1. The GEO Biodiversity Observation Network
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The GEO Biodiversity Observation Network
International Workshop for Networking Biodiversity Observation Activities in Asia Pacific Region
Nagoya
Hosted by Japan Ministry of Environment
Photos: Wikimedia and NASA/JPL. Beetle slides from Wikimedia.
International Workshop for Networking Biodiversity Observation Activities in Asia Pacific Region
21-22 July 2009
Gary GELLER
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
California Institute of Technology
(c) 2009 California Institute of Technology. Government sponsorship acknowledged. 1

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

3. 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
Response to 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg)
Recognized that global collaboration needed to exploit potential of Earth observations
Enhance ability of existing observing systems to interoperate
Chiasognathus
granti 3

4. } GEOSS GEO BON Global Earth Observing System of Systems Disasters
Health
Energy
Climate
Water
Weather
Agriculture
Ecosystems
Biodiversity }
9 SBAs
GEO BON is the major task in the Biodiversity SBA.
GEO BON 4

5. 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 5

6. Some components of a BON
Collection
Storage & distribution
Tools
Partnerships
Many observations…
but not fully utilized
This is a problem…and one we hope a collaboration of Observation Networks can help solve
Tools…for finding, extracting, combining, operating on, and visualizing observations and derivatives
Partnerships…for coordination and sharing of observations and experience
Other components exist, eg management and planning, product generation, analysis and utilization
Oxynodera
moczarski

7. Collecting observations
Many gaps
Spatial
Temporal
Taxonomic
Topical
Uneven coverage
Lack of integration of the data collection activities
Topical, such as ecosystem functioning, or services
Oxynodera distincta
Lack of coordination

8. Storage and distribution
Many systems
Many observations
Dispersed, unconnected
Little coordination
Sharing is difficult
Many observations, and also derived products
Lack of interoperability due to many independent systems
Doryphora undata
Lack of system interoperability

9. Tools for working with data Lack the full set of tools
Important capabilities missing
Capabilities not integrated
System-specific
Data utilization too difficult
Missing: eg, easily visualize time series
Not integrated: eg, different tools for different capabilities
System specific: user must learn many tools; tools can’t be shared; reinvention and wasted effort
Pseudomesomphalia
illustris
Lack the full set of tools 9

10. GEO BON Collaboration Coordination Network of BONS Partnerships
^With more collaboration we can build a network of BONS: GEO BON
Network of BONS
GEO BON

11. 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
GEO BON is a collaboration rather than an entity in itself

12. 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

13. Focal areas Ecosystems Species Genes Ecosystem services
Prosicela vittata

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

15. 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
These were critical. Much thought, debate, work of many people went into developing and revising the Concept Document.
Potsdam was attended by >100 people, representing various components of the biodiversity community of practice 15

16. Target users Governments and agencies
Parties to international conventions
Conservation organizations
Decision makers
Researchers
Public
CBD
IPBES (Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services)
Megistomela
punctatissima

17. What value will GEO BON add?
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
Not a complete list.
Gymnopleurus nitens

18. End-end continuity To knowledge and decision making
From raw physical data
To electronic
data
To data processing
To information generation 18

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

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

21. Topical working groups
Ecosystem change
Terrestrial
Marine
Freshwater
Species change
Genetic change
Ecosystem services change
In-situ / remote sensing integration
Data integration and interoperability 21

22. Implementation Topical Working groups Concept Document Implementation
Concepts
Concept Document
Activities
Implementation
GEO BON would not implement the concepts/activities—that is done by the component BONs and partners. GEO BON is a consortium of those partners, a way to enhance coordination. GEO BON is really just a Community of Practice.
Regional / thematic
BONs and partners
Concepts
Regional and local
implementation 22

23. Callopistus castelnaudi
Thematic partners
ILTER
GBIF
UNEP-WCMC
Space agencies
National wildlife / park agencies
NGOs …
ILTER—ecological datasets
GBIF—Observations
WCMC—PA and other info
Space agencies--images
Callopistus castelnaudi

24. Possible regional partners
EBONE
Asia-Pacific BON
JBON (research oriented)
UK BON?
Southern Africa BON? ?
These are arising spontaneously
Alurnus bipunctatus

25. 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
Technical: what data standards are appropriate
Non-technical: Agreeing on community standards can be difficult
Incentives: Collaboration, to be successful, must benefit the collaborators…otherwise, no incentive to collaborate
Homoderus mellyi

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

27. Thank you Thoughts for an AP BON Coordinated observations
Sampling framework
Fill gaps
Coordinated storage and distribution
Interoperability of existing systems (more sharing)
Coordinated tools
Access to all component systems
Support synthesis, visualization
Key observation products
Easy to understand
Powerful
Utilize multiple input sources
Coordination: Both inside AP BON, and also outside
Thank you

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

29. 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

30. Some possible steps Discuss AP BON structure Sub-regional BONs
Governance
Shared components
Assess current state of component systems
Consider setting up topical working groups
Feed into GEO BON WGs
Coordinate regional activities
Participate in GEO BON WGs
Assess GEO BON: What else does it need?

31. Citizen Science “Traditional” methods alone not adequate Precedents
Christmas Bird Count
Breeding Bird Survey
Feeder Watch
New efforts are needed 31

32. Early products Product exemplars Populations & drivers of change
Protected areas tools
Ecosystems change maps
Marine (Census of Marine Life)
Primary obstacle is funding
Page 32 32