The GEO BON Secretariat is happy to announce the official endorsement of the Omic Biodiversity Observation Network (Omic BON). Omic techniques allow us to holistically observe and monitor genes, proteins, metabolites, and other biomolecules in organisms or environmental materials. Omic BON is the first thematic BON focused on an observational
GEO BON at the CBD meetings in Geneva
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) organized a 15-day long marathon of negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, from 14 to 29 March 2022. In contrast with previous meetings, this time three meetings were held concurrently: OEWG 3, SBSTTA 24, and SBI 3 (https://www.cbd.int/conferences/geneva-2022). GEO BON, an observer to the CBD,
Essential Ecosystem Service Variables for Monitoring Progress Towards Sustainability
Monitoring Essential Ecosystem Service Variables (EESVs) can provide a comprehensive picture of how links between nature and people are changing. The GEO BON Ecosystem Services Working Group (ESWG) has gone through several steps over the past 10 years to iteratively ponder, test, adapt, identify, select, define and explore the feasibility
Include biodiversity representation indicators in area-based conservation targets
Authors: Walter Jetz, Jennifer McGowan, D. Scott Rinnan, Hugh P. Possingham, Piero Visconti, Brian O’Donnell and Maria Cecilia Londoño-Murcia Abstract: Advances in spatial biodiversity science and nationally available data have enabled the development of indicators that report on biodiversity outcomes, account for uneven global biodiversity between countries, and provide direct
Freshwater BON elects a third co-Chair
We are pleased to announce the election of Dr. Jennifer Lento as co-chair of the Freshwater Biodiversity Observation Network (FW BON), joining Eren Turak and Andreas Bruder in leading this thematic BON. Jennifer is a research scientist with the Canadian Rivers Institute at the University of New Brunswick (Fredericton, Canada)
GEO Week 2021
GEO Week presented activities taking place under the GEO work programme. This week-long event (22-26 November 2021) highlighted how earth observation across different sectors can contribute to major global policy agendas, including the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 26), the Conference
GEO BON Webinars on Supporting Implementation of Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
Background The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) in collaboration with the UN Regional Commissions are organizing a series of webinars to
GEO BON’s Participation in the Third Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG 3)
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) continued its meetings attended by Parties and observers during the summer of 2021. The Open-Ended Working Group on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF) reconvened 23 August to 3 September 2021 for its third meeting to advance work on the post-2020 GBF. Delegates met
The UN Ocean Decade starts with good news for the GEO BON community
The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) was officially launched on 1 June 2021 through a High-Level event hosted by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany in partnership with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). The Ocean Decade will see an outstanding alliance of
GEO BON remembers Bob Scholes, one of its key founders and its first Chair
We are deeply saddened to learn that Bob Scholes has died. Bob was one of a kind, generous as a friend, a great mentor to many scientists and a pioneering leader in climate and biodiversity science. He was as comfortable walking past a pride of lions as he was giving