# Presentation: 272678

## Taking the Pulse of the PlanetA Multi-disciplinary Approach to Biodiversity and Public Health

**Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. U.S. Navy (Ret.)**
**Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and**
**Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)**
**September 14, 2006  ****•  National Museum of Natural History ****•**** ****Washington, D.C.**

**Taking the Pulse of the Planet****A Multi-disciplinary Approach to Biodiversity and Public Health**

**Notes:**

Thank you, Dr. Foley.  And thank you Dr. Farland, and Drs. Joe Roman and Montira Pongsiri (Pon-sir-ee) for developing this important forum and workshop.

Without the sound science, we  will not have the sound health policies on which sound decision-making must be built -- health policies designed to  advance prevention, early warning and more rapid problem-solving.  

So I congratulate each of you for investing your time to be here today. I am not a health professional, as so many of you are, but I believe we share the perspective that the health of the human species depends directly on the health and condition of our planet. Fostering close and continuing interaction between the Earth science, conservation, and public health communities is key to a scientific examination and understanding of this link.  

I believe one of the most pressing needs for improving human health and well-being is to bring together -- in one system -- the many disparate entities that include health and environmental data and observations. We must connect the scientific dots to better understand the link between our environment and public health. 

For science to be sound, we need more than snapshot assessments. We must incorporate observations into models that can be used to forecast and prevent or mitigate health concerns before they become a crisis. 

In short, to best meet 21st-century concerns, 21st-century approaches and technology must be as integrated as the planet they aim to observe, predict and protect.     

## Dr. Ray Berkelmans, Australian Institute of Marine Science

**Dr. Ray Berkelmans, Australian Institute of Marine Science**
**Great Keppel Islands/Great Barrier Reef**

**Notes:**
The efforts of  NOAA and others to protect fragile coral reefs reflects a move from understanding and monitoring to more forward-looking management approaches.

Worldwide tens of millions of people depend on biologically diverse coral reef ecosystems for all or part of their livelihoods. Coral reefs are a major source of protein -- and more than  a billion people rely on reef-related fisheries. 

Coral reefs also offer tremendous pharmaceutical promise. This rich and still largely undiscovered biodiversity within our oceans is sometimes called the medicine cabinet of the 21st century, holding out hope for cures for cancer, heart disease, HIV, arthritis and other serious diseases.    

[click]

Bleached corals rob us of this promise. Coral bleaching is an example of an environmentally-caused disease that works something like black lung disease or air pollution-induced asthma. 

Corals stressed by high water temperatures and high light lose the algae that provide the color.  When they are injured or lost, there are human as well as environmental consequences. 

More efforts are needed to better understand how we can proactively manage these ecosystems to maintain biological diversity and prevent loss. 

##  4 DHWs   	coral bleaching is expected

****** ****4 DHWs ********  ****	****coral bleaching is expected**
****** ****8 DHWs ********  ****	****mass bleaching and mortality are expected**

- NOAA Coral Reef Watch

**Notes:**

NOAA is developing new management tools, including screening and other methods, that can be applied when forecasts indicate that warming is likely to occur.  

We are using observations and forecasts to better target management strategies designed to mitigate multiple stressors such as pollution, fishing, tourism, and transportation. Tourists, for instance, can still visit but they are advised to be especially careful of reefs during a warming event. 
[click]  

This animation shows the NOAA “Coral Reef Watch Degree Heating Week” product during a 2005 Caribbean coral bleaching event. Every week of the event is reflected, from the July onset through October conclusion. 

NOAA's Coral Reef Watch and the developing Coral Reef Ecosystems Integrated Observing System monitor the health of coral reefs using satellite and in situ observing systems. State-of-the-art software applications are integrating data in ways that help measure the pulse of these important ecosystems. Research is underway to measure and forecast threats. 
                                             [click]

## ESA Initiative: Solving the Ebola Enigma

**ESA Initiative: Solving the Ebola Enigma**

## Outbreak Detection and Response

**DAY**

**CASES**

**- 120**

- Adapted from J. Davis, Climate Adaptation
- Workshop, Nov. 2003

**Outbreak Detection and Response**

**Notes:**
I believe our shared goal is to get ahead of the curve. 

In a typical epidemic scenario, the first step is to detect the first case, then to report it, then to gain laboratory confirmation whenever possible -- and finally to respond.

The goal --  to reduce morbidity and mortality -- is reflected by the total area under the curve. As you can see, the red area under the curve indicates normal morbidity and mortality -- with the yellow area reflecting the only opportunity to mount a response and reduce health impact. The response is mounted only after the epidemic has already peaked and is on its natural path out of a population. 

The key point is that the opportunity to control the epidemic in such a scenario is relatively small.

## Effective Health Early Warning

**DAY**

**CASES**

**Effective Health Early Warning**

**- 120**

- Adapted from J. Davis, Climate Adaptation
- Workshop, Nov. 2003

**Outreach and stakeholder involvement**

**Notes:**
But look at the difference in this slide.  Earth observations and monitoring provide the opportunity to shift the whole scenario forward.
The red area under the curve is much smaller than in the previous slide, indicating a reduction in morbidity and mortality. By shifting the process forward in time, the opportunity to control an epidemic starts much earlier, allowing public health measures to reach a much greater number of people in a more timely, efficient way. This is reflected by the large yellow area under the curve.
A key element on this slide is the box on the left indicating Earth observations and monitoring information. If you start with some early indicators about environmental conditions conducive to an outbreak, you have a chance to shift the curve toward a healthier outcome.

## A Global Earth Observation System of SystemsGEOSS

**A Global Earth Observation System of Systems****GEOSS**

**Notes:**
I believe we can do that through GEOSS, the Global Earth Observation System of Systems. In time, GEOSS can help us get ahead of the curve. The benefits to the global health and conservation communities, and to just about every other sector of society, are expected to be  profound.

Bringing many different types of data and other information together can be quite a challenge. In NOAA alone, we have identified 99 separate observing systems measuring over 500 different environmental parameters. That's why one of the real strengths of GEOSS will be its end-to-end infrastructure for data management, sharing and access. 

By integrating physical and biological data from Earth observations with many other types of information, we will be able to answer many more questions -- and improve our ability to make sound decisions to protect human health and the environment. 

Data on population distribution, production and transport of chemicals, and hurricanes and floods, for instance, can be factored into emergency management decisions. Data on weather and stream flow can be factored into the management of drinking water. Data on ecosystem diversity can be a factor in detecting the next emerging diseases.     

## From Observation to Action

**Achieving Comprehensive, Coordinated, and Sustained Earth Observations for the Benefit of Humankind**

**Notes:**
As you can see, almost every one of GEOSS's benefits overlaps with the priorities of both the conservation and health communities. 

Two topics of this forum are addressed directly: 

Understanding environmental factors affecting human health and well-being; and 

Understanding, monitoring, and conserving biodiversity.

## 65 Countries and the European Commission

**Algeria**
**Argentina**
**Australia**
**Bahrain**
**Belgium**
**Belize**
**Brazil**
**Cameroon**
**Canada**
**Central African**
** ****Republic**
**Chile**
**China**
**Croatia**
**Cyprus**
**Denmark**
**Egypt**
**European**
**  ****Commission**
**Finland**
**France**
**Germany**
**Guinea-Bissau**

**Honduras**
**Hungary**
**Iceland**
**India**
**Indonesia**
**Iran**
**Ireland**
**Israel**
**Italy**
**Japan**
**Kazakhstan**
**Latvia**
**Luxembourg**
**Malaysia**
**Mali**
**Mauritius**
**Mexico**
**Morocco**
**Nepal**
**Netherlands**
**New Zealand**
**Niger**
**Nigeria**

**Norway**
**Paraguay**
**Philippines**
**Portugal**
**Republic of Korea**
**Republic of the**
**   ****Congo**
**Russian Federation**
**Slovak Republic**
**Slovenia**
**South Africa**
**Spain**
**Sudan**
**Sweden**
**Switzerland**
**Thailand**
**Tunisia**
**Uganda**
**Ukraine**
**United Kingdom**
**United States**
**Uzbekistan**

**www.earthobservations.org**

**65 Countries and the European Commission**

**43 Organizations**

**Notes:**
Support for GEOSS is growing. In three years, 65 countries, the European Commission, and 43 international organizations have committed to making GEOSS operational over the next decade.

A 10-year plan is now being implemented.

## U.S. Group on Earth Observations

**www.noaa.gov/eos.html**

**U.S. Group on Earth Observations**

**Department of Commerce**
**  ****National Oceanic and Atmospheric**
**   ****Administration**
**  ****National Institute for Standards and**
**   ****Technology**
**Department of Defense**
**  ****U.S. Army Corps of Engineers**
**  ****Navy**
**  ****Air Force**
**  ****National Geospatial-Intelligence**
**   ****Agency**
**Department of Energy**
**Department of Health and Human Services**
**  ****National Institute of Environmental **
**   ****Health Sciences**
**Department of Homeland Security**
**  ****Federal Emergency Management**
**   ****Agency**
**Department of the Interior**
**  ****U.S. Geological Survey**
**Department of State**

**Department of Transportation**
**Environmental Protection**
**Agency**
**National Aeronautics and**
**Space Administration**
**National Science Foundation**
**Smithsonian Institution**
**Tennessee Valley Authority**
**U.S. Agency for International**
**Development**
**U.S. Department of Agriculture**
**  ****Agriculture Research Service**
**  ****U.S. Forest Service**
**White House Council on**
**Environmental Quality**
**White House Office of**
**Management and Budget**
**White House Office of**
**Science and Technology Policy**

**Notes:**
The U.S. plan will be a valuable contributor to the global plan. 

Several others countries also have plans in development.

## GEOSS Operating Principles

**Open and Transparent Process**
**Standardized Practices and Protocols**
**User-friendly Formats**
**Interoperable Components**

## 

**Mosquito Surveillance**

**Social Factors**

**Demographics**

**Climate**

**Global Observations**

**Sea Surface Temperature**

**Land Cover**

**Land Use**

**Other observations**

**Local/Regional Observations**

**Weather**

**Disease Surveillance**

**GEO-NETCast**** **

**Malaria Case Example**

**Notes:**

A new GEOSS product called GEO-NETCast is now in development. Via satellite, it will bring vital information to the global public health and many other communities in user-friendly form. As a real-time global data dissemination system, GEO-NETCast will support a range of societal benefits and be one of the important data dissemination systems within GEOSS.
Decision-makers and others will have timely access to urgently needed, improved information products that are produced, at least in part, through the use of Earth observations. 
GEO-NETCast will include medical data and information that can be crucial to your work -- biological data about disease vectors and pollutants, not just physical data about rainfall, temperature,  mudslides, and tsunamis. 

In order to understand the critical connection between our environment and our health, information now on thousands of disparate databases around the globe might be incorporated, and we hope you will join us in identifying them.   
Here is how GEO-NETCast might work in addressing malaria: [click] 

[click again after “GEO-NETCAST” comes up]

## GEO-NETCast 

**Malaria Case Example**

**GEO-NETCast**** **

## www.earthobservations.org

**The goal is to access the right information,****in the right format, at the right time, ****for the right people, to make the right decisions.**

**www.earthobservations.org**

**Notes:**
This is our vision for a world with GEOSS. There is contact information on the website, and we encourage you to write and let us know where and how GEOSS can be most useful to you. Thank you.