defining essential biodiversity variables

European Biodiversity Observation Networkhttp://w

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Defining Essential Biodiversity

Variables

Rob Jongman,

Wageningen UR, Alterra

[email protected]


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• Establish an AHTEG to develop a

monitoring framework - measure progress

towards the 2020 targets

• Invitation to GEO BON and its

constituency to prepare an evaluation of

existing observation capabilities relevant

to the Aichi targets, as input to the

AHTEG meeting

CBD-CoP decision in Nagoya

2


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1. Ecosystems

2. Species

3. Genes

4. Ecosystem services

Focal Areas

4


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• What is changing?

• Why is it changing?

• What are the impacts?

Basic Questions

5


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Data Area estimation Article 17 Reporting

Used methods Quality of data

good moderate Poor Total

Ground survey 421 415 72 908

Remote Sensing 27 236 31 294

Expert Opinion 22 407 457 886

Total 470 1058 560 2088

vandenBorre et al 2011


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EU-FP7 2012 Call:

• Develop a global system of in-situ marine

and terrestrial observations, integrated

with remote sensing measurements, for

the monitoring and assessment of global

biological resources.

• Reinforce cooperation between national

governments, supporting the development

of national BON’s in Europe.


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Essential Climate VariablesDomain GCOS Essential Climate Variables

Atmospheric

(over land, sea

and ice)

Surface: Air temperature, Wind speed and direction, Water vapour,

Pressure, Precipitation, Surface radiation budget.

Upper-air: Temperature, Wind speed and direction, Water vapour,

Cloud properties, Earth radiation budget (including solar irradiance).

Composition: Carbon dioxide, Methane, and other long-lived

greenhouse gases, Ozone and Aerosol, supported by their

precursors.

Oceanic

Surface: Sea-surface temperature, Sea-surface salinity, Sea level,

Sea state, Sea ice, Surface current, Ocean colour, Carbon dioxide

partial pressure, Ocean acidity, Phytoplankton.

Sub-surface: Temperature, Salinity, Current, Nutrients, Carbon

dioxide partial pressure, Ocean acidity, Oxygen, Tracers.

Terrestrial

River discharge, Water use, Groundwater, Lakes, Snow cover,

Glaciers and ice caps, Ice sheets, Permafrost, Albedo, Land cover

(including vegetation type), Fraction of absorbed photosynthetically

active radiation (FAPAR), Leaf area index (LAI), Above-ground

biomass, Soil carbon, Fire disturbance, Soil moisture.


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Framework for EBV observation

Direct (in situ) biological & ecological

monitoring

Remote sensing of ecosystems &

ecosystem attributes

Mapping of conservation actions

e.g. protected-area boundaries

Sources of primary

change observations

from the biodiversity

domain

Derived measures

(indicators) of

biodiversity

change

Population trends

of selected

species

Extinction-risk

indices

Loss of particular

habitat types

Coverage &

representativeness

of protected areas

Inferred state of

overall biodiversity

Inferred benefits

(ecosystem

services)

Life history

attributes,

population

structure etc

Mapped / modelled

patterns of biodiversity

distribution

Pressures from

other domains

(climate change,

pollution etc)

Land- or sea-use

(ecosystem

intactness) Structural &

functional

ecosystem

attributes

Pressure

State

Benefits

Response

Measures of change in:


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EBV domains+potential variables

Domain

GEO BON Candidates for Essential Biodiversity Variables

(incomplete)

(bold: potential contribution by RS observation)

Oceanic

Coastal: phytoplankton, wetland extent (GWOS), coral/temperate

reef extent, reef health, invasive species

Sea: selected fish population size, sea mount extent/health, krill

biomass, sea chlorophyll, plankton recording,

Terrestrial

Habitat type, habitat distribution, habitat extent, NDVI-

phenology, Leaf area index (LAI), Above-ground biomass, Soil

carbon, Soil moisture, landscape fragmentation, species

migration routes selected species number/distribution (birds,

butterflies, mammals, plants), species populations, invasive species,

Freshwater

Wetland extent (GWOS), habitat distribution, habitat extent,

river fragmentation, (fish migration barriers), water pulse in lakes

and rivers, river permanency, lake area, biological water quality, fish

populations distribution, invasive species, distribution of selected species,

Genetic Domestic animal and plant diversity, genetic population diversity,


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Observation requirements

• Scale: 400 m2 minimum size: pixel <20m2

• Observation of narrow linear elements (streams,

hedges, reefs, grass strips), different heights

• Frequency: weekly to seasonal

• Accuracy: high precision to detect early changes

• Access: easy and low cost access

• Capacity building for users (agencies, NGO’s)

• Link with in situ (ground truth, statistics, species)

• Data continuity for long term assessment


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Tasks

• Identify which variables are primary

measurements through in-situ, RS, conservation

actions)

• Identify which variables can be derived from

combining primary measurements

• Identify links to essential variables in other

disciplines (e.g. ECVs), which can be used to

develop derived EBVs

• Set up a formal, peer-reviewed process for

establishing, maintaining, and updating EBVs


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Development of EBVs

• GEO BON takes the lead in the coming year

• Cooperation with GOFC-GOLD and CEOS

• Cooperation with CSIRO, NASA and USGS

• Cooperation with other parties

• Expert workshops to be held in 2012 and 2013.

• GEO/GEOSS is considering adopting the

Essential Variable concept for all SBAs, to help

define the interactions between SBAs elements

• Next meeting: Spring 2012, ESA Frascati?


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Thank you

defining essential biodiversity variables

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