Satellite-based Wetland Observation Service (SWOS) project Kick-off meeting

Satellite-based Wetland Observation Service (SWOS) project that just started officially on June 1st, 2015, is organising a Kick-off meeting in Jena (Germany) next July 1-2nd, 2015. 

The objective of the project SWOS is to develop a monitoring and information service focussing on wetlandecosystems. Globally wetlands are the ecosystems with the highest rate of loss. This is alarming, considering theirsignificance as biodiversity hotspots and ecosystems with a central role in the water cycle, including improvingwater quality and reducing water scarcity, in climate regulation and the economic benefit gained from using theirservices.

A key limitation to their more effective conservation, sustainable management and restoration is the missingknowledge underpinning the application of European policy by Member States. Under the Biodiversity Strategy,Member States have recently committed to the mapping and assessment of ecosystem services (MAES); this providesa key instrument for an improved integration of wetlands in policy.

SWOS will take full advantage of the Sentinelsatellites and integrate results from the ESA Globwetland projects. Status maps and indicators, as well as near realtimeobservations will allow the assessment of biodiversity and the monitoring of dynamic changes in an unmatchedtemporal and spatial resolution.

The Service Portal will allow the integration and web-based analysis of new mapsand in-situ measurements and provide a unique entry point to locate, access and connect existing information anddatabases. It follows a GEOSS compatible data-broker approach and adopts international standards.SWOS contributesto establishing a Global Wetland Observing System, as requested by Ramsar, it will facilitate local and EU monitoringtasks and input into international reporting obligations.

SWOS will position Europe in a leading role for wetlandactivities within the GEO ecosystem, biodiversity, water, land cover tasks. The direct involvement of users workingat different scales and support of key user organizations ensures the usability and acceptance of the service, theharmonization with related activities and a long-term impact.

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Project objectives: 

•Develop an operational standardized monitoring service for wetland ecosystems, promote and underpin the consideration of wetlands in the implementation of key policy areas •Provide (via the Service Portal) a unique entry point to easily locate, access and connect wetland information
•Use the new possibilities offered by the Sentinel satellites and further develop existing approaches, in particular the GlobWetland II approach, recovering existing data

The SWOS project team includes users (working at different levels and scales), scientists and private companies: 12 partners (from: Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Greece, France, and Belgium), with a budget of 5 Mio€ over 3 years, and under the coordination of: JENA-OPTRONIK GMBH.

SWOS Multi level user approach:
1.Locally acting ecosystem and wetland management bodies (national park and protected area managers, scientists, local administrations)
2.National authorities reporting on the status and trends of ecosystems (national administrations, Natura2000, WFD, EU member states) 3.International level of ecosystem monitoring (GEO/GEOSS, Ramsar, EU Natura2000, CBD)