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Greater Mekong Greater Mekong SubregionSubregionAATTLLAASS

of the Environmentalof the EnvironmentalTin Aung Moe, UNEP RRC.AP

1st Asian Science and Technology Seminar

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GMS Atlas of the EnvironmentGMS Atlas of the Environment

•• GMS = Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS = Greater Mekong Subregion (Cambodia,Cambodia, China China PR<Yunnan Province>, PR<Yunnan Province>, Lao PDR,Lao PDR, Myanmar,Myanmar, ThailandThailand and and VietnamVietnam))

•• Under the GMS Economic Cooperation ProgramUnder the GMS Economic Cooperation Program•• Along with the Regional Technical Assistant Project called Along with the Regional Technical Assistant Project called

““SubregionalSubregional Environmental Management and Information Environmental Management and Information Systems Systems -- Phase II (SEMISPhase II (SEMIS--II)II)””

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IntroductionIntroduction

•• Atlas of the EnvironmentAtlas of the Environment•• Portrait the current situation of EnvironmentPortrait the current situation of Environment•• Revel the real issues andRevel the real issues and•• Help to identify priorities and the optionsHelp to identify priorities and the options

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What is AtlasWhat is Atlas

•• Presentation of the real worldPresentation of the real world•• Spatially with Maps, ImageriesSpatially with Maps, Imageries•• Spectrally with Tables and GraphsSpectrally with Tables and Graphs•• Decorated with Photos and DiagramsDecorated with Photos and Diagrams•• Easy to understand and easy to visualizeEasy to understand and easy to visualize

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What are the contentsWhat are the contents

•• In general everything about EnvironmentIn general everything about Environment•• In particular, In particular,

Basic locality and geographyBasic locality and geographyEnvironment and Natural ResourcesEnvironment and Natural ResourcesInteraction between People and EnvironmentInteraction between People and EnvironmentToward Sustainable DevelopmentToward Sustainable DevelopmentSelected Satellite Images of the EcoSelected Satellite Images of the Eco--regionsregionsInformation Resources e.g. tables, graphs etc.Information Resources e.g. tables, graphs etc.

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What are the contentsWhat are the contents

GIS Maps•• Mapping the environmental sensitive issues with the Mapping the environmental sensitive issues with the

existing data.existing data.•• Wetland,Wetland,•• Watershed, Watershed, •• Forest types, Forest types, •• Agriculture zones, Agriculture zones, •• Land use/Land coverLand use/Land cover•• Cultural Heritages sites, Cultural Heritages sites, •• Infrastructure development, Infrastructure development, •• HydroHydro--power dams and stations,power dams and stations,

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What are the contentsWhat are the contents

Remote SensingCreated Image Maps with Landsat 7 dataCreated Image Maps with Landsat 7 data

EcoEco--regions (WWF Eco regions) image maps (1:100K)regions (WWF Eco regions) image maps (1:100K)

Selected watershed areas Image mapsSelected watershed areas Image maps

Agriculture areas on the delta of major rivers image mapsAgriculture areas on the delta of major rivers image maps

Major forest types image mapsMajor forest types image maps

Urban and cities image mapsUrban and cities image maps

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BackgroundBackground

•• The environment of our world is The environment of our world is changing dynamically day by changing dynamically day by dayday

•• Need to be monitored and Need to be monitored and assessed thoroughlyassessed thoroughly

•• Need to make plans in Need to make plans in sustainable wayssustainable ways

•• Atlas helps us in these Atlas helps us in these requirement in the way of requirement in the way of organizing and presenting data.organizing and presenting data.

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What are the data usedWhat are the data used

•• Geographic Information layers Geographic Information layers (GIS)(GIS)

•• Satellite Imageries (RS)Satellite Imageries (RS)•• Statistics and Secondary data Statistics and Secondary data

(Reports, Tables)(Reports, Tables)•• Photographs and Sketched Photographs and Sketched

DiagramsDiagrams•• Scenarios Description and Scenarios Description and

Explanation TextExplanation Text..

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Who are the users?Who are the users?

•• Range of users are excepted fromRange of users are excepted from•• Policy makers, Law makersPolicy makers, Law makers•• Decision MakersDecision Makers•• Senior ManagementSenior Management•• Operational OfficersOperational Officers•• Researcher, AcademiaResearcher, Academia•• Students and traineesStudents and trainees•• General PublicGeneral Public

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Who did what?Who did what?

•• International OrganizationsInternational OrganizationsCollecting and Organizing the Collecting and Organizing the external information such as Satellite external information such as Satellite DataDataData compilation and manipulationData compilation and manipulationInformation consistencyInformation consistencyFund Fund

•• National Government AgenciesNational Government AgenciesCooperating, supportingCooperating, supportingCollecting and organizing the local Collecting and organizing the local data within the countriesdata within the countriesInformation accuracyInformation accuracyLegal endorsementLegal endorsement

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MethodologyMethodology

Parallel processes at National and Parallel processes at National and International organizations.International organizations.Identify the scope, visionIdentify the scope, visionAgree upon the contents (Info, style, layout, Agree upon the contents (Info, style, layout, extend etc.)extend etc.)Analyze the data availabilityAnalyze the data availabilityCollect the data (GIS layers, Statistics Info, Collect the data (GIS layers, Statistics Info, Photos and reports)Photos and reports)Process/generate the data to fill up the gaps if Process/generate the data to fill up the gaps if possible. possible. (within the budget, time(within the budget, time--frame, and frame, and resource availability)resource availability)Compile the Info and Data, accuracy and Compile the Info and Data, accuracy and consistency check, contents and presentation consistency check, contents and presentation layoutinglayoutingFurnish with photos and diagrams etc.Furnish with photos and diagrams etc.Final publishing.Final publishing.

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The ProcessThe Process

•• Participatory (Maps were developed by Participatory (Maps were developed by Government Officials at UNEP RRC.AP)Government Officials at UNEP RRC.AP)

•• EcoregionEcoregion wise presentation (WWF)wise presentation (WWF)•• Ownership is Member countriesOwnership is Member countries•• Verification and validation in every stepVerification and validation in every step•• SimplifiedSimplified--classified based on the demandsclassified based on the demands

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What will be the benefits?What will be the benefits?

Help better understanding the Help better understanding the environment of the CA subregionenvironment of the CA subregionThe best practice of data handling been The best practice of data handling been developeddevelopedConsistent and accurate informationConsistent and accurate informationRegional wise update dataRegional wise update dataStrengthen the cooperation between the Strengthen the cooperation between the regional countries and international regional countries and international organizationsorganizationsStrengthen the mutual interests and Strengthen the mutual interests and cooperation among the CA countries.cooperation among the CA countries.

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GMS AtlasGMS Atlas

•• Member Governments endorsedMember Governments endorsed•• Officially Launched in April 2004Officially Launched in April 2004•• Technical Standard assured by UNEPTechnical Standard assured by UNEP•• Quality and Formality assured by ADBQuality and Formality assured by ADB

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•• GMS ATLAS of the Environment will helpGMS ATLAS of the Environment will help•• Better understanding of the present situation of the Better understanding of the present situation of the

environmentenvironment•• Relevant information/data are organized and accessible Relevant information/data are organized and accessible

at one pointat one point•• Assist in the National level planning as well as regional Assist in the National level planning as well as regional

level planninglevel planning•• Support to the research/scientific community with the Support to the research/scientific community with the

contents of info and data to analyze the trend of the contents of info and data to analyze the trend of the environmentenvironment

ConclusionConclusion

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Prepare the ATLAS of the Environmentto support

Environmentally Sound Environmentally Sound Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

UNEP RRC.AP