GAF Applies Earth Observation For Improved Governance Of Informal Mining

GAF AG, in a team together with DLR (German Aerospace Center - Germany) and IES (Institute for Environmental Security - Netherlands), is carrying out a contract to use optical and radar remote sensing sensors and interpretation techniques to locate, map and monitor small-scale and artisanal mining (ASM) operations. In many countries, information about ASM is largely incomplete and, as a consequence, ASM activities remain informal and outside of governmental supervision andregulation.
Especially in remote, poorly accessible or security sensitive areas, satellite-based remote sensing is the most efficient tool for area-wide mapping and monitoring. In this project, very high resolution optical image data, stereo data and radar-based coherence analysis is being applied and interpreted together with other geo-data such as mining cadastre information. This involves the following information being extracted from earth observation images for monitoring ASM activities:

• location and description of mining activities (activity maps and disturbed terrain analysis e.g. trenches, pits, stockpiles)  and change detection
• rough estimation of extracted material 
• infrastructure (e.g. processing plants, transportation routes) and influx/efflux of population

This information is used to create up-to-date reconnaissance maps and dossiers with a description of current mining activities in order to facilitate the work of in-situ mines inspectors. In addition, a methodology for country-wide mines verification is being developed.
The project covers a range of settings with artisanal mining for metals, coal, gold, gemstones as well as quarries in several selected pilot areas. Cases are selected from GAF`s international activities within the mineral resources domain; recent GAF project countries include Guyana, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Uganda, Madagascar, Afghanistan, Mongolia and Papua New Guinea.
Artisanal or small-scale mining is largely a poverty driven activity and is typically practiced in the poorest and most remote rural areas of countries by a largely itinerant, poorly educated populace with little else available in the way of alternative employment. Today, an estimated 13 million people in about 30 countries across the world are small-scale/artisanal miners, with about 80 - 100 million people depending on such mining for their livelihoods. ASM can be environmentally damaging and often has serious health and safetyconsequences for workers and surrounding communities. Many of the potential economic benefits of the small-scale mining sector are also lost as a result of poor practice with regard to mining, processing and marketing. The compiling of an inventory is a first step towards regularizing the sector, i.e. the enforcement of health, safety and environmental standards and the collection of royalties. Governments can then also grant operators proper legal title and provide technical, marketing and training support.
The project is funded under the European Space Agency (ESA) "Timely Situation Awareness for Law Enforcement and Intelligence Application" contract, which forms part of the Value Added Element (VAE) programme. The purpose of the VAEprogrammeis to support industry in the use of earth observation data. The project started in autumn 2011 and is scheduled to run for 18 months.
About GAF AG – Germany 
GAF AG, an e-GEOS, Telespazio company, is globally active and has an international reputation as an experienced provider of project design, management and implementation services in the fields of geo-information, satellite remote sensing, spatial IT-consultancy and capacity building for private and public clients.GAF provides solutions in the sectors of mining and geology, natural resources, water and environment, security, land and renewable resources. Over the past 27 years, GAF has been active in more than 100 countries throughout Europe, Africa, South America and Asia.

GAF Awarded Contract for GIZ-SADC REDD Project

GAF AG in a partnership with Deutsche Forst Service (DFS) has been awarded by GIZ, a newly conceptualised REDD Project for the southern African region. The counterpart is the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Directorate (FANR). The project will add to the already well-established portfolio of REDD services that GAF offers. The current project aims to design a SADC regional Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system which can be used by the Member States; in order to do this a prototype design will be tested and implemented in at least three SADC countries.
The main project activities will be based on the four main building blocks which are:

• Developing a Regional MRV System
• Pilot Implementation of the Regional MRV System
  in (at least three) Pilot Countries
• MRV Capacity Building in SADC Pilot Countries
• Support of a MRV Pre-audit

The technical activities for these building blocks include the application of Earth-Observation (EO) based forest assessment methods for historic and current epochs using optical and radar data; the implementation of a terrestrial inventory for biomass accounting; the comparative calculations of carbon stocks and emissions and publication of the results. An important contribution of the project is the knowledge transfer via capacity building to the counterparts which is a pre-requisite for sustainability of the REDD+ activities to be implemented in the region. It is envisaged that the project will provide the SADC region with a uniform MRV system for the quantification of emissions resulting from deforestation and forest degradation that conforms to IPCC requirements and is supported by all Member States.
The valuable experience gained from the REDD Pilot projects being implemented by GAF and partners in the past 4-5 years in the Congo Basin countries such as Cameroon, Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic form an important basis for developing the regional REDD MRV for SADC.
About GAF AG
GAF, an e-Geos/Telespazio company, is an international consulting company with leading competence and expertise in applied earth observation and spatial information consultancies. GAF has worked in the last 25 years in more than 100 countries throughout Europe, Africa, South-America and Asia. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of services ranging from supply of geo-data (e.g. satellite and aerial imagery, digital elevation models), and geo-services (e.g. image processing, thematic mapping, GIS/DBMS applications and software development). GAF has a proven track-record in performing complete technical assistance projects in the natural resources and environment sector including dedicated capacity building and institutional support.