategy, it is expected that the sharing of expertise as well as data and other resources will be facilitated. Successful practices will be extended to other developing countries. Regional expertise is to be used in project implementation.
Main outputs and activities
The project will extend successful methodologies using remote sensing, GIS and other related information technologies to address practical information needs for integrated land and water resources management for sustainable development planning in both humid tropical areas and arid areas. The main outputs include enhanced capacity at the national level for using space and information technologies and tools for integrated land and water resources management and relevant operational methodology and models.
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Crop-monitoring and agricultural production forecasting in the ESCAP region
Problems and needs
About three years ago, leaders from 186 countries gathered in Rome and made a solemn commitment: to halve the number of hungry people to 400 million by 2015. Based on the FAO report, The State of Food Insecurity in the World, 1999, almost 800 million people in the developing world do not have enough to eat, and an overwhelming majority of the undernourished people in developing countries live in Asia and the Pacific. The region is home to 70 per cent of the total population of the developing world and accounts for almost two thirds (about 526 million) of the undernourished people as well. Some projects in other parts of the world have demonstrated the effectiveness of the estimation of crop yield by integrating crop yield models with satellite remote sensing technology; it is a proven, effective tool in agricultural management and helps in food insecurity mapping. Currently, both high- and low-resolution satellites are utilized operationally for crop monitoring in Europe and Africa, and also in some countries of the region. Crops such as rice have been directly linked to food security, poverty alleviation and to the agrarian economy, especially in most of the developing countries of Asia. Rice is the staple food of the majority of the population of the region, but rice production is highly vulnerable to floods and drought.
Objectives
The project will contribute to the attainment of RESAP goals towards food security and poverty alleviation. Its specific objectives are to strengthen national capacity to carry out crop monitoring and assessment using remote sensing tools, and enhance the regional cooperative framework for supporting national efforts towards addressing food insecurity and poverty alleviation using space applications.
Implementation strategy
The project aims to contribute to food security through a reliable and timely information service by using satellite data to improve the monitoring of crop growth and the estimation of crop yield. The core activity of the project is the development and extension of methodologies. Satellite-based information will be a major source of information for crop-monitoring activities. The project will improve the use of satellite information in combination with weather information and agro-climatic data. It will develop two main thrusts: improvement of the use of the satellite information and agro-climatic data currently available in the region, and satellite-based crop yield forecasting models. Both ground data and remotely sensed data will be integrated at the data and output levels, while forecast yields will be calibrated against agricultural statistics. The project will focus on the TCDC approach. Seminars, training and other capacity-building activities will be carried out through this approach.
Main outputs and activities
It is expected that the project will strengthen and enrich the foundation of decision-making processes in food security and poverty alleviation by integrating remote sensing and GIS as tools for sustainable development planning and for formulating polices and programmes. The main outputs of the project are (a) technical documentation on crop monitoring with information on remote sensing, GIS and modelling, and their applications for crop monitoring, (b) documents on space technology applications relevant to food security and agricultural planning at the national and regional levels, and (c) training workshops, seminars and other human resources development activities.
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Capacity-building for disaster management in Asia and the Pacific
Problems and needs
The Asian and Pacific region is the region most affected by major disasters, accounting for over 60 per cent of the world's disaster-related deaths, and 85 per cent of the victims of natural disasters in the last decades. Natural disasters in the region cost about US$ 10 billion annually, substantially reducing the pace of economic development and having a large impact on the poorest sections of affected developing countries, who live in hazard-prone areas. Disaster management critically needs appropriate information for disaster preparedness and early warning and real-time data to support disaster monitoring and relief action. Space technologies such as remote sensing, satellite meteorology, satellite communication and geo-positioning systems offer possible solutions to provide appropriate and real-time information and tools to the disaster management community. The Charter on Cooperation to Achieve the Coordinated Use of Space Facilities in the Event of Natural or Technological Disasters is an initiative from major space agencies (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency) to provide support and satellite information free of charge to countries in the event of pending disasters. It is important that these benefits be extended to developing countries in the region. There is a need for capacity-building in developing countries, especially least developed countries, that are vulnerable to and less capable of withstanding disasters, so that they can access and benefit from space technology applications for disaster management.
Objectives
The overall objective is to strengthen the national capacity to integrate space technology applications for managing natural disasters more efficiently. The immediate objectives are to promote the operational use of space technology applications for timely information as well as efficient decision support to reduce damage due to natural disasters, particularly flood and drought; and to establish a regional cooperative framework and institutional partnerships for strengthening national capabilities for managing these natural disasters more efficiently.
Implementation strategy
Capacity-building for the integration of space and information technology for operational applications in disaster management involves awareness-building, the integration of space technology with traditional techniques, technology transfer between countries with and without operationally demonstrated space technology applications, and operationalization. The project will focus on enabling the participating countries to develop their capacity and organize their internal resources to integrate space technology for natural disaster reduction, in particular floods and drought, including their ability to receive efficient support from the Charter. The project will also explore regional cooperative mechanisms for providing data and services for disaster management.
Main outputs and activities
The project will enhance the ability of disaster management communities at the national level to integrate space technology applications for managing natural disasters more effectively, particularly flood and drought, and will strengthen the regional cooperative mechanism to support disaster management authorities, providing them with useful satellite-based information to help them make decisions during emergency situations. Successful practices on early warning, impact assessment, and vulnerability zonation, especially for flood and drought, will be demonstrated. A regional mechanism to help national disaster management authorities to receive support from the Charter in the event of pending disasters, and a plan of action towards reorganizing the operational framework to strengthen natural disaster management efforts at various levels, will be developed.
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Community-based communication facilities for rural development
Problems and needs
Asia and the Pacific, home to 3.6 billion people, of whom 66 per cent live in rural areas, has been confronting the perennial problems of underdeveloped education, health-care services and very poor information access. The convergence of satellite communications and IT, which has enriched the quality of life and made the societies more knowledge-based and richer in information, has considerable potential for addressing the problems of rural development as well. Enabling this technology to be used in rural development not only cuts short the circuitous path of spreading technological developments among rural people but also provides an active interface to absorb the continuing developments in almost all sectors, in order to ensure sustainable societal growth. The provision of basic information and communication technologies (ICT) applications and value-added services will significantly improve the quality of life by addressing the issues of sustainable rural development, poverty alleviation, human resources development and access to real-time/near-real-time information. One of the important developments taking place in the region is that some countries have initiated satellite-based multimedia transmission networks for distance education purposes. Affordable satellite broadband services will also be available in coming years.
Objectives
The development objective of the project is aimed at capacity-building through the applications of satellite-based ICT infrastructure for integrated community development in rural areas, with a focus on distance education, telemedicine and access to Internet services.
Implementation strategy
The community teleservice centre (CTC) is a key concept for providing integrated ICT infrastructure, its application and its services in rural areas through communication satellites. Such centres provide information and telecommunication technology services, user support, and training for the population of a community. Centres are able to access shared communication infrastructure, to provide access to data networks (i.e. the Internet) for email, file transfer, access to electronic libraries and databases, government and community information systems, market and price information, environmental watch services, and more, as well as facilities and equipment for teletraining and telemedicine. The CTC concept will be further developed to dovetail with ongoing operational programmes in the region, and subsequently enhance the national capacity to benefit from communication satellite-based ICT applications for rural development, thereby facilitating the improvement of their education and health care, in particular.
Main outputs and activities
The project is expected to promote awareness among decision makers about the use of satellite-based communications for rural capacity-building; enhance the national capacity of participating countries in the utilization of satellite-based ICT infrastructure and services for sustainable community development in rural or isolated areas by developing a policy framework and operational guidelines; and enhance cooperation among countries of the region in the integrated application of Earth observation, satellite communication and information technologies for sustainable rural development in the region.
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Capacity-building in disaggregated poverty mapping and its integration with environment information
Problems and needs
The Asian and Pacific region is home to 900 million of the world's poor. The coexistence of poverty and environmental degradation is widespread, with poor people usually occupying environmentally fragile or hazard-prone areas. Several policies and programmes targeted on poverty alleviation could be strengthened with appropriate information support tools covering interrelated aspects of poverty and environment. Disaggregated poverty mapping, as a decision support tool, enables and facilitates the integration of information and analysis of the distribution of poverty patterns in a country at different levels. Projects on disaggregated poverty mapping by the World Bank, UNDP and FAO in selected countries in the world have shown the viability of poverty mapping for the priority-setting of poverty alleviation programmes. There is a need to provide the developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, with guidelines for generating disaggregated poverty maps and internalizing environmental and natural resources concerns, in order to provide an information base for appropriate poverty alleviation policy-making and planning. Poverty estimates from household surveys, census and other socio-economic data can be integrated into remotely sensed environment and natural resources data through GIS to provide a spatial dimension of poverty and environment profiles within a country.
Objectives
The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the developing countries in the ESCAP region by providing them with information tools for poverty mapping and its integration with environment information to support poverty alleviation targeting and sustainable development planning. The project will contribute to the sustainable development goals of RESAP II by addressing the need to reduce poverty and minimize food insecurity in countries of the region by generating updated information on the vulnerability situation.
Implementation strategy
The project will review best practices in the region, taking cognizance of activities of the UNDP, the World Bank, the ADB, FAO and other organizations; it will conduct consultations with participating countries to assess information availability and requirements, and identify elements for a pilot experiment. The draft framework for guidelines on disaggregated poverty mapping and integration with environment information will be developed. Pilot studies will be conducted in countries where national satellite data and a sufficient information base are available, involving local agencies with expert support to develop an operational framework as an input into the guidelines. The guidelines and their various applications (monitoring, priority-setting, policy formulation etc.) will be reviewed by an expert group. Group training on applications of the guidelines for national experts in participating countries will be conducted.
Main outputs and activities
The project is expected to enhance the national capacity to support poverty alleviation and sustainable development planning and raise the level of awareness of policy makers and decision makers in using available technologies and decision support tools for addressing issues on poverty and food insecurity more effectively, through the formulation of appropriate interventions and effective policies. The scope of the project includes guidelines on classification standards and methodology for poverty vulnerability mapping; a regional poverty vulnerability map; and a set of indicators on poverty vulnerability.
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Applications of meteorological satellite data and information products for sustainable development
Problems and needs
Satellites have contributed significantly to meteorology and climatology for nearly four decades. In Asia and the Pacific, the detection of tropical cyclones and typhoons and the prediction of their intensification and movement rely predominantly on meteorological satellite information. The increasing sophistication of instruments on meteorological satellites, combined with static or declining investment in "conventional" (ground-, sea- or balloon-based) meteorological measurement networks, means that national meteorological services are becoming more reliant upon satellite observations, both for their basic weather services and for specialized functions such as severe weather warnings and aviation meteorology. National meteorological services in developing and least developed countries that lack "real time" access to satellite observations are therefore poorly equipped to provide weather forecasts with the level of timeliness and reliability that are taken for granted in developed economies. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report for 2000 points out that not every country needs to have its own satellite ground station, taking into account the rapid development of telecommunication capacity and the decreasing telecommunication costs, but could rather be served by means of up-to-date telecommunication systems and appropriate applications tools, if available.
Objectives
The objectives are to enhance national capacity in applying satellite data and meteorological satellite information products to improve meteorological service delivery, and in improving access to meteorological satellite data, products and services by the public and the user community.
Implementation strategy
The project aims to assist developing countries in improving existing satellite ground station facilities and Internet links to enable those without suitable ground stations to access the weather satellite information processed by larger meteorological services, and sharing regional best practices in the applications of meteorological satellite information for sustainable development needs. The project will encourage the use of available expertise and technology in the countries of the region and will disseminate greater use of these resources. The TCDC approach will be emphasized and the exchange of experts encouraged in order to facilitate the transfer of technology.
Main outputs and activities
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives of the project. As for technical assistance and capacity-building, developing countries will be supported in the establishment of their own capabilities in accessing meteorological satellite data. Training courses, workshops and seminars will be conducted to create a manpower pool with adequate skills and expertise in utilizing the data.
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Promoting regional cooperation for integrated coastal zone management
Problems and needs
The coastal areas have always played a significant role in the social and economic development and ecological stability of countries of Asia and the Pacific. A large majority of the region's population is concentrated in or near coastal areas. It is reported that out of the largest cities in the world, nearly half are in the Asian and Pacific region, and of these more than half are situated on or very near the coast. The rapid economic development that swept across the region also highlighted some of the cross-sectoral conflicts in the coastal zone. Recognizing the great importance of the coastal areas, countries of the region have carried out numerous projects and programmes in order to address the various issues confronting the efficient management of such areas. In all of these initiatives, the need for updated, accurate information has been vital in the effective implementation of the project activities. Remote sensing and GIS have been widely accepted as appropriate tools for addressing information needs in coastal decision-making, but their use has not been operationally integrated into national coastal development processes. Most projects are sector-oriented and are not able to address all the issues and problems in a comprehensive and integrated way.
Objectives
In support of the goals of RESAP relating to environment and natural resources management, as well as capacity-building, the overall goal of the project is to enhance regional cooperation and develop national and regional capacity for enhanced use and comprehensive analysis of information using available technologies and decision support tools for integrated coastal zone planning and management.
Implementation strategy
The project strategy will involve the initiation of a comprehensive inventory of projects and activities related to coastal zone management in the participating countries. A selection of pilot study sites in each country will be carried out in close consultation with the relevant agencies involved in coastal zone management. The TCDC approach is expected to enhance regional cooperation through the sharing of experience and the development of common methodologies for integrated coastal planning and management. The established networking mechanism of RESAP through its Regional Information Service and Education and Training Network will be used to enhance collaboration among participating countries.
Main outputs and activities
Enhanced regional collaboration and TCDC in addressing coastal environment issues will be possible, and national capacity for institutionalizing the integrated use of IT for coastal planning and management will be strengthened. The scope of the project includes (a) the development of a metadatabase of past and ongoing projects related to coastal zone management, with linkages and networking among countries of the region, (b) a standardized methodology and coordinated approach to environment and resource data acquisition, analysis for integrated coastal zone management, and integrated resource information on the coastal environment of selected sites, and (c) technology transfer through training, workshops and advisory services.
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives of the project.
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Enhancing the capacity for urban and rural development planning
Problems and needs
The ESCAP region contains more than half of the world's megacities, and the number is expected to grow in the first quarter of the twenty-first century. Unbalanced development that favours only certain areas has resulted in an inequitable distribution of income and economic opportunities, as well as social inequalities. This approach has resulted in the formulation of urban development policies that often concentrate on planning and developing modern cities, which are supposed to be provided with advanced education facilities, health care and other urban amenities. Experience indicates that lack of urban and rural planning and management creates various problems such as overpopulation, land and resource degradation and pollution hazards. Social and economic conditions deteriorate in both urban and rural areas, resulting in tremendous pressure on government resources. The poor find themselves marginalized. Effective planning and management of both urban and rural areas may eventually create the balance necessary to control rural-urban migration, help alleviate poverty in both urban and rural areas, and provide equal development opportunities in these areas. In these endeavours, the need for relevant dynamic spatial information on various scales becomes vital.
Objectives
The overarching goal of the project is to enhance capacity for integrating space and information technology into the overall development planning process. In addition, the project aims to assist policy makers and planners in formulating policies for improved urban and rural management, thereby addressing economic and social disparities and reducing the incidence of poverty.
Implementation strategy
The project will involve the development of a suitable/applicable methodology, under the guidance of experts from donors and/or developed countries, focusing on the use of remote sensing and GIS for spatial urban and rural planning that can be integrated into the overall development planning process. This will also involve the formulation of policy instruments in the overall planning and management of urban and rural areas. To enhance regional cooperation, the project will harness the existing regional network mechanism of ESCAP and encourage greater TCDC.
Main outputs and activities
The project is expected to establish a methodology for integrating space and information technology into urban and rural development planning. Spatial databases for urban and rural development planning will be developed with relevant decision support tools, as well as a network among participating countries to enhance cooperation and exchange expertise and experience among them.
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives of the project.
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Potential offshore fishery area delineation and inland aquaculture development
Problems and needs
Overpopulation is a serious problem in the Asian and Pacific region owing to the tremendous pressure it exerts on the region's natural resources, especially food and water, which are depleting rapidly. With more than 3.6 billion people concentrated in 23 per cent of the global landmass, the region is faced with the challenge of feeding its population and providing them with basic human services such as education, labour, housing and health care. A great source of food supply for the teeming population of the region has been the marine waters: the region's annual marine fish catch represents about 22 per cent of the world total. Despite those resources, however, the region has yet to optimize its fishery resources and at the same time protect its wide range of marine resources and ecosystems. Mangroves are giving way to rice paddies, shrimp farms and other aquaculture activities. Red tides occur every year. The current pattern of exploitation of the region's marine resources is not sustainable in the long term and would have adverse implications for the food security of the countries in the region. It is thus imperative that food security is seen as a larger regional problem with the goal of sustaining food requirements and improving the nutritional conditions of the population of the region.
Objectives
The project is expected to address the goal of sustainable development and to ensure overall food security without endangering the ecosystem. Its immediate objectives are to provide means for improving the fish catch potential for large coastal populations, especially poor fishermen, and to identify environmentally suitable sites for brackish water aquaculture development.
Implementation strategy
Implementation will involve the use of satellite data for identifying areas of fish concentrations. Networking for information dissemination will be enhanced to enable the transmission of digital geographic information indicating potential areas of fish schools to end-users through appropriate means on a regular and operational basis. The TCDC approach will be employed to encourage more participation and cooperation among countries.
Main outputs and activities
The project work will result in an operational methodology and technical guidelines for aquaculture site identification, for enhanced fish production and productivity, and an operational system for the dissemination of information on fish concentration to communities. The integration of remote sensing and GIS techniques will be used to carry out a comprehensive analysis by integrating all related wetland information, and collateral socio-economic data to identify suitable aquaculture sites and determine an appropriate scale of operations to ensure the preservation of biodiversity.
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives of the project.
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Mapping for groundwater potential and identification of recharge zones
Problems and needs
Making water available for household purposes, let alone making safe drinking water available, has become a challenge in many countries of the Asian and Pacific region. The demand is increasing annually by about 10 to 15 per cent. Aside from the above, those agricultural areas hitherto dependent on groundwater for irrigation are also affected, causing decreased agricultural production. The water table is reported to have gone down alarmingly in many parts of the region in the past two decades, making the lives of the vulnerable poor population even more miserable. Optimum "harvesting" of water and appropriate groundwater recharge mechanisms to ensure sustainable use of water is a pressing need. Space technology, particularly remote sensing and GIS, provides an effective, technological means for identifying the potential areas for groundwater exploitation, as well as areas for groundwater recharge.
Objectives
The objectives of the project are to enhance national capacity for using space technologies and decision support tools for mapping groundwater potential to identify potential groundwater aquifers in the most affected drought-prone areas of the region, as well as potential areas for groundwater recharge to "harvest" the run-off.
Implementation strategy
The project will involve the use of high-resolution remote sensing satellite data from satellites data to derive spatial information on various hydro-geomorphological features. In carrying out this task, the local expertise available in the region will be utilized. The project will focus on finalization of methodology, data analysis, field investigation and output generation.
Main outputs and activities
The output will comprise improved capacity and enhanced partnership at the national, regional and global levels for developing an operational methodology for integrated groundwater potential mapping to identify zones for withdrawal as well as groundwater recharging. A set of guidelines on the methodology of database development and appropriate decision support tools will be disseminated through training workshops.
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives of the project.
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Environmental monitoring and analysis for health care and hygiene
Problems and needs
Health is a crucial and indispensable part of human resources development. Poor health is often caused by the lack of a healthy environment, as well as the absence of information, awareness and support systems. The emergence and spread of diseases in developing countries where the health infrastructure is not yet developed are critical. For the prevention of infectious disease, it is necessary among other things to identify the interrelationships between the physical environment, the human environment and the diseases, and the dynamics of their extension. The use of remote sensing and GIS can help identify and monitor areas vulnerable to some infectious diseases and assist in reducing health hazards for the rural population.
Objectives
The project aims to develop a comprehensive methodology for integrating space technology applications to monitor the environment and identify the health hazards that may be present, in support of health care and hygiene, the implementation of appropriate preventive measures, and rural development planning. In the long term, the project aims to reduce health hazards among the rural population through the implementation of appropriate preventive measures.
Implementation strategy
In consultation with relevant national agencies involved in health care and hygiene, so as to involve public health specialists, the project will select pilot areas in participating countries and agree on a work plan. The project will compile a spatial database of the medical history of study areas with parameters such as poverty indicators of population and medical coverage, apply remote sensing to map the physical environment and integrate data from remote sensing, GIS and GPS to generate spatial information related to disease-causing agents. A regional workshop will be organized to discuss developed procedures and a framework. Participating countries will contribute resources in terms of the data, information, technology and experts that are available in each country, and facilities available to them will be shared. The project is expected to enhance regional cooperation by the sharing of information, expertise, resources and facilities through TCDC arrangements.
Main outputs and activities
The goal is improved health care and hygiene of rural populations and inhabitants of urban areas. The scope of the project includes (a) the development of a framework and procedures for integrating space technology applications with conventional methods to identify hazardous environments, (b) the compilation of health hazard maps in pilot areas, with reports on potential use and recommendations on the initiation of preventive measures using remote sensing, GIS and satellite-based positioning in an integrated way, and (c) the compilation of a database of the medical history of the area, with parameters such as poverty indicator of population, literacy rate, support infrastructure, and medical coverage available to them.
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives of the project.
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Telemedicine for rural populations
Problems and needs
Most people in the Asian and Pacific region suffer from poor health as a result of social conditions, the absence of information or awareness, and inadequate health services. The roles of space technology in providing health care and hygiene are diverse; they include telemedicine and telehealth through telecommunication between doctor and patient, by the use of electronic equipment from remote locations. The Internet has multiplied access to and delivery of medical services, not only from urban medical centres to rural medical clinics but also between medical facilities for patients located in different countries. However, in the Asian and Pacific region, which is spread across a wide swathe of the Earth's surface and even includes remote Pacific islands, space-based telemedicine is still considered a practical solution to the need for the health and medical services of the population.
The implementation of a project on telemedicine for rural areas will benefit from established community teleservice centres as operational focal points. Apart from bringing in improved medical and health services to the rural communities, such centres may also be used for other applications and services provision. With several countries in the region having such facilities and experience in operating them, other countries may benefit from the experience gained. In addition, rural communities that will be served by such facilities will benefit from improved health services and greater information exchange.
Objectives
The project aims to promote awareness and enhance national capacity to make use of the possibilities provided by space and information technology development for providing and improving health services in rural areas.
Implementation strategy
ESCAP will invite the member countries to participate in the project and facilitate the grouping of countries with similar interests and concerns. These groups will embark upon the project by contributing resources in terms of the data, information, technology and experts that are available in each country, and by the sharing of facilities to undertake relevant activities. The TCDC approach will be used to facilitate the sharing of resources, expertise and facilities.
Main outputs and activities
The scope of the project includes enhancing national capacity in using satellite communications and IT for providing medical and health-care services to rural and remote areas, developing guidelines for operating and maintaining community teleservice centre facilities for applications in rural telemedicine, and training experts with adequate skills in the application of the facilities for rural telemedicine.
The scope of the work will be further developed in consultation with participating countries to provide focus on the objectives of the project.
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Monitoring and assessment of impacts of the Asian monsoon using satellite technology
Problems and needs
The monsoon climate exerts a strong influence on the socio-economic activities of a large part of the Asian and Pacific region. In years when the monsoons are weak, near-drought conditions prevail, causing high agricultural losses, water resource problems, and forest and grassland fires. When the monsoon is strong, excessive rainfall causes widespread floods, resulting in huge losses of life and widespread damage to property. There are several regional and global initiatives aimed at studying the Asian monsoon with various specific purposes. These scientific endeavors have yet to fully explore the potential of meteorological satellite for wind and rainfall prognosis as well as for disaster mitigation.
Objectives
The objective is to determine, using satellite data and other data, possible indicators of the onset and recession of the monsoon in participating countries, and early indicators of monsoon intensity.
Implementation strategy
A scientific steering committee will coordinate the various activities, adopt appropriate procedures for monitoring and analysis, and organize training workshops and seminars for the dissemination of monitoring results. The activities to be implemented by components will include database development and data processing, satellite data analysis and numerical modelling, applications, validation and impact assessment.
Main outputs and activities
The project is expected to lead to improved early warning systems for predicting the strength and onset time of the monsoon. Improved capacity should result in more efficient advisory notices from national meteorological services, designed to enable policy makers and beneficiaries to make adaptive responses to predicted monsoon behaviour.
The scope of the joint regional research will be further developed by participating countries to provide focus on the objectives of the project.
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Cropping system studies
Problems and needs
The "green revolution", initiated in the 1960s, in the food production scenario in Asia and the Pacific was phenomenal but left in its trail large tracts of environmental degradation. A cropping system approach, which has been envisaged to increase food production mainly through crop intensification, offers suitable solutions for sustainable agriculture. There is a need to evolve appropriate scientific means to ensure sustainable agriculture through an integrated approach using remote sensing and other ancillary data in the domain of GIS to generate the required spatial database and information support to facilitate cropping system analysis experiments.
Objectives
The project is aimed at evolving appropriate cropping systems to ensure sustainable crop production and thus enhanced food security.
Implementation strategy
The project will emphasize a multidisciplinary approach. The goals of the project have to be achieved through the partnership of knowledge-based institutions in the field of agriculture and space technology applications and through regional and subregional cooperation. The project will involve the utilization of mostly high-resolution Earth observation data and GPS. GIS databases on various themes will be addressed.
Main outputs and activities
The main outputs include institutional partnership and regional cooperation in addressing issues related to food security, an innovative experimental design aimed at the sustainability of agricultural systems, along with meeting the goals of higher profitability per unit of land, water and other agricultural inputs used, and a set of technical guidelines with appropriate decision support tools to extend the concept of alternate cropping systems in diverse agro-ecological zones.
The scope of the work will be further developed by participating countries to provide focus on the objectives of the joint research project.
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Precision farming studies
Problems and needs
The region has registered progress in agricultural production in the last few decades. However, the lack of ecological integrity of agricultural systems, coupled with massive deforestation, has caused crises in the agricultural ecosystems, which consequently threaten the food security and economic development of many countries in the region. This situation calls for new and radical paradigms in agriculture that are environmentally friendly, as well as more productive and profitable. Precision farming involves the development and adoption of knowledge-based technical management systems, with the main goal of optimizing profit without adversely affecting the natural environment.
Objectives
The project is aimed at developing a prototype experimental framework to introduce information and knowledge-rich elements in agricultural systems and enhance the capacity of member countries for improved applications for food security and sustainable agriculture.
Implementation strategy
The implementation of the project will emphasize a multidisciplinary approach. Research institutions in agriculture and space technology applications from participating countries will involve experts of various disciplines and from various sectors to obtain a comprehensive perspective on the various themes and approaches. This joint research project will enhance regional and subregional cooperation.
Main outputs and activities
The expected main outputs are a prototype experiment for evolving information-rich agricultural practices in harmony with the natural environment and a network of knowledge-based institutions working in the areas of agriculture, the environment, rural development and space applications. Data related to different types of agricultural practices and systems in diverse agro-ecological zones will be collected to develop the appropriate methodology.
The scope of the work will be further developed by participating countries to provide focus on the objectives of the joint research project.
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