The Climate-influenced Nutrient Flows and Threats to the Biodiversity of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BZ-SDG) project, supported by NASA’s Biological Diversity and Ecological Forecasting Program, focuses on studying the impacts of current and future riverine discharge on the health of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS). While
Over recent decades, community-based environmental monitoring (often called “co-created citizen science”) has exploded in popularity. A special section in BioScience examines the potential for such efforts and makes recommendations for future directions. In an overview article on the concept, practice, application and results of community-based monitoring, the potential for monitoring
The GEO BON-supported AI for the Belize National Marine Habitat Map (NMHM) project focuses on updating Belize’s existing Landsat-based two-decade old NMHM using recent, higher spatial and temporal resolution satellite imagery, updated mapping techniques, and leveraging the power of Microsoft’s Azure. In late 2020, the project held a stakeholder workshop
Focal Ecosystems, Conceptual Models and Essential Biodiversity Variables The first TAO Regional Workshop was held between May 17th – 20th. During this 4-day productive timespan, specialists, users, and producers of biodiversity data met in 8 different working sessions that allowed to deepen the knowledge regarding biodiversity data needs in our
One of the aims of the Genetic Composition Working Group (GCWG) is to support the integration of genetic data and monitoring into management and policy. Over the last year, the GCWG’s main focus has been the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), given the urgent need to improve the wording
EuropaBON held its first stakeholder event on user and policy needs in May 2021. The objectives of the workshop were two-fold: 1) secure commitment by the EU Commission and other high-level policy agencies, including the EEA and Eurostat and 2) reach out to and actively engage stakeholders in the different
The Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (CBMP) has released its third “State of the Arctic Biodiversity Report” – this time focused on the terrestrial environment – along with the 2020 updates to the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report (released in 2017). The similarity of findings across CBMP’s assessments in
The Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Observation Network (APBON) was launched in 2009 as a network of institutions and research groups in the Asia-Pacific region. The network contributes to and utilizes a knowledge resource base for decision-making and policy-making for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. Based on the achievements in the first
The Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) showcased the latest thinking for Advancing Collaborative Biodiversity Observations at the recent All-Atlantic2021 – All-Atlantic R&I for a Sustainable Ocean: Ministerial & Stakeholder Conference, from June 2 to June 4th, 2021. MBON responded to the All-Atlantic2021 Pledging Campaign, encouraging the creation of an All-Atlantic
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
