1. GEO BON: Addressing the observation needs of the UN Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 Biodiversity Observation Network Anne Larigauderie, ED DIVERSITAS With: G Geller (NASA), M Walters (CSIR), M Walpole (UNEP-WCMC) & other SC-GEO BON Colleagues

2. The policy context for biodiversity The GEO BON initiative You are invited to Session B2 tomorrow 9:00 Outline

3. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 3 main goals 1- Conservation of biological diversity; 2- Sustainable use of its components; and 3- Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources Definition: "Biological diversity" means the variability among living organisms from all sources including 1- terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems 2- diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

4. Biodiversity Observation Network Biodiversity within the MDGs 1- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2- Achieve universal primary education 3- Promote gender equality 4- Reduce child mortality 5- Improve maternal health 6- Combat HIV:AIDS, malaria & other diseases 7- Ensure environmental sustainability Target 7B: CBD 2010 target (WSSD, 2002): 8- Develop a global partnership for development

5. Biodiversity Observation Network MDG Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability Target 7a: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes; reverse loss of environmental resources Target 7b: Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss Target 7c: Reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation Target 7d: Achieve significant improvement in lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers, by 2020 NB: Crosscutting all other MDGs

6. Biodiversity Observation Network “To achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth” Adopted at CBD COP6 (2002) Endorsed by WSSD and UNGA (2002) Incorporated as a new target within MDG7 in 2002 The 2010 Biodiversity Target

7. Biodiversity Observation Network The information behind GBO-3: 110 National Reports Biodiversity Indicators Partnership Biodiversity Futures Study 500 scientific papers Open review process Global Biodiversity Outlook-3 (CBD)

8. A synthesis and assessment of projections of 21 st century changes in biodiversity and associated ecosystem services based on an analysis of a broad range of existing models, experiments and observations Pereira H, Leadley P et al. Scenarios of global biodiversity in the 21st century. Science, 26 Oct 2010 Biodiversity Scenarios (GBO-3)

9. Trends shown by agreed indicators of progress towards the 2010 biodiversity target:

10. 1)10 out of 15 indicators showed unfavorable trends for biodiversity 2) Pb with amount and coverage of data

11. Biodiversity Observation Network The 2010 Target: « to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss » has not been met CBD-COP10, Nagoya, Japan (Nov 2010)

12. Biodiversity Observation Network Post 2010: Lessons learned

13. The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020: 5 strategic goals … AGREED AT COP-10, NAGOYA, OCTOBER 2010 A.Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society B.Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use. C.Improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity D.Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services E.Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building

14. Biodiversity Observation Network …and 20 targets for 2020 SG A-Underlying causes of biodiversity loss (mainstreaming bd) Target 1: by 2020, people are aware of the values of bd and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably; Target 2: by 2020, biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reductions strategies … Target 3: by 2020, incentives harmful to biodiversity are eliminated … SG D-Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity & ecosystem services Target 14: by 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services (including services related to water, health, livelihood and well-being) are restored and safeguarded

15. Biodiversity Observation Network Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-20: the way forward For each one of the 20 Targets: 1- Define indicator(s) BIP: Biodiversity Indicator Partnership 2- Catalyse collection of observations GEO BON

16. Biodiversity Observation Network GEO BON & CBD Decision X/7 CBD-COP10 (Nagoya, 2010) Requests the Executive Secretary to invite GEO BON, (…) to prepare an evaluation of existing observation capabilities relevant to the targets contained in the Strategic Plan for the period 2010-2020. In response GEO BON produced: –Adequacy of biodiversity observation systems to support the CBD 2020 targets Dr Braulio Dias

17. The policy context for biodiversity The GEO BON initiative Outline

18. GEO BON: the SBA on biodiversity of GEOSS

19. 19  Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)  UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC)  ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)  International Union of Conservation (IUCN)  NASA, JAXA, ERSDAC, ESA, IRSO, INPE…  BirdLife International  Census of Marine Life (CoML)  NatureServe  Wetlands International  World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)  Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) Many Sources and Systems South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Earthwatch Conservation International (CI) Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental (CRIA) National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning (MARBEF) The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) World Resources Institute (WRI) BIOTA Africa United States Geological Survey United States Fish and Wildlife Service Smithsonian Institute (SI) National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) But lack of coordination Huge volumes of stored data… But access can be difficult Inadequate tools

20. Biodiversity Observation Network A brief history 2005: Establishment of GEOSS –Biodiversity is one of 9 “Societal Benefit Areas” 2006 Oct: First International Workshop (Geneva, CH) Jan 2008: GEO BON Steering Committee formed (Geneva, CH) Apr 2008: 2 nd International workshop (Potsdam, Germany) –Produce GEO BON concept document Feb 2010: 3rd International workshop (Asilomar, California, USA) GEO BON secretariat opens (CSIR, S-Africa) 22 May 2010: –Launch of GEO BON implementation plan (version 1.0) Nov 2011: –Adequacy of biodiversity observation systems to support the CBD 2020 targets (CBD/SBSTTA15/INF/8)

21. Vision An integrated global observing system that: gathers and shares information on biodiversity, provides tools for data integration and analysis, and contributes to improving environmental management and human well-being. Biodiversity Observation Network

22. Biodiversity Observation Network What does GEO BON do? GEO BON adds value to the many on-going activities by: Providing a global, scientifically robust framework for observations on the detection of biodiversity change Coordinating some of the data gathering and the delivery of information Ensuring long term continuity of data supply (operational observations) Providing a set of innovative and relevant global products

23. Biodiversity Observation Network The GEO BON community of practice These networkmembers are independent but linked and coordinated CountriesOrganisations

24. For the CBD: Adequacy report (1)  Organized around the 20 targets for 2020  For each target  Key concepts  Indicators (sources, organizations, spatial and temporal coverage)  Gaps and data limitations  Adequacy assessment  Estimated costs

25. Target 11 – Protected areas 25

26. Target 14 – Ecosystem services 26

27. Biodiversity Observation Network For the CBD: EBVs (2) SBSTTA 15/2, para 6 : (k) Invites GEO BON to continue its work on the identification of Essential Biodiversity Variables and the development of associated data sets as presented in CBD/SBSTTA/15/INF/8 and report to a future meeting of SBSTTA.

28. Biodiversity Observation Network Essential Biodiversity Variables A relatively small number of essential variables (16-18) are necessary to derive the CBD operational indicators (>100) for the 20 targets Each essential variable talks to multiple indicators and targets and many indicators and targets are informed by multiple essential variables Focus on primary measurements

29. IPBES Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services Biodiversity Observation Network GEO BON flagged as the observing system in charge of orchestrating the delivery of observations necessary to implement the IPBES programme of work

30. Biodiversity Observation Network Biodiversity science-policy landscape Assessment (IPBES) Policy (CBD) Observations (GEO BON) Research

31. Biodiversity Observation Network In conclusion: some challenges Many positive developments re GEO BON –Clear niche in science-policy interface –Recognition by & collaboration with key partners (CBD, IPBES) –Strong agenda (Implementation plan, adequacy report, EBVs) –Interest of many individuals and organisations But some major challenges –Lack of engagement/recognition at national level –Proper institutional arrangements (Sec/funding)

32. Biodiversity Observation Network THANK YOU! anne@diversitas- international.org

33. The Red List Index (RLI) for all these species groups is decreasing. Coral species are moving most rapidly towards greater extinction risk Amphibians are, on average, the group most threatened. Source: IUCN The Red List Index (IUCN) measures extinction risk

34. Projections of species extinctions Photo: P. Leadley Pereira, Leadley et al. 2010 Golden toad, Costa Rica, extinct since 1989 See Pounds et al. 2006 Nature

35. DISTRIBUTION of TIPPING POINTS (GBO-3)

36. Biodiversity Observation Network Some efforts to quantify Target 5 By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved, and where feasible brought to zero… Target 11 By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water, and 10% of coastal and marine areas are conserved…

37. Target 12 – Prevented extinction of threatened species 37