Application of Space Techniques for Hazard Management in the Mediterranean
Rabat, Maroc - 18 - 20 september 1997
A Symposium on the theme of the "Application of space techniques for hazard management in the Mediterranean" co-organised by the EURISY Association and the Moroccan Royal Centre for Remote Sensing was held from 18 to 20 September in Rabat under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Hassan II.
The Symposium was devoted to the most frequent natural and technological major hazards in the Mediterranean regions: geophysical hazards, flooding, marine pollution & coastal management, forest fires and finally, desertification.
The purpose of the symposium was essentially to bring together decision-makers, space data users, scientific and industrial experts in space techniques, to promote the setting up of operational co-operation projects at regional and national level.
Around 170 participants from 17 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean region were present, among which representatives from regional and international organisations (the United Nations' Office for Outer Space Affairs, the United Nation's Secretariat for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, UNESCO, the International Space University, the Council of Europe, the European Commission, the European Space Agency).
The opening session was highlighted by the presence of the Moroccan authorities, Ambassadors in Rabat, together with several heads and directors of national and regional organisations.
An international exhibition comprising over a dozen stands and a poster session presenting more than twenty scientific posters were held in parallel to the Symposium.
The discussions as a whole clearly showed that space techniques, in the areas of telecommunications, Earth observation from space and positioning, could contribute significantly to hazard management, in the knowledge of hazards, their prevention and the management of emergencies, together with the post-crisis analysis and rehabilitation.
It was recommended that :
- the specialists in the use of space techniques should supply operational solutions to meet the requirements formulated by those responsible for hazard management
- and, on the other hand, those responsible for hazard management should submit a document specifying their priority requirements to contribute to an optimised management of natural and technological hazards using space techniques adequately integrated into existing management systems.
It was requested that a special effort be initiated at Euro-Mediterranean level :
- regarding the training of specialists but also those in charge of hazard management and operators in the field; this to be done in a North-South and South-South perspective
- and to make programmes more operational. Such programmes should be initiated and should involve the participation of public funding, industry and users.
The participants consider that this Symposium has highlighted the interest of pursuing further the initiative begun in Cairo following the Barcelona Conference and of maintaining the momentum given to the use of space techniques for hazard management in the Mediterranean Basin. To this aim, it would be necessary to ensure efforts converge by reinforcing Euro-Mediterranean co-operation in the framework of consultation between :
- the European Commission
- the European Space Agency
- the Council of Europe's EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement
- national space agencies and institutions
- those responsible at national level for hazard management
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