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Highlights

Nature cites GEO BON value for biodiversity assessment

An editorial in the prestigious science publication Nature has recognized the GEO Biodiversity Observation Network as a crucial mechanism for supporting the proposed Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). See the article here.

SBSTTA calls on GEO BON

At its May meeting in Nairobi, the Convention on Biological Diversity's Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice adopted two recommendations pertaining to GEO BON. They highlight GEO BON's ability to contribute to strengthening biodiversity monitoring and to supporting the CBD Strategic Plan for 2011-2020.

The following excerpts come from the unedited version of the SBSTTA recommendations; the edited version will be posted on the CBD web site (www.cbd.int) as soon as available.

The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice [...]

1. Recommends that the Conference of the Parties [...]

(a) Recognizes the need to continue strengthening our ability to monitor biodiversity at all levels including through, inter alia: Strengthening the capacity to mobilize and use biodiversity data, information and forecasts so that they are readily accessible to policymakers, managers, experts and other users, inter alia, through participation in, and support to, the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO-BON); [...]

(c) Requests the Executive Secretary to invite GEO-BON, working through organizations conducting biodiversity relevant observations, including, inter alia, the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre and IUCN, to prepare an evaluation of existing observation capabilities relevant to the targets contained in the Strategic Plan for the period 2011-2020 and provide a report in time for the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Indicators for the Strategic Plan for the period 2011-2020 and to a meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice prior to the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

GEO BON launches Implementation Plan

The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) has released its detailed, 175-page Implementation Plan for a coordinated global campaign to gather and share information on biodiversity, provide tools for data integration and analysis, and contribute to improved environmental management and human well-being. For more information, see the Technical Summary, Detailed Implementation Plan, and press release.

GEO BON reaches out to Convention on Biological Diversity

GEO BON has submitted an information document to the Convention on Biological Diversity's Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technological and Technical Advice (SBSTTA-14), which is meeting in Nairobi from 10-21 May. The document provides a summary of GEO BON's implementation plans. The document is posted here as well as on the SBSTTA web site.

The GEO Biodiversity Observation Network is organizing a side event on Thursday, 13 May, at 13h15, at the SBSTTA-14 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi.  The event will inform the CBD community about the work and relevance of GEO BON.

The programme is as follows:

  • Dr Anne Larigauderie, DIVERSITAS
  • Dr Robert (Bob) Scholes, CSIR, South Africa, Chair, GEO BON Steering Committee
  • Launching AP-BON for establishing the Biodiversity Observation Network in the Asia and Pacific region, by Prof. Motomi Ito, University of Tokyo, Japan and Prof. Yoshihisa Shirayama, Kyoto University, Japan
  • Implementing GEO BON: Plans for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity at the species level, by Dr Henrique Pereira, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
  • General discussion

 

  
Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)

Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)

Image of the month

Current world population: up to 100,000, the majority (70,000) in Antarctica. Orcas are among the most contaminated marine mammals in the world. Pollution and chemical contamination make orcas more susceptible to disease and likely cause reproductive difficulties. Additional threats may also include noise from human activities, entanglement in fishing gear, and whale-watching. [photo: Sebastien Miazza]

GEO BON

 

Biodiversity Observation Network

The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network – GEO BON – is the biodiversity arm of the Global Earth Observation System of System of Systems (GEOSS).

Some 100 governmental and non-governmental organizations are collaborating through GEO BON to make their biodiversity data, information and forecasts more readily accessible to policymakers, managers, experts and other users.

GEO BON has been recognized by the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity as well as by the member governments of the Group on Earth Observations.

The Biodiversity Observation Network is both a Community of Practice and a Task in the GEO Work Plan. It is a voluntary, best-efforts partnership that is guided by a steering committee. The Network draws on GEO’s work on data-sharing principles and on technical standards for making data interoperable.

To assist both providers and users of biodiversity information to engage with GEO BON, this web site contains links to information resources and projects as well as to GEO BON documents, meetings and other resources.
 
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