The eventual outcome of GEOSS in global systematic ecosystem studies will be to support natural resource industries and managers in understanding resource production potential and limits to inform policy making and ensure sustainability.

For this, it is essential to improve the basic knowledge of temporal and spatial variations in ecosystems. GEOSS will allow repeated mapping of ecosystems extent and the quantification of ecosystems condition. This requires the development of standardized and integrated methodologies, observations and products, on a global basis.

Activities for 2006 will focus on:

• Initiating planning for a global carbon observing system
• Developing a global operational scheme for ecosystems classification
• Pursuing harmonization of ecosystems observing methods
• Improving tools for space-based and in-situ ecosystems observations