GTOS
The Global Terrestrial Observing System Programme
B-GTOS
GTOS role in biodiversity science and conservation
GTOS Steering Committee Meeting (SC-IV), 30 Nov-02 Dec 2009, Paris
B-GTOS Strategy - Foreword
GTOS role in biodiversity science and conservation
B-GTOS has been up to now a GTOS activity
GTOS through its
programme activity
Biodiversity GOTS
is contributing to
provide support to
reduce the rate of
biodiversity loss.
B-GTOS Strategy – Conventions
GTOS role in biodiversity science and conservation
The Biodiversity GTOS Initiative (B-GTOS) is an outcome of
the work by GTOS in assessing the needs of the global
biodiversity community in achieving Target 2010 and
beyond, within the framework of Biodiversity-Related
Conventions (CBD; Convention on Migratory Species of
Wild Animals CMS; the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands;
and the World Heritage Convention) and related
multilateral environmental agreements.
B-GTOS Strategy – Goals
GTOS role in biodiversity science and conservation
The B-GTOS 5 strategic goals:
1. To conserve biodiversity and sustainably use biological resources;
2. To enhance understanding of ecosystems and resource management
capability;
3. To promote an understanding of the need to conserve biodiversity;
4. To provide incentives and guidelines that support the conservation of
biodiversity and the sustainable use of biological resources;
5. To work with stakeholders and share equitably the benefits that arise
from the utilization of genetic resources.
B-GTOS Strategy – Stakeholders
GTOS role in biodiversity science and conservation
Expected users and stakeholders:
• International
Conventions: UNCBD, UNCCD, UNCMS, UNFCCC, &
Ramsar.
• Regional and international agencies and institutions: plans to protect
biological diversity.
• National Governments and NGOs: planning and executing appropriate land
and water management to protect biodiversity (WWF, IUCN, etc.).
• Global Change research community: for detecting global change and its
connection to biodiversity (University research departments, international,
national, regional research institutions/ laboratories; include ESA, NASA, etc.).
• Scientific community: for improve University, Research entities, etc. capacity
to study biological diversity and provide products reliable and available for all.
• Sponsors and Donor Group: B-GTOS will need to attract sponsors and
donor support in identifying linkages of interest with GTOS goals (FAO, UNEP,
ICSU, UNESCO, etc.).
• Sister Global Observing Systems and relevant initiatives: (GEOSS,
DIVERSITAS)
B-GTOS Strategy - Foreword
GTOS role in biodiversity science and conservation
B-GTOS: the past activities
‘Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity’ is one of the
intended core areas of GTOS.
Over the past decade a number of large biodiversity
observation initiatives have emerged. GTOS recognized
their existence, helped to promote their activities, partnered
with them as necessary, and adjusted its own role and
strategy accordingly.
B-GTOS helped convene the first biodiversity information
user group meeting in Geneva in 2006.
However the topic had not been significantly developed in
terms of products or services.
B-GTOS Strategy – Activities
GTOS role in biodiversity science and conservation
synergies between satellite analysis and field research
are essential for biodiversity monitoring and enforcing
capacity to provide services to users
Potential GTOS activities for 2010-2015 period:
• Ecosystem level (maps, LCCS, fragmentation and connectivity,
ecosystem vulnerability, bdv indexes, etc.)
• Specie level (rare species, invasive species, change of habitats,
database on
• georeferenced species,
• etc.)
B-GTOS Strategy – Guidelines
GTOS role in biodiversity science and conservation
B-GTOS strategy for 2010-2015 period could follow this guidelines:
• Coordinating development of new Earth observation initiatives and their applications to
sustainable management and monitoring of terrestrial ecosystems and biological diversity
with priority focus on societal benefit areas identified by MDGs, WSSD, WSIS and GEOSS;
• Support International Environmental Conventions (UNFCCC, CBD, CCD, Ramsar
convention on Wetlands) in meeting their objectives related to biodiversity
• Further strengthening GTOS networks and capacities for sustained global observation of
terrestrial ecosystems and global biodiversity awareness, and efficient interaction with the
other global observing systems (GOOS and GCOS);
• Assisting developing countries with strengthening their institutional capacities for effective
use of biological diversity observation data and information products.
• Improving the management and protection of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems by
monitoring changes in land cover and land use, land degradation, and water pollution that
could affect biodiversity.
B-GTOS Strategy – Outreach
GTOS role in biodiversity science and conservation
B-GTOS could undertake the following
outreach activities during 2010-2015 period:
• Appraisal workshops on biodiversity for policy-makers;
• Management and development of B-GTOS and TEMS
internet Web site;
• Newsletters and pesentation of B-GTOS activities at
scientific conferences.
• Strengthening international cooperation in sharing
Biodiversity Observation data and developing information
products.
• Capacity building
GTOS role in GEOBON
The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity
Observation Network was formed as a result of a
process which had GTOS involvement from the
start.
Bob Scholes (at that time the B-GTOS chair) was
appointed by GEO to the Implementation Planning
Task Team for the GEOSS with the task to flesh
out the Biodiversity Societal Benefit Area and the
Ecosystems Societal Benefit Area.
GTOS role in GEOBON
GEOSS in its 2007 workplan called for a
GEOBON planning task (BI-07-01). The call
was directed at, and taken up by, DIVERSITAS
and NASA. The B-GTOS chair represented both
GTOS and DIVERSITAS in the process. An Interim
Steering Group was formed (with many members
from GTOS team + marine people). The ISG
drafted a Concept Document, from which an IP
was developed and a descriptive paper was
published on Science (Scholes, RJ et al 2008
Towards a global biodiversity observation system.
Science321,1044-5).
This led to the GEOBON initiative.
GTOS role in GEOBON
A GEOBON SC formed in January 2009 (chair B. Scholes).
The execution takes place via working groups that are
developing IP and thinking about products:•
1. Genetic level (Tet Yahara and Daniel Faith)
2. Terrestrial Species Monitoring Programmes
(Henrique Pereira)
3. Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring (Rob Jongman)
4. Freshwater Ecosystem Monitoring (Ian Harrison)
5. Marine Ecosystem Monitoring (Jan de Leeuw and Carlo
Heip)
6. Ecosystem Services (Hal Mooney)
7. In-situ / Remote-sensing Integration (Simon Ferrier)
8. Informatics and Portals (Hannu Saarenmaa and Eamonn O
Tuama)
GTOS role in GEOBON
GTOS, despite not yet having a developed biodiversity area,
currently occupies a key position within the GEOBON
network. GTOS is the acknowledged coordination point
for international land cover mapping and monitoring projects.
Possible future GTOS niche:
1. Develop a ‘biodiversity relevant’ land cover interpretation,
following the principle that all land cover legends should
follow the LCCS specifications
2. A second key issue for biodiversity is fragmentation and
connectivity (decide which minimal set of metrics to chose)
3. Take note of the global ecosystem maps under
development in GEOSS task EC-09-01a: Ecosystem
Classification and Mapping.
GTOS role in GEOBON
Other potential GTOS contribution
1. A global ecological interactions database. This would
take the conceptual form of ‘Species A was observed to
interact in way X with species B’, along with the time, place
and identity of the observer. Such a database does not yet
exist in shared form anywhere, and is not planned by any of
the key players.
2. A community database (also called a plot database).
This would contain species that are observed to coexist at a
given location and time.
GTOS and CBD
(notes from Robert Hoft, CBD Sec)
Parties and stakeholders to CBD are currently discussing an
updated Strategic Plan. Over the past years, efforts were
made to assess biodiversity trends on the basis of a suite of
indicators with the members of the 2010 Biodiversity
Partnership leading data mobilization, analysis and
interpretation. It is anticipated that the post 2010 framework
will continue to depend on biodiversity observations,
information, knowledge and assessments. GTOS has so far
not been an active actor in this process as it could.
The last CBD CoP welcomed the establishment of GEOBON. CBD would like to better understand linkages – if any –
between GTOS and GEO-BON. CBD SBSTA would like to
be informed about the new GTOS strategic plan especially
on biodiversity.
B-GTOS… now?
B-GTOS Draft Strategic Document on Biodiversity
What is the importance for sponsors to have a B-GTOS?
What is your vision on B-GTOS (continue/leave?
activity/panel?)?
Do you see any conflicts/overlaps with GEOBON? Or do you
envisage synergies?
Other issues?