AP-BON WG Session 2:
GEO Strategic Plan 2016-2025 and2017-2019 Work Programme

Challenges and opportunities of in-situ
observations in GEO 2017-2019
Work Programme
Hiroyuki Muraoka (Gifu University, Japan)

GEO Programme Board member (Japan alternate)

GEO Vision
To realize a future
wherein decisions and actions,for the benefit of humankind,
are informed bycoordinated, comprehensive & sustained
Earth observations & information.

Earth Observation Domains (examples)
Observation Fields

AtmosphereLand(Lowland)(Mountain)
Freshwater(Lake)(River)CoastOcean
Arcticetc.

Observation Themes

ClimateWeather
Carbon
Water
EnergyBiodiversity
Land-use and change
Foods
DisasterDisturbanceetc.

Scientific interests
User needs

GEOSS
Data
Knowledge
Information
 SDGs Tacking climate change Sustainability ofbiodiversity

Sound decision making

GEOSS Portal www.geoportal.org

Two important documents

GEO Strategic Plan 2016-2025: Implementing GEOSS[Approved at GEO-XII Plenary and Ministerial Summit in 2015, Mexico-city]

 GEO’s Vision Strategic Objectives [Advocate, Deliver, Engage] Societal Benefit Areas (SBAs)… Application oriented
 Implementation mechanisms[Flagships, Initiatives, Community Activities, Foundational Tasks]

GEO Work Programme 2017-2019[Approved at GEO-XIII Plenary in 2016, St. Petersberg]

 Flagships (4) Initiatives (22)
 Community Activities (31) Foundational Tasks (10)The Four Implementation Mechanisms to realize
GEO’s vision and maximize the benefits to users

From GEO Strategic Plan 2016-2025

SBA: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Sustainability
GEO Flagships

Related activities (examples)

GEO Biodiversity Observation network (GEO BON)
Global Forest Observation Initiative (GFOI)GEO Initiatives

The GEO Global Ecosystem Initiative (GEO-ECO)
GEO-GNOME Initiative: GEO Global Network for Observation and Information inMountain Environments
GEO Carbon and GHG Initiative
Earth Observations for Ecosystem Accounting (EO4EA）
Ocean and Society: Blue Planet

Community Activities

Africa Global-scale Geochemical Baselines for mineral resource and environmental
management: Capacity-building phase
Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Early Warning System
For Global Mangrove Monitoring

Foundational Tasks

GEOSS development and GCI operations
GEOSS in-situ observation resources
User needs and gap analysis

Fostering networking(s)with other in-situ observations and satellite observations
What? Where? How? Who? Observational, cultural and other Gaps?

GEO Foundational Task: “In-situ observation resources”
Objectives are to,• Review the on-going in-situ observations, its locations, thematic coverage, andshowcases, to identify the opportunities and risks;• Analyze the user requirements and identify gaps of current in-situ observing systems
such as sensor networks, air-borne and field monitoring;• Foster and facilitate the data and information access from all in-situ observation
networks in the task and integration with Space based observations; and• Support and strengthen the improvement and coordination of individual existing andplanned in-situ observing systems characterizing the Earth system domains(Atmospheric, Oceanic, Terrestrial);• Analyze the current and expected science and technology to fill the observational gaps,
and to help propose future strategies of cross-domain, cross-disciplinary and crossplatform observations (such as seeking cross-domain Essential Variables).
ILTER will help the Terrestrial domain for exercise… If interested, please contact Muraoka

Cross-scale & Multidisciplinary observationof Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Earth system and ecosystems
Biological and ecological processes(e.g., Satellite Ecology initiative)

Earth obs.

Satellite remote sensing

ALOS (JAXA)

Ecosystem obs.

Ecosystem and land-use types
Vegetation structure
Temporal change in ecosystems

Ecological process research,
tower flux obs. and modelingPrimary production (carbon cycle)
Eco-hydrology
Nutrient cycling

Biodiversity obs.

Species and genetic level research
Plant species distribution
Wildlife habitat assessment
Biological interactions(Muraoka et al. 2012)

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Sustainability:
by bridging multiple types of observation data and knowledge to provide
information on the health of Earth’s biological and ecological systems and theirservices to society;in order to strengthen conservation, restoration and sustainable use ofecosystems and biodiversity, including marine planning and ocean use, inresponse to changes in climate and land use, through science-society
collaborations at local, national, regional and global levels.

Concept to be shared?
Common theme?
PlatformObs sites?
Databases?
Actionable plan?
Pilot / prototype activity?
Communications?
Players?

8 Societal Benefit Areas
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Sustainability:
by bridging multiple types of observation data and knowledge toprovide information on the health of Earth’s biological andecological systems and their services to society;in order to strengthen conservation, restoration and sustainable useof ecosystems and biodiversity, including marine planning and oceanuse, in response to changes in climate and land use, throughscience-society collaborations at local, national, regional and global
levels.

Integrated observations needed
Atmospheric CO2
Global Surface status

http://data.gosat.nies.go.jp/Gosat
BrowseImage/browseImage/fts_l2_swir_co2_gallery_ja.html

Biodiversity and Ecosystem
In-situ Observation networks

http://modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html

CARBON and WATER as the majorcommon components of Atmosphere,
Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Climate, Weather, CO2
Changes in Biodiversity,
Ecosystem functions
and their services
Human activity What do we “deliver” tothe users?
 Where and How do weobserve and integratethem?
 How do we find theconsequences withenvironmental changes(e.g., climate change)?

Integrated observations neededAtmospheric CO2

http://data.gosat.nies.go.jp/Gosat
BrowseImage/browseImage/fts_l2_swir_co2_gallery_ja.html

Biodiversity and Ecosystemobservation networks

Global Surface status

http://modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html

Climate, Weather, CO2
Changes in Biodiversity,
Ecosystem functions andtheir services
Human activity

Planning the observation strategy for Biodiversity
Issues to be Considered in Biodiversity Observations• Spatial distribution of the observation sites• Delivery of Information and Knowledge to Users• Link with other observations
What, Where and How?
• Site networks• Cross-cutting issues over SBAs
• Community networks• Integration• Interpretation and Translation• … “co-design” is also neededNetworking theNetworks andObservation Sites“Super-sites” for multi-disciplinary andcross-scale obs.

(Muraoka et al. 2012, AP-BON Book1)

ILTER-EAP18

Recommendations
 “Network of networks” would foster long-term and cross-cutting
observations and predictions (cf., BON, LTER, FluxNet, MRI, etc.)

 Shared scientific theme(s), with cross-cutting issues and hypotheses, canbe the driver to link the networks and to progress ‘cross-ecosystem’ science inbroad spatial scale Coordination of observation of biodiversity/ecosystems, atmospheric CO2(in-situ monitoring; satellites GOSAT, OCO-2) and climate, from landscape to
global scales, are needed Super-site concept promotes integrated understanding of climatebiodiversity-ecosystem consequences and changes

 Ecophysiological and biophysical analyses of satellite RS data will
help further observations, and development of new satellite sensors

Overview of GEO implementing Mechanisms

Recommendation
Existing local phenomena/data need to be examined together,along the environmental gradients and changes,
by building multidisciplinary and cross-scale networks.
(1) “Vertically shallow - laterally dense network”
to find the general relationships between climate and the phenological events ofplants, animals, birds and microorganisms.
[Simple observations (e.g., camera)](2) “Vertically deep - laterally sparse network”
to find consequences among climate, ecosystem structure and functions along theenvironmental gradients, by networking ‘super-sites’.
[Intensive / multiple obs.](3) “Linking biological, ecological and climatic data by GIS”
to achieve a comprehensive understanding on the climate - phenology of plants andanimals - ecosystem functions and services.
[Integration]

Phenology research by “Satellite Ecology” (since 2003)“Satellite Ecology (SATECO)” is an interdisciplinary approach to use satellite RS datafrom ecological, biophysical and ecophysiological
viewpoints and understandings.

Leaf observations

Satellite obs.
Landsat
QuickBird

Terra/MODIS

ALOS

GCOM-C (2017-)- Photosynthesis- Optical properties- Species specificity

Canopy obs. & models- Spectral reflectance- Foliage density (LAI)- Photosynthesis and carbon
cycle

Multi-scale observation for phenology of photosynthesis<< Linking ecophysiology and remote sensing >>Satellite remote sensing

EarthRegion

Ecosystem modelingTemporal scaling
Spatial scaling

250 - 1000m
In situ tower obs.
Remote sensing
CO2 flux

10m

Ecophysiological studies
Photosynthesis
Optical property

Landscape

Plot

Past

Muraoka et al. (2015) Ecol. Res. minutes

Present
hours days

seasons

years

FutureChallenges in Japan

Research plots forecosystem and biodiversity

Ecosystem – biodiversity relationships at research sites
Satellite RS + model(canopy phenology, NPP, etc.)
Broad-scale ecosystem-biodiversity monitoring and understandings(human impacts, disturbance and climate change, etc.)

GEO Strategic Plan 2016-2025: Implementing GEOSS (under consultation)
Societal Benefit Areas
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Sustainability:
by bridging multiple types of observation data and knowledge toprovide information on the health of Earth’s biological andecological systems and their services to society;in order to strengthen conservation, restoration and sustainable useof ecosystems and biodiversity, including marine planning and oceanuse, in response to changes in climate and land use, throughscience-society collaborations at local, national, regional and globallevels.

What do we plan and contribute?
How do we implement?
Revisiting the Objectives and Expected Goals
Re-shaping and Sharing the Objectives and Processes

Some ideas from J-BON during the exercise
Site and community networks [“Biodiversity Observation Super-Sites 3000” (BOSS 3000)]• Enhancement of super-sites: Increasing number of sites (plots) is required particularly indevelopmental countries, national parks, protected areas, and human-active areas.
• The observations need to focus on ecosystem functions and services (carbon storage,water cycle, resource supply, etc.), with their external driving factors (climate, CO2, landuse, disturbance/disaster).

Analysis and Integration• Prediction of changes and scenario analysis for ecosystem services by combining
biodiversity data, climate change, human activity and economy.
• Progress in analyses of biodiversity-related area for human well-being: ecosystem
functions, agriculture, disease.

Engagement• Capacity building in both developed and developing countries, and among the SBAs fordeeper understanding and co-working for biodiversity and ecosystem sustainability.
• Engagement of citizen observations and stakeholders for co-desing for detecting local
changes in biodiversity and for spreading the understanding and knowledge on biodiversity.

Objectives to be shared• Planning and implementing strategies for sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems,based on Data, Knowledge, and Information flows.
• Towards “Aichi Biodiversity Targets” and IPBES for sound decision making.

Exercise made for refining Biodiversity observation
Global Societal Challengesfor Sustainable Development
Refining SBABiodiversity (and Ecosystems)

Steps 1 & 2

Step 1: Re-visiting the GEOSS 10-Year IP (2005-2015)
and “Strategic Targets” for SBAs
Step 2: Reviewing the achievements
Step 3: Defining further challenges and requirements
Step 4: Defining contributions of GEOSS
Exercise in Japan (J-BON, MEXT, MoE)
Needs further discussions by the communities

Expected key outcomes GEOSS 2005-2015

4.1.9 Biodiversity: Understanding, monitoring and conserving biodiversity
Issues in this area include the condition and extent of ecosystems, distribution and status of species, and genetic
diversity in key populations. Implementing GEOSS will unify many disparate biodiversity-observing systems and create aplatform to integrate biodiversity data with other types of information. Taxonomic and spatial gaps will be filled, and thepace of information collection and dissemination will be increased.

Achievements (HM referred to GEO BON reports)• Establishment of biodiversity observation plots based on GEO BON and regional BONs, for investigating the status andchanges of biodiversity at genetic, species and ecosystem scales. Efforts made to link satellite, airborne and in-situ
observations, and modeling.
• Observations of biodiversity are tightly coupled with ecosystem types; terrestrial, freshwater, marine.
• Collaborations with institutions and networks (DIVERSITAS, EBONE, GBIF, ILTER, IUCN, NASA, UNEP, USGS, CBD, etc.)• Intensive observations, ecosystem service evaluation and capacity building in developmental countries (AP-BON).
• Detections of “Hotspots” and changes of biodiversity due to human activities and environmental changes.
• To gain operational biodiversity indicators: “Essential Biodiversity Variables” （Pereira et al. 2013，Science）.
• Reviewing Earth observation for Biodiversity monitoring for Aichi Biodiversity Targets (with CBD).

Challenges and opportunities for ecology communities
 Ecology meets Earth Observations
Multidisciplinary / Cross-scale Delivery of ecology to sustainable development Societal / User Needs
 Engagement of broad communities
Networking / Interdisciplinary

Chapin et al. (2000)

Targets: Biodiversity (and Ecosystems)

Exercise in Japan (J-BON, MEXT, MoE)
Needs further discussions by the communities

Steps 3 & 4
Challenges and further requirements• Enhancement of biodiversity observation super-sites: Increasing number of sites (plots) is required particularly indevelopmental countries, national parks, protected areas, and human-active areas. Mountains, freshwater, arctic andocean are also to be focused intensively as they are vulnerable to climate change. The observations should be linked
with ecosystem types and their functions and services (carbon sequestration, water cycle, resource supply, agriculture,etc.), and should be coupled with meteorological observations and remote sensing. [“Biodiversity Observation SuperSites 3000” (BOSS 3000)]• Capacity building and communications in developed and developing countries for deeper understanding and coworking for biodiversity conservation.
• Prediction of changes and scenario analysis for ecosystem services by combining biodiversity data, climate change,
human activity and economy.
• Planning and implementing conservation strategy of biodiversity and ecosystems, for sustainable use of natural
resources and persistence of sound environments.
• Progress in analyses of biodiversity-related area for human well-being: ecosystem functions, agriculture, disease.
• Observations / evaluations on the resilience of biodiversity and ecosystems to disturbance, disaster and climatechange.
• Collaborative works towards “Aichi Biodiversity Targets” for sustainable use of natural resources, by leading
biodiversity and ecosystem observations and providing data and knowledge.
• Engagement of and co-design with citizen observations for detecting local changes in biodiversity and for spreading
the understanding and knowledge on biodiversity.

Expected role of GEOSS 2016-2025

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Sustainability: Deeper and broader understandings, multiple and interdisciplinary
observations, and conservation of biodiversity, by science-society partnerships.
Human well-beings are challenged to realize resilient societies by sustainable use of natural resources and conserving
sound environments. Further progress and implementing GEOSS will enable us to bridge multiple observation data andknowledge to understand and detect current status and changes of biodiversity and ecosystems under climate change
and human impacts, in order to clarify and predict their services and risks of our today and future environments innations, regions and globe. GEOSS will be a platform for communications among Earth observation communities,
stakeholders and citizens over the world for the progress of biodiversity conservation to sustain the Earth system.

(draft)(Note: still needs further discussions by the communities)

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Sustainability

Global Challenges:
Sustainable Development Goals
Convention on Biological Diversity, ‘Aichi Biodiversity Targets’
Shared targets
To secure our sustainable use and conservation of ecosystem resources and soundenvironments under climate change and human impacts at national, regional and globallevels, by promoting deeper and broader understandings of biodiversity and ecosystems andtheir services, with enhanced science-society partnerships. The challenges promote ourvision of “Living in harmony with nature”.

Key contributions of GEOSSGEOSS bridges multiple observation data and knowledge, and be a platform for science-society collaborations, to understand anddetect current status and changes of biodiversity and ecosystems under climate change and human impacts, in order to clarify andpredict their services and risks of our today and future environments.
• Enhancement of biodiversity & ecosystem (+ climate) observation super-sites, particularly in developmental countries, nationalparks, protected areas, and human-active areas, and places vulnerable to climate change [Biodiversity Observation Super-Sites].
Land-use is of particular environmental changes.
• Supports in achieving “Aichi Biodiversity Targets” (CBD) by promoting integration of various data from satellite to citizen science.
• Interdisciplinary understandings and evaluations on the resilience of biodiversity and ecosystems to disturbance, disaster andclimate change (Eco-DRR), under current and future environmental and societal conditions in nations, regions and Earth.
• Prediction of changes and scenario analysis for ecosystem services by combining biodiversity data, climate change, human activityand economy. (Contribution to IPBES)• Capacity building and communications in developed and developing countries for deeper understanding and co-working forbiodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

Mexico City Declaration

2. Affirm that GEO and its Earth observations and information will support
the implementation of, inter alia, the 2030 Global Goals for Sustainable
Development…
8. Call on GEO to launch a GEO initiative to leverage Earth observations to
support the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the 2030 Global
Goals for Sustainable Development, building on the recent success of GEO’s
engagement with the United Nations on this issue.

Resolve to strengthen & facilitate active participationof developing countries, including through Regional
Initiatives – AfriGEOSS, AmeriGEOSS, AOGEOSSAOGEOSSThe GEOSS Construct has both Room and Need for aSpectrum of Activities
 Flagships
 Initiatives
 Community Activities
 Foundational Tasks

Initiatives

CommunityActivities

Each may support different objectives,
have different users, and vary acrossspatial, temporal, and thematic scales

Flagships

FoundationalTasks

GEO Flagship
GEO Biodiversity ObGlobal Forest Obser

GEO Initiatives
The GEO Global Eco
GEO-GNOME Initiat
Information in Mou
GEO Carbon and GH
Earth Observations
Ocean and Society:

Community Activiti
Africa Global-scale
environmental man
Harmful Algal BoolFor Gloval Mangrov
In situ #####