GEO BON: European contributions to global biodiversity tasks

Rob Jongman, Alterra Wageningen UR

What does GEO BON aim for?

GEO BON adds value to on-going biodiversity observation by:

Providing a global, scientifically robust framework for observations on the detection of biodiversity change

Coordinating the data gathering and the delivery of information through establishing standards and interoperability

Providing a set of innovative and relevant global products

Advocating long term continuity of data supply (moving observations from the experimental to operational spheres) and data sharing

Clients for GEO BON: Global conventions, (CBD, CMS, Ramsar), EU, countries

The CBD has defined 20 ‘Aichi’ targets structured around 5 major strategic goals including underlying drivers of change, direct pressures, (change in) state, benefits, and responses

Countries have to monitor progress (status and trends) towards CBD targets (and art 17, Habitats Dir)

●Many countries are starting up or revising their biodiversity observation programs

●Countries and organizations often need guidance for setting up biodiversity observation programs

●For international comparison biodiversity data the scientific community and data users need to agree on what variables should be monitored

4

GEO relations of AICHI Targets and EBVs

Gaps in biodiversity status monitoring

6

Living Planet Index Populations

Pereira et al 2012. Annual Review of the Environment and Resources.

What is done to develop information

GEO BON initiatives to enhance global biodiversity observations for monitoring progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (through e.g. FP7, GEF, NASA, GIO, Horizon 2020 and other sources)

Development of Essential Biodiversity Variables

Finished and ongoing FP7 projects, such as:

●EBONE (European Monitoring Network)

●BIO SOS, MS MONINA (GMES services for Biodiversity)

●EU BON (integration of biodiversity information systems)

The need for Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs)

Can the observations needed to derive the >100 indicators be organized into a relatively small number of Essential Biodiversity Variables?

●Where each essential variable talks to multiple indicators and targets and indicators and targets are informed by multiple essential variables

These variables should be consistently monitored and reported at the national scale by the parties, and contribute towards assessing both national targets and global targets

The questions EBVs must help to answer:

1. What is the magnitude of extinction and biodiversity change in time and space?

2. How does biodiversity respond to the change in the major drivers (land use change, climate change, etc.)?

3. What are the consequences of changes in biodiversity for humans, and are there levels of change beyond which the consequences abruptly increase?

4. Are the collective actions we take to protect and restore biodiversity effective?

Pereira et al 2013 Essential Biodiversity Variables Science 339: 277-278

Primary observations of change in state of biodiversity

In-situ monitoring

Remote sensing

Essential Biodiversity Variables

Genetic composition

Species traits

Species ranges & populations

Community composition

Ecosystem extent & structure

Ecosystem function & processes

High-level indicators of biodiversity & ecosystem services (e.g. CBD)

Ancillary (slow changing) attributes

& relationships

Ecosystem-service valuation & related

observations

Scenarios for biodiversity & ecosystem services (e.g. IPBES)

Observations of drivers & pressures

Observations of policy &

management responses

projec

tions projections

proc

essi

ng

Global stratification scheme (1km2 grid)

a) Based on Temp., Prec. and seasonality

b) Area-weighted aggregation of squares

c) Permits gap identification and filling

d) Consistent with the GEO global ecosystem task

Metzger et al, 2013, A high resolution bioclimate map of the world: a unifying framework for global biodiversity research. Global Ecology and Biogeography, DOI: 10.1111/geb.12022

Linking regions (1)

G8 (cold mesic)Links Apennines with other Mountains regions

J4 (cool temperate and moist)Links Bretagne, Cornwall and western Ireland

L6 (warm temperate and xeric)

Links the hottest parts of Europe with Africa

Linking regions (2)

P2 (extremely hot and arid)Links the Gibson with the deserts of Arabia, the Sahel and the Thar desert.

R9 (extremely hot and moist)Links Australian tropics to SE Asia and beyond

K10 (warm temperate and mesic)Links Mediterranean regions in Australia with those in Chile, South Africa, California and Europe.

General Habitat Categories (GHC)

a) Life form based terrestrial ecosystem classification

b) Link of in-situ data with remotely sensed data, GMES and LCCS

c) Allows conversion between national systems

d) Links with species data

Bunce et al 2008, Landscape Ecology; Tomaselli et al 2013, Landscape ecology; Kosmidou et al, Ecological Indicators, submitted; http://www.ebone.wur.nl

SPV/ICE

B28 Natural waterbodies, snow and ice

A2 Natural snow

SPV/SEAor

SPV/AQU

A1 Natural waterbodies

SPV/AQU

A5 Standing

A3 Natural ice

SPV/ICESPV/ICE

A6 Moving A7 StationaryA4 Flowing

In situ Habitat mapping in Austria

Downloadable from: http://ebone.wur.nl

Calculating European level indicators

Average Habitat Richness Density per country and per EnZ for three levels of precision of habitat typology.

Level 1 is related to the diversity of all sampled categories of habitats and a high value indicates a diverse landscape in habitat and management type.

The levels 2 and 3 are related to structural variability of habitat types

Roche and Geijzendorffer 2013, Integrated figures of Habitat and biodiversity indicators Alterra report 2392

EBONE: Sampling strategy and design

a) 1 km square, 400 m2 MMEb) The power of appropriate stratification and locationc) Structure and Costs of a European sampling design

European level (n = 10000)

Level biogeographical zone

(n = 850)

Proportion km squares

where habitat is present Autocorrelation

Quality objectives

met? Quality objectives

met?

Stock 0.05

(Yes) No

0.5

Yes (Yes)

Change 0.05 0.7 No No (two

cycles)

0.99 Yes No

0.5 0.7 Yes No

0.99 Yes Yes

Time per cycle (person days) 80000 - 110000 6800 - 9350

Time per year (person days) 16000 - 22000 1360 - 1870

Full time equivalents (FTE) per year 80 - 110 6.8 - 9.35

The EBONE sampling design is effective and efficient for relatively common/widespread habitat. For many Annex I habitat types tailor made monitoring designs remain necessary.Precision and power calculations are important but not more than the institutional, data management and other factors.

The Swedish Sampling design (NILS)

De Blust et al 2013, Design of a monitoring system and its cost effectiveness Alterra report 2393, Stahl et al 2011, Env Monitoring and Assessment

Remote sensing space and airborne

a) LiDAR for ecosystem (life form) structure

b) Phenology and spectral features for function (biomass)

c) Connectivity and fragmentation measures

Further RS service development is done within on-going projects MS.Monina and BIO SOS

Estreguil et al 2012, Habitat landscape pattern and connectivity indices, Alterra report 2297

Clerici et al 2012, Phenology and related measures and indicators at varying spatial scales, Alterra report 2259

Sharing knowledge with others: VitalSigns project

What: combined monitoring of agriculture and biodiversity using RS (LCCS), field data on habitat (GHC) and species and panel interviews;

Where: bread basket areas of sub-Saharan Africa;

Who: CSIR, CI, Columbia University and local groups;

Funding: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

See http://vitalsigns.org/

What is on-going at present in GEO BON?

GEO BON is developing global cooperation (from 2008 on)

Servicing the CBD by assessment of the Aichi targets (Wageningen workshop 2011);

At present development of the Essential Biodiversity Variables (Wageningen workshop 2011 and Frascati workshop 2012 and ongoing)

Work programme renewal (All hands meeting Asilomar (CA) 2012);

Development of the GEO BON Handbook (on-going tobe finished this year)

Take home messages for GEO work

Be aware of the need and trend outside of Europe;

Make your results compatible with the things others do;

Build your network globally and be involved: include partners and related projects outside Europe if possible;

If possible, use open source software for sharing with others, especially in developing countries;

If possible, publish free downloadable reports and papers;

Show and share your models and approaches;

Your result should include capacity building issues if you want a global and long lasting impact.

Thank you for your

attention

http://www.earthobservations.org/geobon.shtml