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Over 300 people converged on Dakar during the week 3-8 November 2003, to participate in the 6th AfricaGIS meeting, which focussed on “Meeting the information needs of NEPAD”. Participants came from 30 African countries, as well as 12 countries outside Africa. Brief reports on the conference, as well as the three pre-conference workshops held on the Monday, are to be found below in this newsletter.
From the number of requests received from AfricaGIS ’03 participants by the EIS-AFRICA secretariat for the contact details of people they had met at Africa GIS, and the e-mails expressing appreciation for the organisation of the conference, we conclude that once again the AfricaGIS conference and exhibition proved invaluable in terms of bringing people together to share experiences and ideas. EIS-AFRICA feels privileged to be a part of the organisation of the AfricaGIS meetings, and hopes to continue to facilitate meaningful and productive networking within Africa’s geo-information community.
Advance notice: the next AfricaGIS conference will be held in South Africa in 2005.
Liz Gavin
CONTENTS

AFRICA GIS ’03 – MEETING THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF NEPAD1

AFRICA ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION NETWORK (AEIN): PRE-AFRICAGIS ’03 WORKSHOP2
PRE-AFRICAGIS EXPERT MEETING ON “THE USE OF AVAILABLE
GLOBAL LANDSAT DATA SETS FOR MEETING THE INFORMATION
NEEDS OF NEPAD” – 3 NOVEMBER 2003, DAKAR, SENEGAL3
AWARENESS RAISING WORKSHOP ON THE UTILISATION OF GEOINFORMATION IN
FRANCOPHONE AFRICA 3
THE DIGITAL ACCESS INDEX4
PAPER RECYCLING INITIATIVE FOR LILONGWE 4
REPORT ON ISO/TC 211 ACTIVITIES4
EARTHWIRE UPDATE4
THE INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION UNION, REGIONAL OFFICE
FOR WEST AFRICA – IUCN-BRAO 5
UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES 5

LINKS TO USEFUL SITES 6

AFRICA GIS ’03 – MEETING THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF NEPAD

AfricaGIS ’03 was officially opened by Senegal’s Minister for the Environment and Sanitation, Mr Modou Diagna Fada, on behalf of the Prime Minister of Senegal. The theme for the meeting was reinforced by a presentation on NEPAD by Mme Maguette Wade in the opening plenary session. Africa GIS ’03 followed the traditional blend of technical plenary sessions and discussions focussing on a conference sub-theme, technical sessions and workshops. Conference goers also availed themselves of the opportunity to spend time in the exhibition halls throughout the week.
Keynote speakers and discussants raised challenges facing the geo-information community in Africa . These include the need to shift their focus to the usage of information for development in Africa, particularly at the local level, rather than dwelling on technical complexities; to define how information technology can be used to support development and work towards this; to think in terms of making information useable, rather than simply considering its availability and the need to pool knowledge and skills, in order to make effective use of information resources.
Over 100 presentations were made, in both oral and poster form. 10 workshops during the conference allowed for in-depth discussions on topics such as policy and partnerships for building spatial data infrastructure, geo-information standardization and interoperability, the use of a geo-statistical database in supporting development and tools for improved management and use of geo-information.
Recommendations deriving from the meeting include the following:
  • Working towards wider access to both socio-economic and natural resource data, to facilitate the implementation of NEPAD;
  • A participatory approach to identifying information needs with respect to improved resource management;
  • The need to develop spatial data infrastructure;
  • The harnessing of geo-information as a tool for NEPAD’s peer review mechanism and monitoring development progress, particularly through exploiting existing initiatives and projects which are developing relevant data and information products;
The need for investment in the information and communication infrastructure in African countries.

AFRICA ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION NETWORK (AEIN): PRE-AFRICAGIS ’03 WORKSHOP

This AEIN workshop, held on 3 November 2003 in Dakar, Senegal, was convened to discuss the national level implementation of AEIN and review the implementation guidelines, ensuring that cognisance of the national level capacities and processes is taken. The workshop also aimed to develop a harmonized schedule with the sub-regional collaborating centers for implementing universal activities, such as training, and discussing synergies with others involved in similar activities. The workshop was attended by 38 participants, including representatives of the 13 focal countries and 6 collaborating centers, as well as a number of partners involved in similar initiatives.
The workshop began witha background presentation made by DEWA Africa, to provide the context of the workshop. The presentation covered the mandate of the AEIN initiative, institutional arrangements for country level implementation and activities scheduled, highlighting what has been accomplished to date. The main elements of the AEIN communication strategy were then presented.
The remainder of the workshop was devoted to discussing implementation considerations. In the course of discussion, the need for education was emphasized, in order to ensure that information produced is actually used at a variety of levels. Existing African institutions could be harnessed by AEIN to provide technical training. The need for an audit of core datasets for AEO and the development of a clearinghouse for data was also highlighted. The availability of core datasets in AEIN pilot countries should be used as an indicator of AEIN implementation progress. It was agreed that the outcome of the AEIN process should be documented systematically from the outset. The long term sustainability of country-level networks should be ensured by encouraging the development of legal frameworks for spatial data infrastructure.
PRE-AFRICAGIS EXPERT MEETING ON “THE USE OF AVAILABLE GLOBAL LANDSAT DATA SETS FOR MEETING THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF NEPAD” – 3 NOVEMBER 2003, DAKAR, SENEGAL
72 participants of the Sixth AfricaGIS Conference held in Dakar, representing 27 countries, met for a pre-conference Expert Meeting to review current obstacles and opportunities to accelerate the distribution of the available global LANDSAT data sets, to support natural resources management, environmental monitoring, disaster management and sustainable development in Africa. The meeting was organised by US government agencies, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the government of Italy’s Istituto Agronomico per L’Oltromare, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Laboratoire de Teledetection Applique of the Universite Cheikh Anta Diop, and EIS-Africa.
At the meeting the participants were informed that the University of Maryland’s Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF) and Michigan State University’s (MSU) Tropical Rain Forest Information Center will continue to disseminate the Global LANDSAT donation to the international community through the Internet. Additionally, GLCF and MSU will respond to individual research related requests for the data, at no cost for delivery, in hard drive, DVD, or CD. The hard copy dissemination has already been initiated through an initial distribution to three regional centers in Africa by UNEP and USGS/EDC, namely the Regional Center for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), AGRHYMET and the Southern African Development Community - Regional Remote Sensing Unit (SADC/RRSU). Participants were also informed of the plan put forward by the United Nations’ system through UNEP, FAO and UNOOSA to make the data freely and readily available for any use, initially to up to three centers, to be determined by the national governments. Selected data recipients are expected to have a significant local capacity to support free distribution of the data at the national level and perpetuate the national dissemination strategy. Additionally, UNOOSA will respond to individual requests for data during the next few months until the data actually reaches the chosen data recipient institutions.
The participants recognized the need to strengthen existing regional centers; that in addition to data distribution, continuous effort to fortify existing capacity building initiatives is needed; that data dissemination and distribution should build upon existing initiatives; that the use of the data should be integrated into sustainable long-term programs and, finally, that the inclusion of non-governmental actors such as NGOs, private organizations and, academic and research institutions should be sought.
AWARENESS RAISING WORKSHOP ON THE UTILISATION OF GEOINFORMATION IN FRANCOPHONE AFRICA
Forty participants were able to attend a workshop focussing on raising Francophone awareness on the use of geoinformation, despite late finalisation of arrangements for the workshop. The participants, from West, Central and North Africa, as well as Canada and France, assessed the status of geospatial technologies, their potential and what constraints their utilisation.
Recommendations concerning the creation and improvement of spatial data infrastructure in Francophone countries through partnerships, as envisaged by NEPAD, were provided to UNECA, which supported the workshop. It was proposed that through collaboration with France, it would be possible to add value to the geomatic knowledge acquired under colonization, which is currently available in the cartographic structures of France.
The participants noted many difficulties in the management of the geomatic terminology, which is mostly borrowed from English. They recommended translation to make géo-information more accessible. Apart from this linguistic limitation to dynamic use of geo-information in Francophone Africa, the region also knows divides with respect to geo-information Not only is there is protectionism and regulation, but it is important that web sites constitute the implementation of spatial data infrastructure. All the workshops participants recognised the contribution of UNECA and EIS-Africa, for challenging the Francophone world to study the weaknesses of its spatial data infrastructure. They have become engaged in improving Francophone Africa’s dynamic use of geoinformation.
THE DIGITAL ACCESS INDEX
The Digital Access Index (DAI) has been published by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), preparatory to the World Summit on the Information Society, due to take place in Geneva in December 2003. The DAI, which measures an economy’s access to information and communications technology, combines eight variables, covering five areas, to provide an overall country score. The areas are: availability of infrastructure, affordability of access, educational level, quality of ICT services and Internet usage. The DAI covers 178 economies and classifies countries into one of four digital access categories: high, upper, medium and low. Two African countries are classified in the upper access category, namely Seychelles and Mauritius. 11 African countries (Algeria, Botswana, Cape Verde, Egypt, Gabon, Libya, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tunisia and Morocco) are classified as belonging to the medium access category.
See for the press release on the report and statistics from the report.
PAPER RECYCLING INITIATIVE FOR LILONGWE
WESM Lilongwe Branch launched a PAPER RECYCLING project in November 2003 to serve the Lilongwe area. The project was launched with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP) and private donations.
The three main goals of the project are as follows:
  1. To provide organizations with paper recycling as a way to reduce the amount of waste produced at their offices;
  2. To reduce the environmental strain on communities surrounding Lilongwe that are depleting their natural resources at a rapid pace to provide fuel wood to the urban population;
  3. To promote alternative fuel choices at an affordable cost.

The implementation system is based on the idea of a recycling centre. Interested organizations will be given sacks in which to store their shredded paper. The paper will be brought by the organization to the WESM office at the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary, where WESM staff will be in charge of production and distribution.

Paper briquettes are produced with relatively few materials.

Shredded paper is soaked in water for 1 day to soften. The paper is then pounded in a mortar to produce a pulp and poured into the moulds of the briquette press. The pulp is pressed to remove excess water and the briquettes are then dried in the sun and are ready for use within approximately 4 days.

WESM plans to market the briquettes primarily through the approximately 100 wildlife clubs in and around Lilongwe.
Briquettes will also be sold directly from the WESM office at the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary.

Paper briquettes can be used on a simple three stone fire or in a charcoal stove as an alternative to firewood or charcoal. A list of approximate amounts required for cooking for a family of 5 is as follows:

Nsima2-3 briquettes
Leafy greens1 briquette
Beans6 briquettes
- Submitted by Theresa Wilson, Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi
REPORT ON ISO/TC 211 ACTIVITIES
ISO/TC 211 is the International Organization for Standardization’s Technical Committee developing standards for Geographic Information/Geomatics. The following is a brief report of the recent activities of ISO/TC 211.
ISO/TC 211 held its 17th Plenary in Berlin, Germany, on 30 and 31 October 2003, and this was preceded by a number of Working Group, Project Team and Editing Committee meetings. ISO/TC 211 has published the following International Standards during 2003:
ISO 19107, Geographic information – Spatial schema;
ISO 19111, Geographic information – Spatial referencing by coordinates;
ISO 19112, Geographic information – Spatial referencing by geographic identifiers;
ISO 19114, Geographic information – Quality evaluation procedures; and
ISO 19115, Geographic information – Metadata.
ISO/TC 211 is also taking on more work, with the following new work item proposal being accepted at the 17th Plenary:
ISO 19136, Geographic information – Reference model – Part 2: Imagery.
Other resolutions from this Plenary of interest to the EIS Africa membership include:
The terms of reference for the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) between the Open GIS Consortium, Inc (OGC) and ISO/TC 211 have been finalised and approved by ISO/TC 211; and
To take further the work initiated by the Technical Report ISO/TR 19122, Geographic information – Qualifications and certification of personnel, ISO/TC 211 has appointed the co-chair of its Advisory Group on Outreach, Professor Hans Knoop, to serve as the point of contact for enquiries regarding ISO/TR 19122.
In addition, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations made a presentation of their Land Cover Classification System (LCCS), which they will be submitting to ISO/TC 211 early in 2004 for publication as an International Standard. LCCS will be familiar to some EIS Africa members through its use in the Africover Project, where it was first developed.
On the Wednesday before the Plenary, two interesting outreach events were held:
A Class A Liaison Seminar, with presentations by FAO, the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); and
A workshop on standards in action, at which presentations were made on implementing the ISO 19100 family of standards in Germany, the United States of America and Canada, and in the Europe-wide project, INSPIRE. All the presentations are available from the ISO/TC 211 Web site, as are all other ISO/TC 211 documents, though access to the actual draft standards is restricted:
The 18th Plenary of ISO/TC 211 will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 27 and 28 May 2004, preceded by Working Group, Project Team and other meetings. The 19th Plenary will be in Baveno, Italy, on 7 and 8 October 2004.
Submitted by Antony Cooper, Convenor, Working Group 7 of ISO/TC 211
EARTHWIRE UPDATE
The month of October was a time of action for Environmentalists in Southern Africa. Environment News in the region was characterized with a number of significant accomplishments.
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) in the same month presented the Air Quality Management Bill to Parliament’s National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Cape Town. The new Bill represents a shift from limited source-based emission control to ambient air quality management in South Africa, replaced the outdated Air Pollution Prevention Act no 45 of 1965 (APPA).
DEAT also published the first ever allocation of commercial west coast rock lobster allocations in three areas of Cape Hangklip. These areas are Kleinmond, Hermanus and Gansbaai.
The size of National parks was increases in South Africa by thousands of acres of new land. This is biggest increment in 70 years.The increment is in line with government’s goal to increase its terrestrial protected areas from 5.4 % to 8% of the country surface area by 2010.
The other good news was that, a total of eight South African beaches were awarded the renowned Blue Flag-symbol. The Blue Flag is an international annual award given to beaches that meet excellence in beach management. City council officials in Cape Flats, a city with the highest concentration of threatened plant species in the world developed a bio-diversity strategy to address threatened plant species in the world. South Africa in the same month joined four other countries in the global treaty to protect some of the world’s rarest sea birds-the majestic albatrosses and giant petrels from extinction. However, despite the good news in many regions of South Africa some areas are threatened with severe drought. The drought is worsening as water levels have fallen in many dams.
The Malawian government formulated a 10-year plan to restore the fish in Lake Malawi aimed to curb its dwindling numbers of its rare species of fish commonly known as Chambo.
In the same month the Angola government announced plans to introduce a new Bill on biological and aquatic resources. Once approved by National Assembly, it will replace the current 20/92 Act.
While Seychelles launched new stamps, which feature exotic fish series of seven stamps, each with different specie of fish local top the coral reefs of Seychelles. The stamps were launched on October 27 under the theme “Fish Definitive”.
For more Environment news in Southern Africa visit:
- Submitted byCarlyn Hambuba
THE INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION UNION, REGIONAL OFFICE FOR WEST AFRICA – IUCN-BRAO
The University of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) launched a new field of study at post graduate level. The "Conservation en sustainable use of wetlands" branch started since mid-November of this year, thanks to the technical and logistical support of the Regional office for West Africa of the World Conservation Union (IUCN-BRAO)