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Leveraging the Copernicus Emergency Management Service to Facilitate Risk-Informed Development within TFCAs in the Southern African Development Community (SADC): Applications and Access Across Sectors
| Author: | Onkemetse Joseph, Rabson Dhlodhlo, Margaret Dennison, Tselisehang Tsuinyane, Radu Nikolaus Botez, Karl-Heinz Gaudry |
| Language: | |
| Topic: | Climate Change |
| Type: | Research |
| Last updated: | 12 June 2026 |
The document explains how the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) can support risk-informed development in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) across the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Context and Need
TFCAs are critical ecological and socio-economic regions that support biodiversity, tourism, agriculture, water resources, and livelihoods. However, they are increasingly affected by climate-related risks such as floods, droughts, wildfires, and cyclones.
What CEMS Offers
CEMS, part of the EU Copernicus Programme, provides satellite-based and geospatial data to support disaster management across all phases—preparedness, response, recovery, and planning.
It has three main components:
Early Warning and Monitoring (e.g., flood, drought, wildfire systems)
On-Demand Mapping (rapid emergency maps and risk/recovery assessments)
Exposure Mapping (analysis of people, infrastructure, and environmental risks)
Key Benefits for TFCAs
CEMS supports:
- Disaster risk reduction and preparedness
- Biodiversity conservation
- Agriculture and food security planning
- Water resource management
- Infrastructure and tourism resilience
- Humanitarian response coordination
Its transboundary data coverage is especially valuable for TFCAs because it enables coordinated decision-making across national borders.
Applications in Southern Africa
Examples include:
- Flood monitoring in river basins
- Wildfire tracking in conservation corridors
- Drought assessments in drylands
- Cyclone response mapping [CEMS Promo...ticle.docx | Word]
Access and Activation
On-demand services must be requested through authorised users (e.g., government institutions or national focal points). The process involves identifying needs, submitting requests, and producing satellite-based maps and analyses.
Challenges
- Limited awareness of CEMS
- Coordination difficulties across borders
- Gaps in technical/geospatial capacity
Opportunities and Recommendations
- Integrate CEMS into TFCA governance and planning
- Build technical capacity in geospatial analysis
- Strengthen regional coordination and joint activation processes
Conclusion
CEMS is a valuable tool for improving preparedness, decision-making, and resilience in shared conservation areas. Its effective use depends on stronger awareness, capacity, and collaboration across the SADC region.
