Summary Report
AP-BON Task Group at 11th GEOSS Asia-Pacific Symposium (GEOSS-AP)
The Task Group (TG) 2 of AP-BON was held as one of the working group of the parallel session of10th GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems) Asia-Pacific Symposium
Outline of the meeting
Date: 24th – 26th October, 2018
Venue: Kyoto TERRSA, Kyoto, Japan
Co-Chairs: Tetsukazu Yahara (Kyushu University, Japan); Sheila Vergara (ASEAN Center for
Biodiversity, Philippines); Yongyut Trisurat (Kasetsart University, Thailand)Participants: 27 persons and 8 nationalities
Objectives:-To review the achievements of the last AP BON workshop (especially about the work plan paper)-

To implement work plans specific to regions and subjects through the concrete collaborations of
AP BON contributors, including observation strategies in some candidate master sites-

To implement work plans for the data collection, sharing, integrated analysis, and synthesis tomeet the scientific questions and societal needs (e.g., UN’s sustainable development goals, i.e.,SDGs)-

To discuss the development of newly incorporated collaborators and/or field sites in AP regions-

To consolidate our discussion as the implementation plan of future AP BON and its collaboration
with other Task Groups in Asia Oceania GEOSS and other associated international initiatives
Outline of the proceedings<Opening Session>
Kazuo Somiya (Ministry of the Environment)
The opening remarks were given by Mr. Kazuo Somiya, representing Ministry of the Environment,
Japan. He welcomed all participants and expressed depth of gratitude to co-chairs of AP-BON, Dr.
Yahara, Dr. Sheila and Dr. Yongyut. In addition, he referred to the background and achievement ofAP-BON established in 2009. He also introduced the step as an important part of GEOBON andexpected exchange of various views on biodiversity during the two-day discussion. Finally heemphasized that how AP-BON can contribute to other task groups of GEOSS.

Tetsukazu Yahara (Kyushu University)
Briefly explained the agenda of the plenary and introduced the COP 20 scheduled to be held in
Beijing in 2020 as an important timing for the activities of AP-BON. Therefore the three groups ofterrestrial, land water and marine biodiversity are going to have the opportunity to exchange opinionsand discussions vigorously among the goals of each group.
Sheila Vergara (ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity)
Dr..Sheila expressed her gratitude for being able to participate the plenary session and said she
expected to get various discussions and feedback during the GEOSS AP symposium.
Yongyut Trisurat (Kasetsart University)
Dr. Yongyut also expressed appreciation for participating the plenary session then expectated theparticipants to contribute to the world community by advancing their own research.
Plenary Presentations:
Chair: Tetsukazu Yahara (Kyushu University)- Achievements of the last AP-BON workshopTetsukazu Yahara (Kyushu University) and Sheila Vergara (ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity)
At first, Dr. Yahara introduced the agenda of the workshop and presented the achievements of last
AP-BON workshop from four aspects; collaboration, ongoing observation, monitoring and promotingobservation.
The first on collaboration, he presented that the next AP-BON Strategy and Workplan would
mainstream AP-BON in the Global conservation agenda.
The next on ongoing observations, he also mentioned that species specific observations contributed
to knowledge on site management (e.g. egarowanas in Sarawak).
The third about monitoring, he introduced the Monitoring Sites 1000 project which visualizes thelong-term impacts of climate on biodiversity.
The fourth was Spatial Planning for protected areas. He also referred to the Trait-based mapping offorest functions and their applications.
Lastly he encouraged the participants to promote the results of work through a visual media such asinfographics.

- New ideas for a revised work plan from 2019 to 2021
Tetsukazu Yahara
Dr.Yahara presented the history of AP-BON and other network activities, and the current schemeof AP-BON. He also shared a next step of AP-BON including 5 projects as follows;
Project 1: Plant diversity assessment (1A),Plant phenology observation (1B),
Trait diversity assessment (1C)
Project 2: Freshwater fish assessment;
Project 3: Coastal biodiversity assessment;
Project 4: Networking observation sites;
Project 5: Developing Tailor-fit Indicators and Visualization Tools.
Then Dr. Yahara gave examples of networking observations by citizen, which had leaded the goodsuccess in Korea, Japan and flora of Vietnam Facebook group.
- Recent progress in GEO BON
Laetitia Navarro (GEO BON)
Dr. Navarro firstly gave update and current progress on the GEO BON activities. Referring to themission and vision of GEO BON, she emphasized that the GEO BON’s core focus should be on“developing the essential biodiversity variables” and “developing the biodiversity observationnetworks” which is expected to lead to “producing policy relevant outputs”.
Keynote presentation and discussion (from forest):- Networking of forest plots in Asian countries
Chair: Kaoru Kitajima (Kyoto University)
Dr. Kitajima firstly overviewed the current networking of forest plots among Asian countries andreported forest GEO plot network of Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS) with 67 forest plots,in 27 countries, 6 million trees and 12000 species. She also introduced the current situation in detailof 29 CTFS large plots in Asia and the regional tree cover loss by driver for the period 2001-2015.
Finally she raised some points to be discussed.
- Relationship among phenology, ecosystem process, and biodiversity
Chair: Shin Nagai (JAMSTEC)
Dr. Nagai presented on the relationship among phenology, ecosystem process and biodiversity. Heemphasized the importance of secondary forests in Southeast Asia from four aspects as below;
1) Collection of phenological information for discrimination of tree species
2) Collection of in situ phenological observation data3) Collection of phenology images taken by time-lapse digital cameras4) Collection of ground-truth for land use and land cover change- Possible linkage with the UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere programme
Chair: Yayoi Takeuchi (NIES)
Dr. Takeuchi had a brief description of the mechanism on how circumstances of the people livingin the society with nature would be affected the preservation of biodiversity. In this sense, UNESCO’sMan and Biosphere program could be one of the best practice which promoted the implementation ofconservation collaborated with the local people and local community environment. Then she invited
Dr. Dedy to introduce the actual practice observed in Indonesia.
- UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere programme in Indonesia
Dedy Darnaedi (Universitas Nasional Jakarta)
Dr. Darnaedi also presented on the possible linkage with the UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere
Program especially on Biosphere Reserve in Indonesia. He introduced the definition of BiosphereReserve (BR) first and the balance relationship between human and nature, and shared the basic
concept of site management Biosphere Reserve. There are 669 BRs in 120 countries, and 11 BRs inIndonesia (2016) are supported by government. He also provided some examples such as Cibodas BR,
peat land BR, marine resource BR, and figured out some common problems of Biosphere Reserves inIndonesia.
- Evaluation of ecosystem services and biodiversity in river basin scale
Chair: Yongyut Trisurat (Kasetsart University)
Dr. Yongyut presented evaluation of ecosystem services and biodiversity in River Basin Scale.
He used a case study of lower Mekong River on his presentation. He mentioned the Transboundary
River Basin, basin-wide assessment of ecosystem services, and talked about the species vulnerability
in limited occurrences. Two methods, biological trait-based approach and regional and national
experts were also mentioned. He had a brief introduction of Ecosystem area and shifts; Water Yields
and Food security.
Keynote presentation and discussion (from fresh water):- Threats and future of freshwater fish biodiversity in Southeast Asia
Chair: Yuichi Kano (Kyushu University)
Dr. Kano presented on the threats and future of freshwater fish biodiversity in East and SoutheastAsia. He also mentioned some issues of freshwater fish biodiversity and habits in Southeast Asia suchas pollution, habitat loss, global warming, plantation and alien penetration. He also introduced somepossible monitoring sites in order to maintain the long-term monitoring of freshwater fish biodiversity
in Southeast Asia with methodology to be taken.
1) Inle lake
2) Steung Treng
3) Ubon Ratchatani4) Baleh River- Activities in TERN Australia
Mark Grant (TERN)Mr. Grant introduced Australia’s land ecosystem observatory and NATONAL DATA COLLECTION
including the data openness of TERN on the field, airborne and satellite. He also introduced the detailof each scaled observation such as continental, regional and local scale. Temporal data streams
contributing to achieving SDGs were emphasized and detailed in his presentation. Essential measuresand environmental economic accounting as well as national environmental prediction system wereinvolved in his presentation.
Keynote presentation and discussion (from marine):- Feasibility of large scale analysis and potential networking as AP-MBON
Chair: Takehisa Yamakita (JAMSTEC)
Dr. Yamakita presented on the feasibility of large-scale analysis and potential networking as referredas AP-MBON. In his presentation, four points were described as points to be developed
1) Networking networks and to revive past activities to observe spatial-temporal patterns;
2) To facilitate broad scale researches and production of infrastructure3) To facilitate gathering the information of recent topics
4) Outreaching and increase communication of people.
Finally he announced the reason why society needed AP-MBON.
- Possibility of the collaboration with AOGEOSS
Chair: Hiroyuki Muraoka (Gifu University)
Dr. Muraoka introduced to the participants about the current discussions around the collaboration withAOGEOSS task group and emphasized the Interdisciplinary scientific studies by sharing thematicareas, geographical targets, mapping exercise on SDGs, Sendai framework and Paris Climate
Agreement.
He also requested some advice for “Kyoto Statement” from TG2 members.

Group session (forest, fresh water, marine):
In this session, participants discussed by focusing on the following themes.
After this, participants were separated into three working groups and discussed in their particular
topics. The discussions of each group were reported in the wrap-up session.
〔Themes〕
From forest:(a) Networking of forest plots in Asian countries (including the possibility of satellite tracking ofmigratory birds).
(b) Relationship among phenology, ecosystem process, and biodiversity.
(c) Possible linkage with UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme.
(d) Evaluation of ecosystem services and biodiversity in river basin scale.
From fresh water:(a) Networking and achievements of freshwater fish biodiversity observation in Southeast Asia.
(b) Subsequent monitoring of freshwater fish biodiversity in Southeast Asia.
From marine:(a) Listing potential collaborators to join the network to observe spatial-temporal patterns(b) Facilitation of broad scale observations focusing on feasibility of pole-to-pole analysis(c) Recent monitoring methods to be considered in the above activities.
Wrap-up session (forest, fresh water, marine):
Session co-chair: Tetsukazu Yahara (Kyushu University), Sheila Vergara (ASEAN CentreBiodiversity), and Yongyut Trisurat (Kasetsart University)- Report from fresh water:
Presenter: Yuichi Kano
In fresh water group, Dr. Kano reported their discussions particularly on several monitoring sites
and introduced 3 possible methods to be taken in each site as follows;
Method1: Direct field sampling survey
Method2: eDNA
Method3: Market survey
And he also emphasized the importance of the budget to implement of the survey.

- Report from forest:
Presenter: Yayoi Takeuchi
Dr. Takeuchi introduced the discussion of forest group. The first point was to strengthen thenetwork among forest group as a priority especially the cooperation in social aspects emphasizing
the monitoring sites to be made available for the people in local area. Another point wassolutionoriented and interdisciplinary research with collaborating with the actual stakeholders. Insitu monitoring is also important and she also emphasized the contribution to SDGs.
- Report from marine:
Presenter: Takehisa Yamakita (JAMSTEC)
In marine group, Dr. Yamakita reported especially on Mangrove research and the boundary ofgeographical region. He also quoted the discussion of marine group with referring to fundraising andlisted potential funds.
(TG2 Participants)