GEO Biodiversity Observation Network

GEO Biodiversity Observation Network

Challenge

Global biodiversity change, including variation within and between species and ecosystems, is happening faster now than at any time in human history due to habitat loss, climate change, pollution, harvesting, and invasive species. There is often insufficient data on biodiversity and ecosystems, hindering effective monitoring of changes needed to guide conservation actions. Different sources of biodiversity data are often fragmented and not easily comparable or interoperable, making it difficult to assess biodiversity trends and drivers of biodiversity loss. Furthermore, the existing biodiversity monitoring capacity, in the form of structured and actively funded monitoring networks, is unequally distributed across the globe, yet policymakers are expected to make informed decisions about biodiversity management in all countries. The key challenge is, therefore, the mobilization of monitoring capacity (data, variables, models, and indicators) at the pace and scales required to support those decisions worldwide.

Solution

GEO BON is a global network of researchers dedicated to improving the acquisition, coordination, and delivery of biodiversity information at global, regional, and national levels. It facilitates the collection of biodiversity data from various sources, including remote sensing, field surveys, and citizen science, and develops standardized protocols and methodologies for data collection and reporting, ensuring consistency across different spatial scales and elements of biodiversity through essential biodiversity and ecosystem service variables. GEO BON and its partners support the monitoring of biodiversity change by coordinating and collaborating among biodiversity observation networks and developing indicators, tools, forecasts, and various information services in an open and transparent manner.

Intended Socioeconomic and Environmental Impact

By providing open and standardized tools and methodologies, GEO BON aims to grow the capacity of local and national monitoring efforts. A clear performance and impact indicator is the role GEO BON is playing in accelerating biodiversity monitoring worldwide. Increased visibility and accessibility to GEO BON’s Essential Variables framework, models and suite of indicators. GEO BON seeks to create local-to-national capacity for biodiversity monitoring and a comprehensive and sustainable network of biodiversity observation networks (BONs) that can inform conservation efforts and policies worldwide.

Objectives for 2025–2030

GEO BON’s objectives for the period from 2025 to 2030 focus on enhancing the coordination of global biodiversity monitoring. Key objectives include:

  • Assembling the network of biodiversity observation networks. GEO BON continues to expand and support the development of new Biodiversity Observation Networks (BONs) and align existing monitoring schemes to address gaps in biodiversity data. GEO BON is focused on improving data collection, especially in regions such as megadiverse countries and stressed ecosystems, including freshwater and productive marine areas where data are lacking. To coordinate monitoring efforts, GEO BON facilitates and promotes standardization in data collection and analysis across BONs to capture biodiversity changes over time. These efforts involve diverse contributors, including scientists, citizens, and indigenous and local communities, and focuses on creating coordinated peer-networks and integrating biodiversity monitoring across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. This is a significant challenge, by networking BONs, GEO BON aims to establish a Global Biodiversity Observing System.
  • GEO BON is mandated to support countries implementing the monitoring framework of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. GEO BON has contributed headline, component and complementary indicators, as well as the methods and data that underlie them. GEO BON also offers an indicator selection, calculation, and visualization service via its BON in a Box platform, providing an open-source platform that allows a user to select indicators and calculate them using national or global datasets, assisting users to report progress towards the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The platform ensures the indicator calculation process is repeatable, transparent, and rigorous. BON in a Box also supports collaboration between the indicator provider community and the indicator user community. It also help users to develop BONs by offering tools and models to improve data collection and optimize monitoring site selection.
  • GEO BON is developing a detection and attribution framework to quantify the impact of anthropogenic drivers on biodiversity changes, similar to methods used in climate science. This framework helps attribute changes, such as species distribution shifts or habitat loss, to factors like climate change or human activity, while considering natural variability. GEO BON aims to create a network of monitoring schemes across scales to provide essential biodiversity data, enabling the detection and attribution of trends, reducing uncertainty, and supporting scenario modeling for effective conservation policies and interventions.
  • Linking data to models and indicators with essential variables is an important ongoing objective of GEO BON. Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) are a key set of standardized metrics used to track biodiversity changes, while Essential Ecosystem Service Variables (EESVs) focus on the contributions of nature to human well-being. GEO BON provides a central hub for accessing EBV data through its online portal, with new datasets and technologies such as satellite remote sensing and molecular methods being integrated to improve biodiversity monitoring.
  • GEO BON is deepening its engagement with stakeholders to ensure that scientific evidence more effectively informs action on biodiversity. To address concerns about the slow translation of research into practice and enhance transparency, GEO BON is establishing Knowledge to Action Hubs (K2A Hubs) to foster collaboration between knowledge producers and users, following an iterative process that involves generating, synthesizing, and creating tools or products from biodiversity data. By assembling expertise from GEO BON’s Working Groups, Task Forces, and partners, the K2A Hubs will focus on key areas such as biodiversity indicators, modeling, and the detection and attribution of biodiversity changes.

How We Work

The GEO BON member network consists of over 3,600 voluntary scientific experts from numerous academic institutions and organizations in 152 countries around the world. Our members provide on-the-ground expertise and data needed for biodiversity monitoring.

The Secretariat team of GEO BON is responsible for coordinating the network’s activities, outreach, implementing its strategic objectives, and managing day-to-day operations. This team includes staff working on technical, scientific, engagement, and administrative tasks that drive GEO BON’s mission to enhance biodiversity observation on a global scale.

The governance bodies of GEO BON consist of the Management Committee, Implementation Committee, and Advisory Board. The Management Committee works closely with the Secretariat team, sets priorities, makes operational day-to-day decisions, and ensures alignment with GEO BON’s long-term goals. The Implementation Committee offers granular feedback from the perspective of its working groups, BONs, and task forces to ensure GEO BON’s initiatives are moving in the right direction. The Implementation Committee also provides oversight and strategic guidance from the perspective of other international activities and initiatives. The Advisory Board represents international organizations, governments, and experts, and provides strategic direction and feedback on GEO BON while also helping to secure funding.