Young Scholars from Ghana and Pakistan Participate in China Exchange Program on Ecosystem Monitoring

The China Exchange Program for Young International (CEP), hosted by Prof. LIU Qinhuo from the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has successfully concluded. The program brought together three early-career researchers from Ghana and Pakistan for in-depth academic and cultural exchanges, focusing on Earth observation and ecosystem monitoring under the frameworks of the Global Ecosystems and Environment Observation Analysis Research Cooperation (GEOARC) and the Asia-Oceania Group on Earth Observations (AOGEO).

From May 10 to 17, Dr. Abbam Eric Akovi of the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana, delivered a presentation titled “Ghana's Ecosystem Assessment and Monitoring—Leveraging GEOARC and Ecosystem Atlas for Sustainable Development.” He addressed key environmental issues in Ghana such as deforestation, land degradation, and pollution, and highlighted the role of GEOARC platforms in real-time monitoring and informed policymaking.

From July 5 to 12, Dr. Sundas Liyaqat of the National University of Science and Technology and Amara Sattar of the University of Punjab, both from Pakistan, shared insights on ecosystem sustainability. Their reports focused on big data-driven approaches for crop intensification and ecosystem monitoring to bolster food security.

The GEOARC Capacity Building Week, a core part of the CEP, emphasized Earth observation technology and data-informed decision-making. Prof. Liu introduced GEOARC's global collaboration vision and the AOEM platform’s role in supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Funded by the China International Talent Exchange Foundation and initiated by China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the CEP aims to foster international collaboration, enhance mutual understanding, and cultivate future partnerships in scientific research. The program will continue to support joint efforts in environmental governance and sustainable development.