1 Aug 2007
Unit:
Wageningen UR
'Towards the GEO Biodiversity Observation Network'
CGI (Michael Schaepman) and CE (Frank Berendse) will host the 2nd Biodiversity Observation Network Workshop to take place in Wageningen.
Location: Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR), Wageningen, The Netherlands
Date: 22-24 October, 2007
Sponsors: Wageningen University, GBIF, DIVERSITAS, GTOS and GEO
Background and Objectives
GEOSS is a 10-year, worldwide effort undertaken by the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO), which includes 70 member countries, the European Commission, and 43 participating organizations. GEOSS will work with and build upon existing national, regional, and international systems to provide comprehensive, coordinated Earth observations from thousands of instruments world-wide, transforming the data they collect into vital information for society.
The GEO 2007 – 2009 Workplan and Task BI-07-01 calls for the developing and implementing a GEO Biodiversity Observation Network that is spatially and topically prioritized, based on analysis of existing information, identifying unique or highly diverse ecosystems and those supporting migratory, endemic or globally threatened species, those whose biodiversity is of socio-economic importance, and which can support the 2010 CBD target. It includes developing a strategy for assessing biodiversity at both the species and ecosystems level, and facilitating the establishment of monitoring systems that enable frequent, repeated, globally coordinated assessment of trends and distributions of species and ecosystems of special conservation merit. It should also serve to promote consensus on data collection protocols and the coordination of the development of interoperability among monitoring programs For the terrestrial areas, this task will further develop and implement the GEO Biodiversity Observation Network, building upon the Biodiversity task BI-06-02, "defining the needs and requirements of the biodiversity information". For the ocean, it will be coordinated through IOC’s Coastal GOOS, and the Census of Marine Life program with its Ocean Biogeographic Information System.
Building on the successful integration of numerous institutions representing user and provider communities, initiated in 2006, this task will:
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Develop a strategy for assessing biodiversity at both the species and ecosystems level.
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Pilot monitoring systems that enable frequent, repeated, globally coordinated assessment of trends and distributions of species and ecosystems of special conservation merit.
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Facilitate consensus on data collection protocols and the development of interoperability standards among monitoring programs.
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Ensure that the biodiversity data collection process will coordinate with ongoing global initiatives.
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Develop a strategic plan for the periodic assessment of species and ecosystems of merit, taking into account the results of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and progress towards the Convention on Biological Diversity 2010 Targets.
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Consolidate and enlarge the community, and define and operationalize the integrated global observation system. The goal is to develop an operational observing system that:
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detects, assesses, and analyses changes at all levels and dimensions of biodiversity (genetic, species, ecosystem, composition, structure, function, dynamic),
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integrates data from different provider communities (genetic, remote sensing, biogeography, plot type biodiversity observatories, integrating ecosystem processes),
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establishes adequate infrastructures to provide and analyse data with global coverage at an adequate spatial and temporal resolution and accuracy,
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provides adequate information and user-friendly tools by means of a shared IT data architecture, in a timely way, for a range of user groups (international treaties, resource user groups, e.g. fishery, forestry, agriculture, animal production; conservation planning communities; health sector; genomics level; research),
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will be used for analysis, prediction, early warning, and sustainable use and management of biodiversity.
The task will further identify and integrate additional requirements of user groups, review current state of knowledge, and available methodologies and networks, strengthen research capacities, facilitate the transfer of technologies within the network, stimulate application of appropriate research findings, and establish a mechanism for effective and successful policy advice. These activities will be undertaken working groups, addressing (a) data architecture, (b) scales and standards, (c) observatory network planning and, (d) strategic planning for implementation.
Further information can be found at the GEO Workshop pages
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