Global Ecosystems Atlas
What is the Global Ecosystems Atlas?
The GEO-convened Global Ecosystems Atlas is a collaborative effort to build the world’s most comprehensive, standardised, shared resource on the distribution, condition and change of all ecosystems.
The Global Ecosystems has established the methods, partnerships and capabilities to make consistent, trusted ecosystem data available to countries. It now offers governments two forms of support: Where national ecosystem maps don't exist yet, it provides usable data for national reporting, spatial planning and decision-making. Where countries want to map their own ecosystems, it offers methods, tools and technical support, aligned to the IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology.
The Global Ecosystems Atlas will also be a foundation for private sector action. As businesses face growing expectations around nature-related risk, disclosure and reporting, ecosystem data is helping them understand where their operations and supply chains sit, as well as the ecosystems they depend on and affect.
Why is COP17 important for ecosystems?
The Global Review at COP17 is expected to show that many countries still lack the ecosystem maps needed to plan, report on and act on their Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework commitments. Goal A and the Framework's ecosystem-related targets can't be implemented, tracked or verified without this foundational data.
The Global Ecosystems Atlas exists to close that gap, and two years on from Cali, COP17 is where that case gets made to the governments who need it.
Useful links
Contact: mcrook@geosec.org