Down to earth : geographic information for sustainable development in Africa / Committee on the Geographic Foundation for Agenda 21, Commiittee on Geography, Mapping Science Committee, Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council of the National Academies.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on the Geographic Foundational for Agenda 21.

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Geography.

National Research Council (U.S.). Mapping Science Committee.

National Research Council (U.S.). Board on Earth Sciences and Resources.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sustainable development--Africa.

Sustainable development.

Africa--Economic conditions.

Africa.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (169 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, c2002.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In 1992, world leaders adopted Agenda 21, the work program of the 1992 U.N. Conference on Environment and Development. This landmark event provided a political foundation and action items to facilitate the global transition toward sustainable development. The international community marked the tenth anniversary of this conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2002. Down to Earth , a component of the U.S. State Department's "Geographic Information for Sustainable Development" project for the World Summit, focuses on sub-Saharan Africa with examples drawn from case-study regions where the U.S. Agency for International Development and other agencies have broad experience. Although African countries are the geographic focus of the study, the report has broader applicability. Down to Earth summarizes the importance and applicability of geographic data for sustainable development and draws on experiences in African countries to examine how future sources and applications of geographic data could provide reliable support to decision-makers as they work towards sustainable development. The committee emphasizes the potential of new technologies, such as satellite remote-sensing systems and geographic information systems, that have revolutionized data collection and analysis over the last decade.

Contents:

Front Matter

Acknowledgments

Preface

Contents

Executive Summary

1 Introduction

2 Agenda 21 Implementation: Progress, Challenges, and the Role of Geographic Data

3 Geographic Information Activities in Africa

4 Facilitating the Use of Geographic Data: Spatial Data and Telecommunications Infrastructures

5 Geographic Data for Sustainable Development I: Framework Data

6 Geographic Data for Sustainable Development II: Other Thematic Data

7 GIS-Based Decision-Support Systems in Africa

8 Building Capacity to Apply Geographic Information to Sustainable Development in Africa

9 Lessons Learned and Recommendations

A Biographical Sketches of Committee Members

B Oral and Written Contributors

C FGDC Statement

D Acronyms

E Glossary.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9786610183487

9780309169257

0309169259

9781280183485

1280183489

9780309500210

0309500214

OCLC:

559412274