Yoshifumi Yasuoka , University of Tokyo Zhiliang Zhu , Earth Resources Data Centre of the U.S. Geological Survey 1 Executive Summary 1. 1 GOFC as a CEOS response to global concerns As the twentieth century draws to a close, there is an emerging global consensus that the cumulative effects of past and present human activities are having a global impact on the Earth's ecosystems, atmosphere, and climate, and that steps must be taken to improve our knowledge and change policies and management practices throughout a broad range of human activities. The international support for the Kyoto Protocol of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, together with earlier support for the International Convention on Biological Diversity, represent the first steps down a long, difficult path toward a sustainable future on the Earth.
Forests play a central role in the issues of greenhouse gasses, climate change, and biodiversity.
In a general sense, the role forests play in the carbon and water cycles, and in providing rich habitat for diverse plants and animals, is well known. However, much additional research is required tounderstand the detailed role of forests. Scientists working on many aspects in the field of global change require global, regional, and local observations of forests to develop a better understanding of the complex, inter-related processes involved. As a result of the Kyoto protocol, particular emphasis is placed on reforestation, afforestation, and deforestation, Earth observation satellites have been providing data for natural resource management since 1972. The data from these satellites has been widely used to map and monitor forest resources.