The definition of an end-to-end operational Core and Downstream Service Component was based on a phased process which included the following steps: (i) assess the requirements for REDD+ FM in International and EU policy requirements, (ii) review existing European EO-based FM technical capacities, (iii) the design of the initial main technical and organisational elements of FM/ REDD+ Service, (iv) the contributions and feedback from REDD+ partner countries and (v) the feedback from the International Agencies and Programmes related to downstream requirements. Each of these steps were part of different Work Packages. The main achievements from implementing these steps included an in-depth assessment of the evolving policy drivers for global and national FM, in realtion to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. The most appropriate key elements for a Copernicus REDD+ Service were identified through a benchmarking process, applied to a list of potentially suitable FM products. The four generic products proposed were: Sentinel-2 Image Composites; Pan-Tropical Tree Cover Density for the reference year 2020; Pan-Tropical Annual Tree Cover Change and Pan-Tropical Tree Cover Disturbance Alerting. These products were then presented to stakeholders in Africa, S. American and SE Asia via Learning Exercise Workshops. The stakeholder feedback was used for the consolidation of the design of a future service. The following products were identified as key for providing base layers for FM: (i) Sentinel-2 Composites, (ii) Tree Cover Density (TCD) for year 2020 (iii) Tree Cover Presence & Seasonality (TCPS), (iv) annual Tree Cover Presence Change (TCPC), (v) Tree Cover Disturbance (TCDist).
The main R&D activities which examined research priorities for operational FM in dry and humid Tropics, resulted in five priority themes: degradation and regrowth; Biomass; land use and GHGs; Early Warning Systems and uncertainty analysis. The R&D priorities for European SFM included EO for regrowth and forest damage monitoring; forest biomass estimation; biodiversity and ecosystem services monitoring; stronger unification and synergy of EO and National Forest Inventory (NFI) approaches; applications for large area SFM monitoring on online platforms; and uncertainty assessment. In relation to the examination of Infrastructure gaps, the potential of the European ground infrastructure to host Copernicus REDD+ Service was found to be high. Distribution of the service through an online platform was also found to be suitable for the majority of end-users in tropical countries, particularly if supported by alternative off-line solutions.
Finally, the project prepared a roadmap for a Copernicus REDD+ Service, which included a review of the EU Regulatory Framework for Copernicus, and pertinent Global Initiatives such as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Other frame conditions presented were the technical and financial aspects of such a service. And a close examination of how a Core REDD+ product which could have multiple Downstream applications. Awareness raising of the project and a future Core REDD+ service was undertaken with different groups; the project website www.reddcopernicus.info together with a Twitter account supported also cross-media communication.
