Earth observation has transformed our ability to see the planet. But what we choose to observe, and who decides what counts as evidence, remains a socially embedded question.

As Parties move from global review to national implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), this session frames the gap between data and action not only as technical, but also as a gap between knowledge systems: between satellite imagery and the place-based expertise of Indigenous Peoples and local communities; between the natural sciences that build indicators and the social sciences that explain how decisions are made; and between the institutions that hold data and the generations who will live with its consequences.

This session aims to test a simple hypothesis: new solutions for implementation emerge from new ways of observing. It aims to bring together young researchers and practitioners, Indigenous and local knowledge holders, Earth observation specialists, policymakers and social scientists for a cross-sectoral conversation on how to widen what counts as “observable,” who gets to observe it, and why.