We live in a world of information and biodiversity data is no exception: the number of occurrence records in GBIF is growing at a pace of over 100 million records a year while the number of biodiversity monitoring programs and citizen scientists contributing biodiversity observations is also rising. However, biodiversity data still exhibits temporal, spatial and taxonomic gaps, while monitoring programs lack harmonisation and integration. To address this challenge, the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) has recommended the adoption of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs).
Results/Conclusions
In this talk we review the most important conceptual developments regarding EBVs over the last 8 years. The key idea of the EBVs approach is to fully harness the power of the data that is becoming available from multiple data collection streams, through data mobilization and modelling for a set of complementary and relevant dimensions of biodiversity. Such spatially- and time-explicit EBV datasets can then be aggregated at different spatial scales and combined with ancillary datasets on pressures (e.g., threats to biodiversity) and responses (such as policies) to produce biodiversity indicators that can simultaneously meet policy and management needs at multiple levels. Comparable approaches can be used to provide short-term biodiversity and ecosystem service forecasts and assess long-term scenarios of socio-economic development and climate change. We conclude with examples of application of the EBVs approach to assessing global biodiversity change and argue that such approach provides a more comprehensive understanding than recent global meta-analysis of biodiversity time series.