GEO Biodiversity Observation Network and its contribution to global biodiversity observations Bob Scholes 1 and Rob Jongman 2 1.GEO BON chair Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa 2.GEOBON SC; Aterra, Wageingen UR

Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network A global partnership to promote the collection, sharing, management, analysis and & reporting of data relating to the status of the world’s biodiversity, across all taxa and domains, for all aspects of biodiversity at the gene, species and ecosystem levels Members of the network include most major international biodiversity-oriented organisations (such as IUCN, GBIF, Diversitas, UNEP-WCMC, UN-CBD), space agencies, regional sub-networks (Asia-Pacific, Arctic, Japan)

What does GEO BON do? GEO BON adds value to on-going biodiversity observation by: Providing a global, scientifically robust framework for observations on the detection of biodiversity change (GBIF, GTOS, UNEP-WCMC, UNESCO-MAB, IUCN etc.) Coordinating the data gathering and the delivery of information through establishing standards and interoperability Providing a set of innovative and relevant global products Advocating long term continuity of data supply (moving observations from the experimental to operational spheres) and data sharing

What does GEO BON do? Provide a global, scientifically robust framework for observations relating to the detection of biodiversity change Through partnerships, help coordinate data gathering and the delivery of information according to user needs Advocate long term continuity of data supply Stimulate the development of a set of innovative and relevant global products

Where GEOBON fits in Tallis et al 2012 Bioscience 62,

A brief history of GEO BON… 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development 2003 Group on Earth Observations formed –USA, EU, Japan and South Africa co-chairs 2005 GEO establishes GEOSS –Task BI-07-01(Biodiversity Observation Network Design) assigned to DIVERSITAS and US-NASA GEOBON

2006 User Needs workshop, Geneva Oct 2008 Interim committee convened Jan GEO BON concept document produced Potsdam meeting of stakeholders 2008 GEO Ministerial in Budapest approves concept 2009 GEO BON Steering Group meets, June 2010 Working Groups draft Implementation Plan Asilomar, February (presented at SBSTTA 14) 2010 Tasked by Convention on Biological Diversity to assess adequacy of observation systems for 2020 targets …brief history, continued

Current working groups Data Integration and Operability WG 8 Models WG 7 Terrestrial Species WG2 Species WG2 Ecosystems WG3 Ecosystems WG3 Freshwater WG 4 Marine WG 5 Genes WG1 Regional BONs J-BON (Japan), EBONE (European Union), AP BON (Asia– Pacific), French BON, Arctic BON, K-BON? (Korea) Regional BONs J-BON (Japan), EBONE (European Union), AP BON (Asia– Pacific), French BON, Arctic BON, K-BON? (Korea) Ecosystem services WG 6 Indicators WG 9 (Biodiversity Indicator Partnership)

Integrated biodiversity observation system (Science 321: ; 22/08/08)

Registry Unique ID Binomial Authority Ecosystem Geolocation Timestamp Attribute 1..expression 1 … Attribute n …expression n Community Geolocation Timestamp Unique ID Amount … Unique ID n Amount n Taxonomy Unique ID Species Genus Family …etc Gazeteer Geolocation Placename Genome Unique ID Geolocation Datestamp Gene 1 …Sequence 1 … Gene n …Sequence n Traits Unique ID Attribute 1 expression 1 … Attribute 2 expression 2 Interactions Unique ID 1 Relationship Unique ID 2 Collection Unique ID Geolocation Timestamp Collection record Field observation Geolocation Timestamp Unique ID Quantity Observer, method Environment Geolocation Timestamp Substrate/medium Climate … Status Unique ID Treat level GBIF GEO TRY GEOBON GEO GBIF GenBank IUCN Protected Areas Geolocation Timestamp Category WCMC GEOBON Utilisation Unique ID Geolocation Timestamp Harvest amount FAO Scholes et al 2012 Current Opinions in Sustainability

Gaps in biodiversity monitoring Living Planet Index Populations

In service of users CEOPS report A formal process requested by the space agencies to elicit from experts and the literature the stated earth observation needs for biodiversity, particularly with respect to remote sensing Accepted February Adequacy Report For UN-CBD 2020

GWOS State of the World’s Wetlands Reports Watershed Health Index GWOS: an example of a topical BON Our role is bringing stakeholders together Wetland map

A GEOBON innovation: Essential Biodiversity Variables A relatively small number of variables (~30) are foundational for many user communities –operational indicators for the CBD 2020 targets –As yet unspecified IPBES needs –RAMSAR, CMS, CCD, UNFCCC… –Researchers –Conservation agencies and organisations –Development agencies Each ‘essential variable’ talks to multiple indicators and targets and most indicators and targets are informed by multiple essential variables These variables must be consistently monitored and reported and contribute towards assessing both national and global targets Periera et al (in review) Science

Co-ancestry Allellic richness Hetero- zygosity Evolutionary distinctiveness Alleles of a gene Phylogenetic diversity Gene beta F ST Trait frequency Spectral reflectance over time Pheno metrics LIDAR Radar Hi-res imagery Height & cover Extent of ecosystem Presence & abundance of species ES use & price Traits Composition by species Land use Fragmentation NPP ES yield Composition by FT Status of ecosystems Status of species Disturb regime Species richness & equity Species distribution Functional types Taxonomy Protection success Natural Capital Protected area Decision support Key indicator EBV derived EBV primary EBV-related Remote Sensing Essential Biodiv Variables Examples of use

AICHI Targets, EBVs and GEO

The GEOBON Handbook Book-length manual, due 2013, on networking, data collection, sharing and analysis in the biodiversity area Helps meet our harmonisation & interoperability mandate In demand from countries, regional and topical BONs

Biodiversity and Ecosystems SBAs are closely linked

What GEOBON needs A concerted effort to implement the plan by 2015 –Global Biodiversity Observation Initiative –Support by countries for data sharing and gap filling Within their own territory Shared international efforts –Much tighter integration within GEO between Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Agriculture (GLAM), Global Forest Observation Initiative, climate and Water SBAs