The information accessible on this area of the INSPIRE site has been provided by Spatial Data Interest Communities (SDICs) and Legally Mandated Organisation (LMOs) via the ongoing Call for Expression of Interest for INSPIRE development.

The information includes:

LMO Description
Organisation Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) of the United Nations
Details
Level of authority International
global
Formal Mandate In 1996, four United Nations bodies and an international scientific community created the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS). GTOS has been based on the recommendations expressed by UNCED (United Nation Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro 1992), Agenda 21 and the Convention on Biological Diversity, regarding the urgent need of co-ordinate, systematic and harmonized action on land data collection and environmental monitoring. Since then GTOS has been the UN task master for coordination of terrestrial observations in the international domain. Hosted at the FAO, GTOS is a programme for observations, modelling, and analysis of terrestrial ecosystems to support sustainable development.

GTOS facilitates access to information on terrestrial ecosystems so that researchers and policy makers can detect and manage global and regional environmental change.

Among the activties, GTOS is tasked with operationalization of land observations including issues of harmonization (e.g. land cover), validation, data accessibility, and capacity building.

Particular responsibilities of GTOS in the INSPIRE process is to ensure that efforts are conform with internationally developing standards in land observations, e.g. the UN Land Cover Classification system (LCCS) as agreed common language for describing the earth surface characteristics and evolving standards for validation.

GTOS has two sister observing systems, the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), and the Global Oceanic Observing System (GOOS). Each system is part of the larger plan to provide comprehensive, global data on the biophysical environment, ecosystem processes and the socio-economic forces that influence them. This knowledge base is a prerequisite for effective planetary management.
Main Activities The Global Terrestrial Observing System fulfils its mission through a number of complementary activities. Strengthening the communication between similarly minded groups and harmonizing their efforts is of highest priority. To this effect, the observing system often plays the broker - bringing people from different fields of expertise together at one table. In addition to networking, GTOS also develops regional programmes and coordinates demonstration projects.

One of the major partnerships in recent years has been been the Global Land Cover Network (GLCN). The overall objective of the GLCN is to increase the availability of reliable and standardized information on land cover and its changes at the global level. GLCN provides a neutral international clearinghouse for land cover mapping and monitoring projects. It develops effective communication links with relevant organizations, advises on harmonization of land cover mapping methodologies and widely disseminates information on their products and services.
LMO URL http://www.fao.org/gtos 
Comments GTOS is here represented from the ESA GOFC-GOLD land cover project office in Jena, Germany
LMO CONTACT INFORMATION
Contact Person Herold Martin
Organisation Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) of the United Nations
Function Coordination of international initiatives on terrestrial observations
Address ESA GOFC-GOLD PO
Country GERMANY 
Tel +49-3641
Fax  
PROPOSED ROLE IN INSPIRE DEVELOPMENT
Which role(s) do you foresee for the LMO in INSPIRE development
  1. submit reference material as input to the Drafting Teams
  2. participate in the review process
  3. contribute to awareness raising and training
Area of work/experience
Geographic Domain: International
Description of geographic extent: global
Societal Sector United Nations
Specific Expertise
Metadata
Data Specifications
Data and Service Sharing
Monitoring and Reporting
INSPIRE Data Themes
Theme UserProducerCoordinator
Protected sites
Land cover
Land use
Habitats and biotopes    
Species distribution    
Previous Experience relevant for INSPIRE development Development of internatational standards for land cover observations and validation.
Primary Business Terrestrial mapping and monitoring, harmonization and standardization 
Environmental application domains land cover and environmental monitoring  

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