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eringaprojectintheSvalbardareaof Norway, where a satellite reception station stands. (Editor’s note: The cover story of our Spring 2007 issue was a report from Svalbard.) Planet Action is also paying attentiontoprojectsthatrelateglobal warmingtoahumanhealthelement. Forexample,weareaccompanyinga projectinSenegalthatismonitoring environment and early warning systems about vector-borne diseases such asDengueFeverorRiftValleyFever. Asanotherexample,asmallNGO came to us to get support to study the changesinvegetationinMadagascar, duetotheappearanceofinvasiveplants that may relate to climate change. (See on page 31.) All these are reference projects, which we are working withnowinordertoseehowbestwe cansupportthem,whatkindofdata they need, and how we can provide them with useful scientific support. For this scientific support, we have engaged talkswiththeUSGSandFrance’sIRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement). In order for Planet Action to scale up, we plan to launch an international call for projects in 2008, according to criteria and qualification processes that we will have fine-tuned during this early phase. YOO Howwillyouselecttheseprojects? BUCHWALTER I don’t think it is appropriatetospeakofaselection process.Theintentionhereistosetup averyopensupportprotocolwithclear andsimplequalificationcriteria.Asyou would easily understand, in this matter the more projects the better. This being said,wehavelimitedmeansand,as astart,weplantosupportthemona first-come, first-served basis. This is another reason why partnerships and extra funding are needed to expand progressively the scope of projects as much as possible and gain momentum. YOO What would these qualification criteria be? BUCHWALTER Well, to qualify for support from Planet Action, the projects will have to address one of the following five fields: water resources and hydrology, ice and snow cover, drought and desertification, human issues and coping strategies,oragricultureandforestry. Theprojectteamsareexpectedtobe international and to have at least one representative from the country where the project takes place. The projects should have a scientific dimension, of course, but should encompass a proposal or recommendationforaction,inordertocope with the human impact of their findings. We would like the projects to have supportfromauniversityoraresearchlabto ensure their scientific validity. TherewillnotbesubsidiaryrelationshipsinPlanetAction,meaningthatif thereisalreadyasupportprogramfor whichtheprojectqualifiesthatwould provideasimilarsupporttotheproject as the Planet Action one, then our support would not replace the original supportprogram.Thesecriteriawillbe finalized together with our partners. YOO Whyareyoudoingthis? BUCHWALTER AsImentionedbefore, thisisamatterofcorporateresponsibilityforus.Somuchsothat,togetherwith launching the Planet Action initiative, we are in the process of initializing a “Carbon Plan” within Spot Image to evaluateandcompensateourcarbon imprint.Andthereareacoupleofother reasons.Weseehereanopportunity to add value to our archives, which are quite under-used, given their huge potential. Furthermore, Planet Action is a way forustoreinforceourexistingpartnerships. I’m thinking here of our Direct Receiving Stations (DRS) network, which spreads all over the world. Should they wish to, the DRS can be at the forefront of local initiatives to help assess the climate change impact in their region and to stimulate coping and adapting strategies within the population. Lastbutnotleast,we’dbehappyto seePlanetActionasawaytostartand grow new partnerships, within and beyond our industry, because we think thatourbusiness,aswellasclimate change, is at a turning point and that extended partnerships will be part of thesolutions.Itmayverywellbethat Planet Action teaches us new ways of doingbusiness,bringsinanewbusinessculturetoSpotImageandreaches outtonewconstituencies. YOO Wherewillthefundingcome from? BUCHWALTER FirstfromthevariousPlanetActionpartnersthatwill contribute either in cash or in kind to fundtheInternetplatform,thecommunication and education actions, and coordination.Next,theintentionisto setupafoundation,possiblyin2008, whichwillbecomethepropervehicle toreceivemoresignificantfunding from corporations, organizations and other foundations, and to extend support to other related projects. 6 IMAGING NOTES SUMMER 2007 // WWW.IMAGINGNOTES.COM
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 YOO Howmanypartnershave already joined? BUCHWALTER ThreeDirectReceivingStationsinAsia,NorthAmerica, andSouthAmericaplantojoinatthis earlystage.Theydidsowithanenthusiasmthatisarealsupportforus.We expecttentotwelveotherstojoinby theendoftheyear.Infoterra,oursister company within the EADS Astrium group, recently joined us. We found a greatpartnerinDr.TimForesman.He has significant scientific and environmental expertise, and his commitment totheDigitalEarthmovementand his International Centre for Remote Sensing Education are key assets for Planet Action. (Editor’s note: Tim Foresman’s column, Earth Scope, on page 10 discusses this subject.) Dr.Bob Correll,whochairedtheArcticImpact Assessment supports the initiative as well.TheUSGShasshowninterestin Planet Action and, as we talk, things seem well-engaged with them too. As the Planet Action initiative gains momentum, we believe other companies and organizations will join. I take the occasion of this interview to appeal to anyreaderofyourmagazine:Whether big or small companies, whether in the remote sensing business or not, we would welcome any contribution to this project, whatever it may be! Asafinalword,I’dliketoquotea phrase from the United Nations Foundation and Sigma Xi (the Scientific ResearchSociety)intheirreport,“Confronting Climate Change” (prepared forthe1stSessionoftheCommission on Sustainable Development): “There is still time to avoid the unmanageable and manage the unavoidable.” NOTE IMAGING NOTES SUMMER 2007 // WWW.IMAGINGNOTES.COM 7
Page 1 and 2: for The 5th International Symposium
Page 3 and 4: FIGURE 1 IMAGING NOTES SUMMER
Page 5: awarenessandfeelimpelledtoaction. G

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