The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), within the framework of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, organized a five-day Regional Workshop on the Use of Space Technology for Natural Resources Management, Environmental Monitoring and Disaster Management in Khartoum, Sudan, from 4 to 8 April 2004. The Workshop was organized in co-operation with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Government of Sudan, and was hosted by the National Centre for Research of Sudan.

Space technologies play an important role in the area of natural resources management, environmental monitoring and disaster management. In particular, remotely sensed data provides a unique view of the Earth for studies that require synoptic or periodic observations such as inventory, surveying and monitoring in agriculture; hydrography, geology, mineralogy, land cover, land use and environment. Remote sensing is a rapidly growing technology and is one of the important spin-offs of space applications and space science, working side-by-side with other disciplines such as photogrammetry, cartography, geodetic reference systems, global navigation satellite systems and geographic information systems.

The primary goal of this Regional Workshop was to contribute to the ongoing effort to integrate space technologies into operational programmes in Africa and Western Asia, with a focus on natural resources management, environmental monitoring and disaster management. The Workshop comprised presentation sessions that demonstrated the successful use of space technology in the areas of disaster management, environmental monitoring and natural resources management. In discussion sessions, the workshop participants formed smaller groups to discuss specific topics that led to the development of a plan of action and pilot project profiles.

The Workshop built upon several on-going initiatives, including the goals addressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the work being carried out by the various Action Teams established by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to implement the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), as well as the International Charter ‘Space and Major Disasters’, the Africover Project of the Food and Agriculture Organization and ESA’s Tiger Project.

The United Nations Programme on Space Applications is implemented by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and works to improve the use of space science and technology for the economic and social development of all nations, in particular developing countries. Under the Programme, the Office conducts training courses, workshops, seminars and other activities on applications and capacity building in subjects such as remote sensing, communications, satellite meteorology, search and rescue, basic space science, satellite navigation and space law.
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) implements the decisions of the General Assembly and of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its two Subcommittees, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee.

Source : http://www.oosa.unvienna.org