• The training will take place for 5 days.
• Participants from 9 countries will gather in Guatemala City to strengthen their capacities and contribute to better resilience in the region in the face of disaster risk.

Guatemala, 4 November 2024. The CopernicusLAC Panama Centre, on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA), is organising a regional training on remote sensing applied to disaster and forest fire risk management. This event will take place from 4 to 8 November 2024 in Guatemala City, together with the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED). It will also include the participation of Guatemalan public institutions and representatives from countries such as Ecuador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Argentina, El Salvador, Paraguay, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. Over five days, participatns will develop their capacities in Earth observation techniques, focusing on essential tools for mitigating and responding effectively to disasters.

Dr. Karin Herrera, Vice President of the Republic of Guatemala, participated in the opening ceremony, stating: “From the Vice Presidency, we promote data-driven decision-making and results management. This training is an important step towards this goal and I congratulate Dr. Claudine Ogaldes for her leadership and commitment to tangible actions such as providing tools to the CONRED team to reduce the risk of disasters that affect the environment, ecosystems, and the security of our communities”.

Through the exploration of various applications of Copernicus data, participants will acquire skills in monitoring and assessing potential risks, as well as in improving early warning systems and resilience strategies for disasters and wildfires. In addition, the six Copernicus services will be presented, highlighting in particular the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS). The training will provide attendees with specific tools for monitoring and detecting risk, establishing a solid foundation on leveraging remote sensing in crisis situations.

Dr Itziar Alonso, ESA Manager for the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre, said: ‘The CopernicusLAC Panama Centre continues to engage with all actors in the region to strengthen their capacities. Both Guatemala and all the countries present at this training join the Centre’s efforts in making the region more resilient to disasters”

Dr Claudinne Ogaldes, Executive Secretary of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (SE-CONRED), said: ‘This training is fundamental to improving our early warning systems and developing effective strategies for forest and non-forest disasters and fires. The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) will be key to establishing a proactive approach to disaster mitigation. We must work as a team to inspire and connect ideas that can transform the future of our region in a positive way”.

Among the experts facilitating the event are Rubén Ramo Sánchez and Carmelo Alonso Jiménez, professionals with extensive experience in remote sensing applied to disaster and wildfire risk. Using the free and open access data provided by Copernicus, the European Union’s Earth observation component, they will provide valuable training to attendees.

Copernicus provides information services based on satellite observation data and in situ data from ground-based, airborne and maritime measurement systems. Theis information allows service providers, public administrations and international organisations to make more informed decisions to improve quality of life. In addition, the information services provided are free and open to all users.

Mr. Thomas Peyker, Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Guatemala, said: ‘The participation of Guatemala and other countries of the region in this activity reflects the importance of regional cooperation to addressing common challenges. This training is an example of the European Union’s commitment to Latin America in the exchange of knowledge and technologies to face the effects of climate change and natural hazards”.

 

About CopernicusLAC Panama

The Copernicus LAC Panama Centre’s activities take place within the overall context of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, which is a strategic framework for promoting cooperation between the EU and the LAC region on digital and space issues under the EU Global Gateway umbrella. Within this context, the European Space Agency (ESA) is coordinating the Centre’s implementation on the basis of a Contribution Agreement with the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission, and in close collaboration with Panama’s government, MIRE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Government Innovation Authority (AIG), and SENACYT (National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation). 

The CopernicusLAC Panama Centre will serve as a hub for innovation in the Latin America and Caribbean region, supporting national and local entities in leveraging Copernicus data and information to boost socio-economic benefits and resilience. In addition to providing engagement opportunities, the Centre is developing geospatial Pilot Services (addressing hydrometeorological hazards, geological hazards, and hazard exposure) in close collaboration with local users and stakeholders, to whom they will be handed over to ensure that the unique needs of the region are addressed in the long term.  

In addition, knowledge and skills transfer is a key element of the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre, which hosts a Digital Campus with access to training modules and educational resources for technical users and citizens alike. The Centre will also organise community-building events, policy dialogues and industry matchmaking, as well as hackathons and other EO data challenges to stimulate user adoption of Copernicus data and innovation. These events will also foster cross-collaboration among EO, DRR and other relevant ecosystems. 

Finally, the Centre will include the development of a high-powered infrastructure and cloud computing for the LAC region. One of the final objectives of the Centre is to promote the development of communities of practice and to strengthen the knowledge and use of tools for DRR and further areas in the public sector, academia, the private sector, and social organisations.