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What is GEO BON?
GEO BON is the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network. Under each of the nine SBAs, GEO calls for the completion of specific tasks that require the use of Earth observation data for societal benefits. One of the tasks within the GEO Biodiversity SBA is Task BI-07-01, which calls for the development and implementation of a Biodiversity Observation Network:
"Develop and implement a 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."
Of course, numerous efforts are already in place to observe and monitor various aspects of biodiversity across multiple taxa, levels of biological organization (from genes to species to ecosystems to biomes), and spatial scales (from molecular to plot to local to regional to global).
What can GEO add to this plethora of activity?
It is not our aim to replace or inhibit the multitude of efforts underway or planned. What seems lacking and needed is a coordinated framework working across many of the existing efforts to observe biodiversity that also seeks to identify and fill over time important gaps in observations. Such a coordinated biodiversity observation network will enable new and synthetic understanding of biodiversity and its role in maintaining the Earth system and humanity’s place in it. It will facilitate the efforts of governments and the global community to address biodiversity loss by improving the ability to accurately monitor trends in biodiversity and to develop and test response scenarios.
GEO BON short-term goals (before deployment)
- The global community of biodiversity data providers and users share an open-access data resource with the best available global biodiversity data, as well as tools and resources for the integration and analysis of these data.
- Design, develop and implement a biodiversity observation and indicator system that meets the needs of the data providers and users community.
- Develop an agreement among stakeholders on goals (data and information policy, design and validation process).
- Identify methodological, taxonomic, regional or ecosystemic knowledge gaps and make strategic decisions about which ones to fill.
- Integrate existing terrestrial, freshwater and marine observation systems.
- Include the monitoring of ecosystem services and drivers of change so as to establish interdependencies and make the connections to human well-being.
GEO BON long-term goals (after deployment)
- Establish a global biodiversity observation facility and data clearinghouse, supervised by an independent advisory board including both data providers and users.
- Provide timely and relevant information on biodiversity status and functions so as to improve environmental management and human well-being.
- Provide open-resource, user-friendly and responsive system to changing requirements.
- Provide authoritative and widely respected reports and updates at appropriate intervals.
- Widen the early-warning function of the system by developing forecasting scenarios, that alert stakeholders to impending threats and disasters.
- Develop links from forecasting results to decision support systems with key “tailored” products for stakeholders and partners
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