
Full Schedule
19 September
Welcome Session & Informal Dinner
- Welcoming remarks from Lee Howell, Executive Director, Villars Institute
- Overview of the Workshop by Yana Gevorgyan, Director of Secretariat, Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
In-person participants only.

20 September
Aligning Atlas Project Goals & Direction
This facilitated discussion will review the goals of the Global Ecosystems Atlas Project (Atlas Project) and introduce the proposed impact framework by Yana Gevorgyan.
Facilitators to guide the group’s interaction: Emma Benameur & Lee Howell.
Workshop Networking Break
Scoping Atlas Project Deliverables - Day One
This short briefing will provide an overview of the project methodology by Yana Gevorgyan and explain the roles and responsibilities of the two breakout groups that will be running in parallel on: 1) the curation of current ecosystems maps & 2) the creation of comprehensive synthesis map to be featured on an integrated platform.
Each breakout group will designate a rapporteur to report back their outcomes and recommended next steps in the afternoon plenary.
Workshop Lunch
Workshop Networking Break
Outcomes of Scoping Atlas Project Deliverables
Breakout Group rapporteurs will join a facilitated discussion to report back on the outcomes recommended next steps that emerged from their sessions on 1) the curation of current ecosystems maps & 2) the creation of comprehensive synthesis map to be featured on an integrated platform.
Facilitators to guide the group’s interaction: Emma Benameur & Lee Howell.
Closing of Day 1
The final session will provide a brief summary of day one and an overview of the agenda for the day two by Yana Gevorgyan.
Workshop Dinner
21 September
Warm-up
The session starts with a brief recap of day one by Yana Gevorgyan and a moment for interactive warm-up for day two facilitated by Emma Benameur.
In-person participants only.
Scoping Atlas Project Deliverables – Day Two
This short briefing will provide an overview of the project methodology by Madeeha Bajwa and explain the roles and responsibilities of the two breakout groups that will be running in parallel on: 3) identifying use cases for the platform along with their target users & 4) supporting user uptake and building capacity for countries to develop and integrate their national ecosystem maps into the platform.
Each breakout group will designate a rapporteur to report back their outcomes and recommended next steps in the afternoon plenary.
Workshop Networking Break
Workshop Lunch
Outcomes of Scoping Atlas Project Deliverables
Breakout Group rapporteurs will join a facilitated discussion to report back on the outcomes and the recommended next steps that emerged from their sessions on on: 3) identifying use cases for the platform along with their target users & 4) supporting user uptake and building capacity for countries to develop and integrate their national ecosystem maps into the platform.
Facilitators to guide the group’s interaction: Emma Benameur & Lee Howell.
Storytelling through Data Visualization
This session will include an online presentation by Illah Nourbakhsh, Professor of Robotics, Director of the Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment (CREATE) lab at Carnegie Mellon University.
The session will aim at storyboarding a data-driven visualisation to illustrate the use and value of the Atlas, with a view to present it at GEO Week 2023 and COP28.
Facilitators to guide the group’s interaction: Emma Benameur & Lee Howell.
Workshop Networking Break
Data Sharing by Design
This session will include an online presentation by Christer Gundersen, Senior Advisor on Innovation at the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), on the lessons learned from Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI).
The session will aim at brainstorming on a possible data sharing approach for the Atlas project with respect to national and commercial data, including identifying expected choke points.
Facilitators to guide the group’s interaction: Emma Benameur & Lee Howell.
Closing of Day 2
The final session will provide a brief summary of day two and an overview of the agenda for the day three by Yana Gevorgyan.
Workshop Dinner
22 September
Warm-up
The session starts with a brief recap of day two by Yana Gevorgyan and a moment for interactive warm-up for day three facilitated by Emma Benameur.
For in-person participants only.
Management of the Atlas Project
This facilitated discussion will review the options for the operating model of the Atlas project and updates on resource mobilization as presented by Yana Gevorgyan and aim at mapping upcoming engagement opportunities with governments to ensure buy-in of the project.
Facilitators to guide the group’s interaction: Emma Benameur & Lee Howell.
Workshop Networking Break
Governance and Partnership Models
This facilitated discussion will review the proposed governance structure for the Atlas project as presented by Sara Venturini and aim at mapping consortium partners and their intended contribution.
Facilitators to guide the group’s interaction: Emma Benameur & Lee Howell.
Summary and Next Steps
This final session will provide a summary of the workshop commitments and agreement on the way forward by Yana Gevorgyan.
Facilitators to guide the group’s interaction: Emma Benameur & Lee Howell.
Workshop Lunch
Open to all registered attendees
Restricted access: on invitation only
Restricted access: only open to GEO Delegates and Ministers