The GEO Biodiversity Observation Network

1. The GEO Biodiversity Observation Network National Aeronautics and Space Administration Boston University Department of Geography 4 May 2009 Gary Geller Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology (c) 2009 California Institute of Technology. Government sponsorship acknowledged.

2. What is GEO BON? Global network, and collaboration Interoperating biodiversity observation systems Collect, manage, analyze, share data on status of the world’s biodiversity Scholes et al., Science 321: 22 August 2008

3. Overview • GEO and GEOSS • GEO BON • Implementation • Challenges • Next Steps Sagra buqueti edof

4. Group on Earth Observations Response to 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development Global collaboration needed Enhance interoperability Voluntary partnership 79 governments + EC 56 participating organizations Chiasognathus granti

5. GEOSS Global Earth Observing System of Systems Disasters Health Energy Climate Water Weather Agriculture Ecosystems Biodiversity GEO BON } 9 SBAs

6. Living Planet Index, 1970-2000 Why do we need GEO BON? WWF, WCMC http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_report/

7. Some components of a BON Collection Storage & distribution Tools Partnerships Many observations… but not fully utilized Oxynodera moczarski

8. Collecting observations • Many gaps • Spatial • Temporal • Taxonomic • Topical • Uneven coverage Oxynodera distincta Lack of coordination

9. Storage and distribution • Many systems • Many observations • Dispersed, unconnected • Little coordination • Sharing is difficult Doryphora undata Lack of system interoperability

10. Important capabilities missing Capabilities not integrated System-specific Data utilization too difficult Tools for working with data Pseudomesomphalia illustris Lack the full set of tools

11. Integration across scales In-situ observations RS observations Sparse…but finely detailed Global…but spatially coarse • Cannot extract the full value from data • Need to combine in-situ and RS data • Provide continuous and complete datasets

12. Partnerships Collaboration Coordination Network of BONS GEO BON

13. GEO BON: A network of BONs • Data collection coordination • Global sampling framework • Ecosystems, species, genes, ecosystem services • System interoperability • Guidelines and coordination • New and coordinated tools • Extraction, synthesis, & visualization • Stronger partnerships Community-led activities

14. Focal areas Quantifying and mapping drivers of biodiversity change Recording impacts of biodiversity change Especially vital ecosystem services Reporting biodiversity status and its changes Leptinotarsa flavitarsus

15. Focal areas Ecosystems Species Genes Ecosystem services Prosicela vittata

16. History 2003: GEO forms 2006-2007: GEO BON established Concept Document drafted April 2008: stakeholder meeting Blessed basic concept October 2008: Implementation Overview November 2008: GEO V Plenary

17. Concept Scarabaeus pius

18. GEO BON Community Network In-situ Remote • Observations • Ecosystems • Species • Genes • Ecosystem services Observational Needs Coordination & facilitation Data Extraction & Visualization Tools • Observation Products • Maps • Status indicators • Change metrics • … End Users

19. Target users • Governments and agencies • Parties to international conventions • Conservation organizations • Decision makers • Researchers • Public Megistomela punctatissima

20. Goals • Create inter-operable "system of systems" • Establish global clearinghouse • Assess state of biodiversity • Monitor change over time • Quantify and map the causes of change • Record the impacts of change • Provide ecological forecasts Doryphora pyrrhoptera

21. Scope • Broad • Complete • Ambitious • New Pachylomera femoralis

22. What value will GEO BON add? Gymnopleurus nitens • Global framework for detecting change • Coordinated observations • Improved information delivery • New assessment and forecast products, e.g. • Global maps of ecosystem services • Predicted areas of rapid degradation • End-end continuity

23. End-end continuity To knowledge and decision making From raw physical data To electronic data To data processing To information generation

24. GEO BON must bea community-driven activity! Lamprima latreillei

25. Observations:Ecosystems, species, genes, and ecosystem services Doryphora undata

26. Ecosystems • Global maps • Terrestrial • Freshwater • Marine • Distribution • Extent • Condition Chrysochroa buqueti

27. Ecosystems: Change • What • How • Causes • Consequences Calodema kirbyi

28. Ecosystems GEOSS Global Ecosystem Mapping Task: Geospatial approach (terrestrial, US) http://rmgsc.cr.usgs.gov/ecosystems/method.shtml

29. Species • Globally: • How is distribution changing? • How is abundance changing? • Coordinated global sampling scheme • Eg. Pereira and Cooper, TREE, 2006 • Select representative species • Sample periodically • Many gaps to fill • Requires capacity building

30. Species: Methods • In-situ sampling • Remote sensing • Modeling • Representative coverage • Taxa • Ecosystem types • Geographic regions Agelia petelii nigrita

31. Species: Which ones?

32. Genes • Important for… • Small population sizes • Large scale harvesting • Large scale release operations • Observe genes and variability over time • Selected species and genetic components Chrysochroa ocellata

33. Genes: How? • Because genes and genetic diversity linked to… • Species range • Physical environment • Can infer change… • From changes in range extent or environment • Use RS and modeling Leptinotarsa flavitarsus

34. Ecosystem goods and services • Quantify change using indicators • Goods • Food and fiber • Services • Clean air and water • Waste disposal • Pollination Cladognatha confucius

35. Implementation Oxynodera moczarski

36. Implementation approach • Incremental • Opportunistic • Collaborative • Starting point: Topical Working Groups Doryphora pastica

37. Topical working groups • Map concepts to activities • Find regional and thematic partners • Together, create an implementation plan Alurnus ornatus

38. Topical working groups • Ecosystem change • Terrestrial • Marine • Freshwater • Species change • Terrestrial • Genetic change • Ecosystem services change • In-situ / remote sensing integration • Data integration and interoperability

39. Implementation Topical Working groups Concepts Implementation Activities Concept Document Regional / thematic BONs and partners Concepts Regional and local implementation

40. Thematic partners ILTER GBIF UNEP-WCMC Space agencies National wildlife / park agencies NGOs … Callopistus castelnaudi

41. Possible regional partners EBONE Asia-Pacific BON JBON (research oriented) UK BON? Southern Africa BON? ? Alurnus bipunctatus

42. Early products Product exemplars Populations & drivers of change Protected areas tools Ecosystems change maps Marine (Census of Marine Life) Primary obstacle is funding Pseudomesomphalia decemguttata

43. Citizen Science “Traditional” methods alone not adequate Precedents Christmas Bird Count Breeding Bird Survey Feeder Watch New efforts are needed http://whatsbloomin.com Calodema wallacei

44. Funding • Mostly "in-kind" • Gap-filling • Sampling • Tools • Integrating and extending existing systems • Marginal cost relatively low • Leverages base cost Belinota sumptuosa

45. Challenges • Making independently developed systems work together • Ensuring appropriate incentives for partners • Filling in observation gaps • Integrating in-situ and remote sensing obs • Funding and resources Homoderus mellyi

46. Next steps • Further engage biodiversity community • Facilitate regional / thematic BONs • Develop implementation plans • Develop funding mechanisms Doryphora 21punctata

47. Thank you Cenistra dohrni Near Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia Website: Google “GEO BON”