Opening of pre-Symposium workshop on space-based disaster preparedness and risk management 2-3 October

From 2 to 3 October 2010, forty stakeholders from all member countries of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) will come together today under the theme of “Space-Based Information for Disaster Preparedness and Risk Management”. The workshop precedes the International Symposium on “Benefiting from Earth Observation” and was organized by ICIMOD and supported by USAID and NASA. The international partners include JAXA-Sentinel Asia Programme, UN-SPIDER and ADPC. The opening session today will start at 9.30 am at the ICIMOD headquarters.

The two-day event will develop partnerships to engage the support of regional space agencies and international charters in contributing to capacity building and institutional strengthening related to the use of space-based information. The outcomes will be shared at the international symposium for wider consultation and discussion. The pre-symposium workshop is expected to result in the development of a regional framework for utilising spaced-based information for disaster management.

During the Workshop the national partners from the ICIMOD countries will meet to discuss the utilization of space based information for disaster preparedness and risk management. It will be divided into two technical sessions on 1) Space Technology and Disaster Management; and 2) Remote Sensing Approach for Disaster Risk Management in the Himalayan Region. During a third session, participants will get a chance to interact in a group on Spaced-Based Information for Disaster Management in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region (HKH) and the Role of ICIMOD.

In the same context JAXA’s WINDS receiving station at ICIMOD to facilitate quick access to satellite imagery and products during major disasters will be inaugurated.

Throughout the Forum proceedings, opinions and ideas will be updated on this blog, as well as www.twitter.com/earthsymposium.