Implementation Approach

The preparation of Africover products is based on remote sensing data and geographic information systems (GIS) according to the recommendations of Agenda 21 and WSSD.

The strategy adopted by Africover combines the need to develop new tools and methodologies for land cover mapping with the necessity to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to produce,manage and distribute spatial information on environmental resources.

Special focus is on capacity building: the mapping exercise is carried out by national teams, with the assistance of specialized international experts, originating when possible from other African countries.

Training is provided in all the phases, ranging from data base development to data management and distribution.

Land cover is mainly derived from visual interpretation of recent high-resolution satellite images . The classification is performed using the international standard Land Cover Classification System (LCCS), developed by the Africover Eastern Africa module.

The geographic referential is derived from the geodetic reference of the Global Landsat database (error within +/- 50 meters) covering all Africover countries.

Country participation and ownership: the key to sustainability

The Countries are the owners of the national data bases developed with the support of the Project.

As a part of institutional support activities a system based on the identification of a reference institution in each country and yearly National Coordinator Meetings is set up.

During the start up phase, a National Focal Point Institution (NFPI) is identified in each Country. The NFPIs and other national agencies active in the production of spatial data fully participate in the project implementation. During the production of the national MADE, NFPIs are responsible for the selection of national photo-interpreters and GIS technicians that develop the land cover data base in team with international experts provided by the Africover project.

Field work activities are also carried out by national officers under the coordination of the NFPI and the guidance of the Project.

Once the national MADE is completed, the NFPI acts as a custodian, being responsible for the maintenance, distribution and integrity of the data base. The Project provides institutional and policy support through:

- the cooperative development of data custodian guidelines (like the Guidelines for Custodianship approved in the framework of the Eastern Africa module)

- the provision of training on data maintenance and distribution

- the development of an infrastructure to allow the user community to access the data

At the completion of the MADE, NFPIs receive the complete country data base and the complete set of tools developed by Africover.

The regional and national approaches

Two major approaches have been considered for the implementation of the project, depending on countries and sub-regions:

- a strictly national approach, in which each country independently joins the project. This approach corresponds to the policies developed by the World Bank and several bilateral co-operation agencies. In this case, the countries have the responsibility and the control of contracts and international expertise. As far as possible, a number of responsibilities of co-ordination, monitoring and training can also be entrusted to a sub-regional organization.

- a both national and regional approach, in which countries of a sub-region get organized to achieve simultaneously the project. In this case, a sub-regional co-ordination is allowed as well as the common execution of technical activities.

FAO SDRN assists in the preparation of technical, institutional and financial arrangements and the technical monitoring of Africover Project.

FAO supports the definition and implementation of the standards to be applied in all African countries in terms of information, tools, analysis methods and procedures.

This standardization will integrate the national and sub-regional specificities.

FAO guarantees that these standards are respected and will deliver an Africover label.