A centre of excellence in French Guiana to protect the environment
8 February 2006
The SEAS* satellite receiving station was officially opened 7 February in Cayenne, French Guiana. This station is set to become a centre of excellence to enhance understanding and monitoring of the dynamics driving the Amazon and Caribbean environments.
Earth observation data
The local stakeholders, European Commission representatives and numerous VIPs present at the opening confirmed the important economic, environmental and social challenges underlying the new station.
The receiving station will directly exploit imagery from the Spot satellites (Spot 2, 4 and 5) and Envisat (Asar and Meris instruments), and combine it with field data.
Key areas of study set to benefit are:
Key areas of study set to benefit are:
- forest and coastal ecosystems
- land-use and water-resource monitoring
- monitoring of sensitive zones, particularly fisheries
- epidemiological monitoring
A centre of excellence in French Guiana
The scientific community, local authorities and government agencies will get free access to data.
The SEAS antenna ; credits: CNES
It has big ambitions to develop research and training, create jobs, nurture skills and foster regional and international cooperation.
Training and technology exploitation are important features, too, with a view to nurturing value-added firms working on Amazon applications.
This technology platform set up by France’s IRD development research institute is unique in South America and Europe. It was co-funded by CNES, the French Guiana regional council, the French government and European funds, and involves many public and private partners.
* SEAS: Satellite Monitoring of the Amazon Environment
