"Integrating Earth Observations with Biodiversity Science to Address Global Targets" Jeannine Cavender-Bares, Distinguished McKnight University Professor (University of Minnesota) Recording available

Time is running out to limit further devastating losses of biodiversity and nature’s contributions to humans. Global biodiversity monitoring networks are rapidly improving our ability to observe and understand patterns of biodiversity change worldwide. Preventing biodiversity loss requires theoretical and conceptual tools that synthesize incoming data, estimate uncertainties, improve data collection, detect trends, attribute trends to drivers, project future changes under differing socioeconomic scenarios and compare results, and design efficient mitigation strategies. In short, modeling is now needed more than ever to translate data into action. A new working group and knowledge-to-action hub are being launched within GEO BON to address these needs. In this session, we seek contributions to this working group that explore recent advances in biodiversity modeling, including challenges and opportunities for integration and expansion, incorporation of mechanisms, accurate error propagation, scaling across space, time, and diversity, and new opportunities through artificial intelligence. We will then facilitate a panel discussion on the next steps for how best to make progress toward integrating these advances into GEO BON efforts. Organizers: Mark Urban (University of Connecticut) Greta Bocedi (University of Aberdeen) Damaris Zurell (University of Potsdam)

In the run-up to the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework the biodiversity monitoring and modelling community delivered a range of methodologies, pilot demonstrations, and global information products to link from biodiversity data to Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) and formal UN CBD indicators. Now a next phase has begun to translate these into effective tools for target tracking and decision support by CBD parties, NGOs, industry, and other stakeholders. This session will feature activities for making this important link for species distributions and abundances. Organizers : Walter Jetz (Yale University) Melodie McGeoch (LaTrobe University)

The 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework established for the first time protection of genetic diversity of species globally. However, we still lack accurate estimates of genetic diversity loss across many species or predictive frameworks that can use indicators for monitoring. This session aims to bring researchers addressing questions such as: how much genetic diversity species across countries have lost through large macrogenetic meta-analyses, theoretical tools to understand and predict long-term losses, practical scalable approaches of genetic diversity recovery, and policy narratives to combine indicators with existing data and models. This knowledge will be critical to enable scalability of genetic diversity protection targets and goals. Organizers: Moi Exposito-Alonso (Stanford University)

The GBF stresses that nature can be conserved, restored and used sustainably if the drivers of changes (changes in land and sea use, overexploitation of natural resources, climate change, pollution and invasive alien species) and their underlying causes are properly addressed. The compounding effects of biodiversity stressors are likely to exacerbate the degradation of nature, as already seen in vulnerable ecosystems. The monitoring of these drivers is an essential component of the detection and attribution of biodiversity changes. The session will showcase and review best practice examples in the use of Earth Observations for monitoring the drivers of biodiversity changes. Organizers: Marc Paganini (European Space Agency - ESA) Clement Albergel (European Space Agency - ESA)

This session will highlight innovative approaches to freshwater biodiversity monitoring worldwide, showcasing solutions to challenges encountered at various stages of the data cycle, from primary observations to assessment and transformative actions. We will cover topics including advances in technology (e.g., AI, automated instrumentation, remote sensing), approaches in data management; addressing gaps in taxonomic and ecological research; improvements in data mobilization; increasing the freshwater focus in biodiversity assessments and initiatives; optimizing workflows from primary data to essential biodiversity variables across ecological hierarchies; supporting multiple knowledge systems in freshwater biodiversity monitoring (e.g., Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Indigenous methodologies); and improving the detection and attribution of freshwater biodiversity change resulting from multiple drivers, offering insights into how these changes can be monitored and mitigated. Organizers : Luiz Silva (ETH Zurich) Jennifer Lento (Canadian Rivers Institute and University of New Brunswick) Thilina Surasinghe (Bridgewater State University) Eren Turak (FWBON)

Satellite observations play an important role in biodiversity and ecosystem monitoring, complementing other observations to characterise changes and their drivers. The impact of climate change on biodiversity, the capacity of species to adapt, the resilience of ecosystems, thresholds to irreversible changes, and the contribution of ecosystems to climate feedbacks - e.g., via impacts on carbon cycling - are urgent, policy-relevant research topics to which satellite observations can contribute. In the context of the definitions of the Essential Climate Variables and Essential Biodiversity Variables, this session invites novel demonstrations of satellite-derived products for R&D feasibility and contribution to understanding these interactions and impacts. Organizers: Clement Albergel (European Space Agency - ESA) Sophie Hebden (European Space Agency - ESA/Future Earth)

We will explore implementation of the Europa Biodiversity Observation Network including focusing on sampling design, open data infrastructures, protected area monitoring, and data intelligence. Our focus will be on utilizing Essential Biodiversity Variables workflows and data-driven scenario planning through platforms like EuropaBON, GBIF, NaturaConnect, Biodiversa+, and B-Cubed. By connecting different initiatives along the data value-chain, our goal is to support transformative policy and conservation action in Europe. We will feature short presentations and a panel discussion to share knowledge on halting and reversing biodiversity change, as well as its societal contributions and place this regional initiative within an international context. Organizers: Miguel Fernandez (iDiv, B-Cubed, NaturaConnect, EuropaBON) Nestor Fernandez (iDiv, NaturaConnect, EuropaBON) Quentin Groom (Meise Botanic Garden, B-Cubed) Tim Hirsch (GBIF) Junker Jessica (iDiv, EuropaBON) Andrew Rodrigues (GBIF, B-Cubed) Petteri Vihervaara (SYKE, Biodiversa+) Piero Visconti (IIASA, NaturaConnect)

The Julia programming language offers both high performance and ease of writing. In this session, we will see how it can be used to deal with biodiversity data, as well as environmental predictors, to enable scalable pipelines for data analysis. In particular, we will explore how the language can blend data management with machine learning, using a variety of state-of-the-art packages. Throughout this workshop, we will produce a species distribution model from openly available data, perform validation, and visualization, as well as range forecasting under climate change scenarios. Some programming experience is preferable, but not mandatory. Organizers : Timothée Poisot (Université de Montréal)

The Multidimensional Biodiversity Index (MBI) is a policy-focused index that aims to monitor thestatus of biodiversity and its contributions to people in an easy-to-communicate manner. The index incorporates ecological and socio-economic perspectives on biodiversity to support policy decisions and ensure that ecological integrity, human wellbeing, and sustainable development priorities are considered. The conceptual framework of the MBI has been published and is now being piloted in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America through an inclusive, co-designed process, involving decision-makers, experts, and relevant stakeholders. The diverse circumstances of the pilot countries in terms of data availability and stakeholder needs will test the utility of the MBI in national and global biodiversity reporting settings. We propose a workshop presented by four country pilots championing this research initiative lead by UNEP-WCMC on developing a MBI. The session will present and discuss the range of methods and approaches being employed, as well as the challenges with regards to data mobilization, accessibility, and implementation opportunities through mechanisms such as the CBD or IPBES. Organizers : Andrea Baquero, Ana Rodrigues, Neil Burgess (United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, UNEP WCMC) Pilot Partners: South Africa: South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) Vietnam: WWF Viet Nam Colombia: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt Switzerland: Sanu Future Learning AG and the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), Swiss Biodiversity Forum

The added value in terms of services and tools of the PNDB and Data Terra communities is to offer standardized analytical workflows through virtual research environments (VRE), from raw data standardized by metadata (e.g. Ecological metadata language, ISO19115) to indicators. The data will come from various observatories and/or observation structures (citizen science, environmental DNA or remote sensing platforms etc.). Thus, to fully understand the framework "biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and essential variables (EOVs, EBVs, ECVs)", these VREs will build an integrated framework through a continuum ranging from the land to the deep ocean via the coast. Following this, and based on the EBV, the French BON, is developing an integrated framework for 1) extracting EBV information from raw data using Ecological Metadata Language , 2) running reproducible ecological analysis through open-access workflows, and 3) producing biodiversity indicators thanks to the Galaxy-Ecology collaborative platform . This case study focus on i) advancing conceptual developments related to EBV, such as the complementarities between essential variables (EOVs, EBVs, ECVs) and Pressure-State-Response frameworks or the improvement of the research/expertise interface, ii) implementing EVs for and with various communities (scientific research, expertise and policy makers), and iii) operationalizing EVs based on existing technologies (EML, Galaxy-Ecology). Organizers : Yvan Le Bras (National Museum of Natural History, MNHN) Olivier Norvez (The French Foundation for Biodiversity Research, FRB, & National Museum of Natural History, MNHN) FrenchBON community (PNDB and Data Terra teams)

Understanding historical species and ecosystem distributions is crucial for disentangling human-environment interactions and establishing conservation baselines. While EBVs play a key role in biodiversity change detection, they are primarily derived from recent time series. Meanwhile, the data for developing “historical EBVs”, going back centuries, often remains hidden in historical written sources and natural archives. This workshop aims to identify (1) sources of historical material within the BONs, (2) existing efforts and repositories to mobilize the historical data and (3) approaches and bottlenecks in the integration of sparse data across EBV classes. This will also be key for future conservation applications. Organizers : Laetitia M. Navarro (Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC) Catalina Munteanu (University of Freiburg) Adam Spitzig (Harvard University) Duarte Viana (Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC) Miguel Clavero (Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC)

The rapid and dangerous decline of fauna worldwide requires creative solutions to improve biodiversity monitoring. Ecoacoustics has greatly improved our ability to monitor biodiversity efficiently across time and space. Continuous survey data - such as those yielded by ecoacoustic monitoring - are essential for informing conservation efforts. This introductory workshop will guide participants through an example acoustic monitoring workflow, from sampling design to deployment to analysis. Participants will learn about different use cases (with particular emphasis on GBF indicators), the technology involved, and analysis options. Attendees will receive hands-on training with recorders (Audiomoths) and a free data analysis and interpretation platform (Arbimon). Organizers: Marconi Campos-Cerqueira (Rainforest Connection) Carly Batist (Rainforest Connection)

Chat with poster presenters across all topics! FREE food and non-alcoholic beverages provided. For poster presenters: posters must be in portrait orientation. Dimensions should not exceed 91.44 cm wide by 121.92 cm long (36" wide by 48" long). Don't forget to upload your e-poster on Fourwaves beforehand.