MedRIN is the newest of the GOFC-GOLD networks, providing coordination on remote sensing to monitor land-cover change, inform soil and water resource management and monitor fire and other hazards. The Mediterranean region is characterized by several organizations and institutions with advanced knowledge and capacity in the area of earth observations. MedRIN aims to capitalize on existing relationships and initiatives, encouraging collaboration and communication to tackle common priorities.

Objectives

MedRIN aims at keeping its members abreast with the latest advancements in earth observation applications based on NASA and ESA satellite data and data products.

In particular, the network supports:

• better coordination and linkage of monitoring systems and databases across Mediterranean;

• strengthening and upgrading regional/national EO networks;

• alignment of multi-modal and multi-source data compliant to international norms;

• utilization of Copernicus and freely distributed services in the region by end users; and

• contribution to free publicly-available data through interoperable databases and services.

Priorities and accomplishments

During the 2018 kick-off event and the first network meeting held in 2019, participants discussed objectives, priorities, and strategy. A third meeting planned in collaboration with the SCERIN network for 2020 has been rescheduled to 2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The network will include training and capacity building as major components of all its activities.

Network coordinators are collaborating to develop a regional “inter-institutional” program which would enable Master and PhD students working on MedRIN issues to transfer between different institutions in the network. The network has also facilitated the participation of young scientists from the MedRIN region in a call from NASA for collaboration on land-use/land-cover change issues.

Capacity development efforts in secondary education include a training event for 100 secondary school students organized during the network’s 2019 meeting.