The GEO Biodiversity Observation Network Gary Geller Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Boston University Department of Geography 4 May 2009 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (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 } 9 SBAs GEO BON

Living Planet Index, WWF, WCMC Why do we need GEO BON?

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 Lack of coordination Oxynodera distincta

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

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

11 Integration across scales In-situ observations RS observations Sparse…but finely detailedGlobal…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 GEO BON Network of BONS

13 1.Data collection coordination Global sampling framework Ecosystems, species, genes, ecosystem services 2.System interoperability Guidelines and coordination 3.New and coordinated tools Extraction, synthesis, & visualization 4.Stronger partnerships GEO BON: A network of BONs 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  : GEO BON established Concept Document drafted  April 2008: stakeholder meeting Blessed basic concept  October 2008: Implementation Overview  November 2008: GEO V Plenary

Concept Scarabaeus pius

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

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

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

Scope  Broad  Complete  Ambitious Pachylomera femoralis  New

22 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 Gymnopleurus nitens

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

GEO BON must be a community-driven activity! Lamprima latreillei

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

Ecosystems  Global maps  Terrestrial  Freshwater  Marine  Distribution  Extent  Condition Chrysochroa buqueti

Ecosystems: Change  What  How  Causes  Consequences Calodema kirbyi

Ecosystems GEOSS Global Ecosystem Mapping Task: Geospatial approach (terrestrial, US)

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

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

Species: Which ones?

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

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

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

How will GEO BON do all this?  Interoperation of existing observation systems  Community-based data format and content standards  Fill in data gaps Improved sampling Improved modeling None of this is easy! Odontolabis wollastoni

Implementation Oxynodera moczarski

37 Implementation approach  Incremental  Opportunistic  Collaborative  Starting point: Topical Working Groups Doryphora pastica

38 1.Map concepts to activities 2.Find regional and thematic partners 3.Together, create an implementation plan Topical working groups Alurnus ornatus

39 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

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

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

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

43 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

44 Citizen Science  “Traditional” methods alone not adequate  Precedents Christmas Bird Count Breeding Bird Survey Feeder Watch  New efforts are needed Calodema wallacei

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

46 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

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

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