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PEOPLE-ECCO User Handbook

PEOPLE-ECCO – Ecosystem Restoration

Welcome to the user handbook for PEOPLE-ECCO — Enhancing Ecosystems Conservation through Earth Observation Solutions, Capacity Development and Co-design. This handbook documents the PEOPLE-ECCO Platform and its Solutions for the civil society organizations, NGOs, and practitioners who use them.

For general project information, news, and background, visit the official project website: www.people-ecco.eu.

About the project

PEOPLE-ECCO is an ESA-funded initiative that addresses biodiversity loss and climate change mitigation by empowering conservation-focused civil society organizations (CSOs) and NGOs with Earth Observation technology. It pursues two goals:

  1. Involve conservation-focused CSOs/NGOs in co-designing Earth Observation methods applicable to their work, while building EO capacity.
  2. Create and validate EO-integrated methods that serve two purposes: monitoring existing protected areas and identifying areas to be protected.

The project combines a user-focused track — engagement and co-design with "Early Adopter" organizations — with a technology-focused track that develops and validates the EO Solutions themselves. Large-scale demonstrations span six countries across terrestrial, wetland, and coastal-marine ecosystems.

Consortium and Early Adopters

  • Funded by: European Space Agency (ESA)
  • Consortium: Faculty ITC (University of Twente), 52°North, DHI, Hatfield Consultants
  • Early Adopters: African Parks, Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, IUCN Vietnam, Lebanon Reforestation Initiative, Prince Edward Island Watershed Alliance, Reef Check Malaysia

Content of this handbook

  • PEOPLE-ECCO Platform – an overview of the web-based platform used to manage sites, configure timeseries, and run Solutions.
  • PEOPLE-ECCO Solutions – overview of the developed Solutions
  • Solution Handbook – theoretical background, key considerations, and getting-started guides for each individual Solution (e.g. Vegetation Productivity Trend, Best Available Pixel, Submerged Aquatic Vegetation).
  • Solutions Integration – how to run a Solution locally as an Earth Observation Application Package (EOAP), outside of the Platform.