"A Mission for Planetary Biodiversity" Paul Hebert, Director of Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (University of Guelph) Recording available

This session will explore how biodiversity monitoring capabilities and approaches in marine and inland waters can be aligned with terrestrial ones to track biodiversity change. Topics covered will include: 1) the role of thematic biodiversity observation networks (FWBON and MBON) and of existing programs (GBIF, OBIS, etc.) in building the Global Biodiversity Observation System (GBiOS) and measuring ecosystem services with a special focus on food/energy/water; 2) linking Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) with Biotic Condition Indicators of the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting framework; 3) benefits and feasibility of aligning biodiversity indicator dashboards for communicating biodiversity change in marine and inland waters; 4) opportunities and challenges for community-based monitoring and integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in aquatic realms; and 5) priorities for further indicator development to support national needs and international agreements such as the Kunming-Montreal GBF, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the UNFCCC Paris Agreement. Organizers: Frank Muller-Karger (University of South Florida) Eren Turak (FWBON) Joana Soares (Atlantic International Research Centre)

Most monitoring and reporting activities focus on biodiversity, with ecosystem services (ES) mentioned alongside it. Existing frameworks are often less specific about measuring and monitoring ES. This is particularly true for the linkages between biodiversity and the social dimensions of ES (e.g., socio-cultural values, knowledge systems), all of them fundamental for appropriate action from multiple stakeholders in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity. This session invites contributions on how to advance ES monitoring, including the definition of indicators, the standardisation and harmonisation of data and concepts, and the integration of ES into wider sustainability reporting frameworks and agendas, among others. Organizers: Agnes Vari (McGill University) Flavio Affinito (McGill University) Ana Sofia Vaz (CIBIO) Nuria Pistón (University of Granada; Federal University of Rio de Janeiro)

This panel will introduce Omic BON, GEO BON’s first thematic BON focused on an observational technique: omics. Omic BON is a collaborative effort between national, regional, and global observing systems, standards and best practices organizations, and data and sample management infrastructures for omics. We will discuss the opportunities of integrating omics technologies into biodiversity monitoring efforts, as well as the challenges that come along with that, such as the need for standardization and interoperability across different observing systems and data infrastructures. The panel will provide a forum for participants to learn more about the Omic BON initiative and its partners, its goals and values, and how to get involved. Moderator: Margaret Hunter (Genetic Composition Working Group) Panelists: Katrina Exter (EMBRC) Lori Phillips (AAFC) Tim Hirsch (GBIF) Sujeevan Ratnasingham (BOLD) Chris Meyer (MarineGEO, OBON, Omic BON) Raïssa Meyer (GSC-TDWG, OBON, Omic BON)

Advances in remote sensing are continuing to open exciting new opportunities to monitor change in biodiversity and essential biodiversity variables across vast geographic extents. The presentations in this session will showcase cutting-edge examples of the many ways in which new satellite and airborne sensors are now being used to measure a growing array of structural, functional and compositional attributes of ecosystems across a wide range of spatial scales. Organizers: Simon Ferrier (CSIRO Environment) Ruben Valbuena (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

The ability to measure and predict biodiversity trends is essential for biodiversity conservation. This session focuses on the development and use of new tools and algorithms to improve our ability to monitor species and ecosystems. Organizers: Simon Ferrier (CSIRO Environment) Katie Millette (GEO BON Secretariat) Ruben Valbuena (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

Discoveries in academic research can lead to new tools or technologies for the study and surveillance of biodiversity, but the transfer of technology from the laboratory to the field comes with a unique set of challenges. It is important that support for academic research include resources for the implementation of new technologies into real-world use by industries, governments, or private partners. In this panel, researchers and end users from several research projects will present how they worked together to define and implement genomics tools into biodiversity monitoring strategies, ingredients of success, the challenges faced and opportunities looking forward. Dr. Langlois is a Project Leader for the iTrackDNA project, which is developing the very first national standards on eDNA detection and building eDNA kits for the detection of 100 species. She will be joined by Jean-Christophe Guay at Hydro-Québec, one of the end users for this project. Dr. Sunday, in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is developing new tools and protocols for the use of eDNA to monitor species present in Canada’s protected marine areas, and Dr. Robert has developed a SNP chip for the analysis of caribou samples, a tool which has been put to use by the MELCCFP, represented by Dr. Taillon. Speakers: Valérie Langlois (Full Professor, Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre, INRS) Jennifer Sunday (Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, McGill) Jean-Christophe Guay (Environmental Advisor, Hydro-Québec) Claude Robert (Full Professor, Université Laval) Joëlle Taillon (General Director of Wildlife and Habitat Management, MELCCFP)

Environmental DNA approaches are well-established for both targeted and taxonomically broad biodiversity characterization, however they are not yet widely applied beyond proof-of-concepts or pilot studies. To support large-scale and long-term environmental stewardship, especially as we face a climate emergency and biodiversity decline, we need standardized and robust eDNA workflows. Our session brings together leading experts in multidisciplinary programs that have developed and utilized eDNA for real-world applications within current regulatory regimes or for forward-looking environmental stewardship programs. We aim to demonstrate challenges and opportunities for applying eDNA as a routine measure of biodiversity in varied environmental settings. Organizers: Mehrdad Hajibabaei (University of Guelph) John Darling (US EPA) Florian Leese (University Duisburg-Essen) Kelly Goodwin (NOAA) Kristian Meissner (Finnish Environment Institute) Toshifumi Minamoto (Kobe University)

Map of Life offers an array of EBV-supported metrics, maps, and decision-support tools that link to a range of CBD indicators. Indicators include the Species Habitat Index, Species Protection Index, Species Information Index, and metrics supporting the assessment of Invasive Alien Species spread, addressing CBD Goals A and Targets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 21. In this workshop, we will demonstrate the different information products, algorithms, and tools available in Map of Life. We will work through several example applications of deriving custom information for areas of interest at different scales. Organizers: Alex Killion (Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change) Kevin Winner (Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change) John Wilshire (Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change) Kalkidan Chefira (Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change) Tamara Rudic (Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change) Walter Jetz (Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Scientific Chair of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation)

Half-Earth Day Hot Lunch - Brought to you by the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation with support from the MacArthur Foundation and GEO BON

Sponsored meeting

In partnership with the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation , GEO BON will host the organization’s annual Half-Earth Day® as part of Thursday’s global conference program. Half-Earth Day brings together people from around the world and across disciplines to share their unique perspectives on how to achieve the goal of Half-Earth and ensure the health of the planet for future generations. Half-Earth Day 2023 at the GEO BON conference will focus on how we can link information to action, fostering a conversation on how we can use the best available science to support communities in their understanding and stewardship of biodiversity, and to connect and empower community and stakeholder insights to ensure successful conservation outcomes. For more details please follow this link.

The Global Biodiversity Framework calls for a robust monitoring framework designed to support national reporting of progress towards the targets and goals. The monitoring framework uses indicators to track progress that use existing biodiversity data and new data derived from monitoring schemes (e.g. biodiversity observation networks, BONs). To support the process, GEO BON is developing an online platform that will help countries assess the information they have and guide monitoring to improve knowledge of the trends in biodiversity. Among other things, this platform called “BON in a Box” will calculate and display Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) and GBF Indicators based on transparent and reproducible workflows. It allows scientists to share validated work for others to use it more easily. But now: How can I share my work through BON in a Box? What are the benefits? This workshop will cover key concepts, technical elements such as the customization of pipelines and the integration of scripts, as well as resources available. Attendees of this workshop should be familiar with BON in a Box, either from attending the BON in a Box Intro Session on Tuesday or viewing the intro webinar (~45 min) recording. Organizers: Jean-Michel Lord (GEO BON Secretariat) Guillaume Larocque (Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science) Victor Julio Rincón Parra (Humboldt Institute)

PLEASE RSVP HERE Come and join your fellow students and early career researchers at Thomson House, home of McGill's Post-Graduate Students’ Society, just 10 minutes away from the conference centre, for a fun evening of trivia and socialising. The Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science invites all student attendees of the GEO BON conference to free food and games from 7-9 pm on Thursday 12th of October. The evening will start with a few rounds of biodiversity trivia with a prize for the winning team! You do not need to have a team before joining, you can form one on the night, making new friends is the whole point of the event. After the trivia is complete, food will continue to be served until we run out and there will be an opportunity to hang out with fellow students and early career researchers, order some drinks at the bar (cheaper than anywhere downtown!) and even play some table football. You won’t want to miss this event of the conference! For any questions, please contact Flavio at flavio.affinito@mail.mcgill.ca Where? Restaurant section of Thomson House, 3650 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC H3A 1Y2