Andrew Yee[_1_]
February 1st 07, 11:31 PM
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa, Canada
For more information, media may contact:
Kathleen Olson
Acting Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-996-2007
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-992-4447
Karen Wood
U.S. Department of the
Interior's Geological Survey
703-648-4447
Shane Wolfe
U.S. Department of the
Interior's Geological Survey
202-208-6416
January 31, 2007
2007/10
Canadian-U.S. Science Pact to Improve Monitoring of Land Cover, Biodiversity
and Climate Change
OTTAWA -- Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. Department of the Interior's
Geological Survey have launched a high-tech satellite mapping initiative
that can better monitor changes in the combined land cover of two of the
world's largest nations.
Using infrared, radar relief and other remote-sensing techniques, the
partnership will produce integrated information that will help natural
resources managers better assess the health of landscapes, cross-border
wildland fire risks, changes in biodiversity and the effects of climate
change on permafrost. This improved data will enable managers to develop
more effective land-management policies.
"This agreement reflects a lengthy history of joint research and mutual
collaboration between our two countries," said the Honourable Gary Lunn,
Canada's Minister of Natural Resources. "Working together, this partnership
will allow us to share information and maximize our scientific knowledge so
that we can better monitor the changes of our land, including the permafrost
areas in the North."
"Natural processes like wildland fires do not stop at the border, so this
type of information is critical for identifying land-cover trends," said
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. "This new international
partnership will build on the expertise of both the Canadian and U.S.
science agencies and lead to a more comprehensive and standardized
monitoring of North America's land cover."
Land cover is the product of both natural processes and human influences.
Land-cover information is essential for a wide variety of issues, such as
assessing ecosystem status and health; understanding spatial patterns of
biodiversity; land-use planning; and developing land-management policy.
Human modification of land cover has important implications for
environmental quality and natural resources availability, quality and use.
The agreement involves a dynamic land-cover monitoring system for all of
North America and the development of permafrost modelling applications.
There are also future projects planned for longer-term collaboration on the
development of radar applications.
The land-cover mapping initiative will be useful to both countries, for the
tri-national (including Mexico) Commission for Environmental Cooperation and
for international initiatives jointly undertaken by members of the Group on
Earth Observations (GEO). One of many examples of how unified North American
land-cover mapping may be used is in monitoring wildfire risk across
national borders.
Collaborative efforts in the development of permafrost applications will
focus first on mapping the Yukon River basin. A key application in joint
permafrost mapping will be assessing the impacts of climate change on human
settlements, physical infrastructure and ecosystems in both countries.
The U.S. Geological Survey serves the U.S. by providing reliable scientific
information and Earth observations to describe and understand the Earth;
minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water,
biological, energy and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our
quality of life. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) plays a pivotal role in
helping shape the important contributions of the natural resources sector to
the Canadian economy, society and environment.
Ottawa, Canada
For more information, media may contact:
Kathleen Olson
Acting Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-996-2007
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-992-4447
Karen Wood
U.S. Department of the
Interior's Geological Survey
703-648-4447
Shane Wolfe
U.S. Department of the
Interior's Geological Survey
202-208-6416
January 31, 2007
2007/10
Canadian-U.S. Science Pact to Improve Monitoring of Land Cover, Biodiversity
and Climate Change
OTTAWA -- Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. Department of the Interior's
Geological Survey have launched a high-tech satellite mapping initiative
that can better monitor changes in the combined land cover of two of the
world's largest nations.
Using infrared, radar relief and other remote-sensing techniques, the
partnership will produce integrated information that will help natural
resources managers better assess the health of landscapes, cross-border
wildland fire risks, changes in biodiversity and the effects of climate
change on permafrost. This improved data will enable managers to develop
more effective land-management policies.
"This agreement reflects a lengthy history of joint research and mutual
collaboration between our two countries," said the Honourable Gary Lunn,
Canada's Minister of Natural Resources. "Working together, this partnership
will allow us to share information and maximize our scientific knowledge so
that we can better monitor the changes of our land, including the permafrost
areas in the North."
"Natural processes like wildland fires do not stop at the border, so this
type of information is critical for identifying land-cover trends," said
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. "This new international
partnership will build on the expertise of both the Canadian and U.S.
science agencies and lead to a more comprehensive and standardized
monitoring of North America's land cover."
Land cover is the product of both natural processes and human influences.
Land-cover information is essential for a wide variety of issues, such as
assessing ecosystem status and health; understanding spatial patterns of
biodiversity; land-use planning; and developing land-management policy.
Human modification of land cover has important implications for
environmental quality and natural resources availability, quality and use.
The agreement involves a dynamic land-cover monitoring system for all of
North America and the development of permafrost modelling applications.
There are also future projects planned for longer-term collaboration on the
development of radar applications.
The land-cover mapping initiative will be useful to both countries, for the
tri-national (including Mexico) Commission for Environmental Cooperation and
for international initiatives jointly undertaken by members of the Group on
Earth Observations (GEO). One of many examples of how unified North American
land-cover mapping may be used is in monitoring wildfire risk across
national borders.
Collaborative efforts in the development of permafrost applications will
focus first on mapping the Yukon River basin. A key application in joint
permafrost mapping will be assessing the impacts of climate change on human
settlements, physical infrastructure and ecosystems in both countries.
The U.S. Geological Survey serves the U.S. by providing reliable scientific
information and Earth observations to describe and understand the Earth;
minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water,
biological, energy and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our
quality of life. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) plays a pivotal role in
helping shape the important contributions of the natural resources sector to
the Canadian economy, society and environment.