5880 days, that is how long the SPOT-VEGETATION mission has been delivering images on the global vegetation status to more than 10.000 users worldwide on a daily basis. Now, 16 years later, it is time for SPOT-VEGETATION to hand over the torch to its successor, the micro-satellite PROBA-V. The SPOT-VEGETATION mission is a collaboration between France, Belgium, Italy, Sweden and the EC that has been monitoring the global vegetation status for more than 16 years. The VEGETATION instruments (VGT1 and VGT2) were incorporated in the SPOT programme, a programme that was founded in 1978.

The second meeting of GOFC-GOLD South Central and East European Regional Information Network (SCERIN-2) is planned for 9-10 June 2014. It will be hosted by Drs. K. Ostapowicz and J. Kozak, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management at the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland (http://www.gis.geo.uj.edu.pl/ZGIS/eng/aboutus/contact.ht). SCERINs goals are to promote the use and improve the quality and availability of Earth System remote-sensing data in South Central and Eastern Europe (SCE).

As the Taipei GLP Nodal Office takes an important role in the GLP Science Plan, one of our important missions goes to the Management of knowledge and information through International Services and Development including hosting and organizing GLP conference in Asia so as to: 1) Present the research findings by the members of Taipei GLP Nodal Office and other GLP associated researchers. 2) Sharing the up-to-date knowledge and information related to land-use change and land management among participants and 3) Enhance scientific exchange between GLP regional and international partners.

The European Commission will host a conference on 'Land as a resource' in Brussels on 19 June 2014, with the objective of highlighting the importance of good land management to address European and global challenges, particularly in view of an increasing world population. It will also tackle the shortcomings of the current European land use model, including conflicting policy drivers.

Rationale for the Meeting: Two key challenges facing Central Asian countries include land degradation and water resource manage-ment. Land-cover change, unsustainable land use, and poor management of river waters in the region have cre-ated disputes. As the countries of Central Asia are heavily dependent on use of fragile dry lands and limited arable land, land-use change and water management are central issues in the region.

Planning for a sustainable environment, in which human needs are met equitably without harm to the environment, and without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their needs requires a robust understanding of the integrated system of society, the natural world, and the alterations humans bring to the environment. Developing this robust understanding of the integrated system is a common interest among Belmont Forum members and is the focus of this Collaborative Research Action Call for proposals.

Planning for a sustainable environment, in which human needs are met equitably without harm to the environment, and without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their needs requires a robust understanding of the integrated system of society, the natural world, and the alterations humans bring to the environment. Developing this robust understanding of the integrated system is a common interest among Belmont Forum members and is the focus of this Collaborative Research Action Call for proposals.

(U) Embassy Kathmandu proposes to host a water resources expert as an Embassy Science Fellow (ESF) to assist in promoting water security in South Asia and to support engagement with governmental and scientific leaders in Nepal.

(U) Embassy Kathmandu proposes to host a water resources expert as an Embassy Science Fellow (ESF) to assist in promoting water security in South Asia and to support engagement with governmental and scientific leaders in Nepal.

156 researchers from 32 countries and all continents discussed upcoming opportunities and challenges at the beginning of this new remote sensing era during the 5th workshop of the EARSeL Special Interest Group on Land Use and Land Cover. The workshop was jointly organized between the EARSeL SIG and NASA’s LCLUC Science Team at the Department of Geography of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany, on March 17-18, 2014.