AOGEO Task Group 2:

Asia-Pacific Biodiversity
Observation Network (APBON)
Co-chairs
Hiroyuki Muraoka (Gifu University and MEXT, Japan)
Yongyut Trisurat (Kasetsart University, Thailand)
Runi Shylvester Pungga (Forest Department Sarawak, Malaysia)
Working group leads
Yayoi Takeuchi (National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan)
Yuichi Kano (Kyusyu University, Japan)
Masahiro Nakaoka (Hokkaido University, Japan)
APBON is supported by the Ministry of the Environment Japan, the Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Japan, Remote Sensing Technology
Center of Japan (RESTEC), National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), and allother voluntary contributions.

APBON Strategic Plan toward 2030
Strategy:
1. Biodiversity research and monitoring
2. Networking of networks/communities
3. Capacity building
2009

2019
2020

2030

Missions:• Networking of institutions andresearch groups• Promoting collaborative projects
and shared information• Delivering a scientific knowledge fordecision makers for theconservation of biodiversity andecosystems

New missions:
CBD
COP15

Achievements:l Contribution to IPBES regional
assessmentl Data sharingl Engagement of scientists withnational and regional BONs
through meetings and projects
Key activities:

Promoting interdisciplinaryl Biodiversity research andresearch and problem-solving
monitoring: promoting national
approaches with filling theBONs, improving knowledge using
observational and knowledge gaps
cutting-edge technologies
l Promoting data sharing and datal Networking of networks:
accessibility through/by networking facilitating both science- andof the observation networks
policy-relevant society.
l Delivering our information andl Capacity building: training
knowledge to stakeholders andworkshops of monitoring skills for
global platforms
students and practitioners atNGOs

Broader collaboration and engagement
at regional and global scales, bymultidisciplinary approach to respond tothe national, regional and global needs.
Spa!al scale/Observa!onGlobalRegional

Na!onalEarthobserva!onand others

Biodiversity
observa!onand others

lNetworking/Facilita!ng

IUCN
and others
Regional assessment

Biodiversity datapla"ormFuture Earthand others
Research & funds

ForestGEO
and others
In-situ monitoringsite networks

Takeuchi et al. (2021) Eco Res. DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12212

12th APBON Workshop (January 22, 2021)(1) Developing national BONs and networking them in the region to contribute to CBD Aichi Biodiversity
Targets and post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework,(2) Filling observational and knowledge gaps for biodiversity status and trends to contribute to IPBES assessments,(3) Producing data and knowledge to address the issues particularly related to biodiversity and ecosystem sustainability
by coordinated activities with GEO and AOGEO,(4) Contributing to achievements of SDGs by providing adequate and defensible biodiversity data that help
developing policy for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity,(5) Learning and sharing the challenges of biodiversity issues under COVID-19 pandemic andon-going climate change.

I.

Development of BON and its contributions to society• The CBD Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (Basile van Havre, CBD)
• GEO BON’s net plans (Andrew Gonzalez, GEO BON)
• Progress on Aichi Targets in Hindu Kush Himalaya (Sunita Chaudhary, ICIMOD)• Status of Palau’s Coral Reefs (Yimnang Golbuu, Palau International Coral ReefCenter)

II. Updates of BONs in the region

ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity; SinoBON; Indonesia-BON; JBON; K-BON; Malaysia;
Nepal-BON; Thailand-BON

III. Working GroupsTerrestrial, Freshwater, Marine AP-MBON

IV. Engagement, networking and actions for 2021
• Introduction to Key Biodiversity Areas (Andrew Plumptre, KBA)
• Contributions to AOGEO• Activity plans 2021

43 participants from 13 countries(Japan, Cambodia, Canada, China,Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Palau,
Philippines, Thailand, UK, Vietnam)

Terrestrial Working Group
1. Emerging biodiversity issues under
the COVID-19 pandemic
2. Master site plan for long-term andmultidisciplinary observations ofbiodiversity and ecosystem
functions

Yayoi Takeuchi (NIES, Japan)

Alice Hughes(Xishuangbanna Tropical
Botanical Garden, CAS)

Mangal Man Shakya(Nepal BON)

Freshwater Working Group
1. Let’s make 3D models of fish
specimen by the photogrammy
2. Necessity of reference, voucher
specimen and parataxonomist forbiodiversity monitoring
3. Diversity and ecology of fish in theThai-Mekong Region with theimpact of Modernized in LMB
regionYuichi Kano
(Kyusyu Univ. Japan)
Chaiwut Grudpan(Ubon RatchathaniUniversity, Thailand)Kenzo Utsugi (INTEM
Consulting Inc., Japan)

Marine Working Group (AP-MBON)
1. Organization of AP-MBON (APBON Marine Capacity buildingGroup) membership and committee
2. Introduction of ongoing research projects(endorsed by AP-MBON)
3. Data Management (in relation to OBIS)
4. Contribution to GEO, AOGEO, GEOBON,MBON, UN Decade of Ocean Sciences, etc.
5. Capacity building
6. Outreach activities
New projects

Masahiro Nakaoka(Hokkaido Univ., Japan)

Summary: APBON’s inputs to AOGEO
APBON’s contribution to GEO Engagement Priorities
APBON provides adequate, long-term and defensible biodiversity data that help developing policy forconservation and sustainable use of biodiversity by developing the national and regional networks thatalign with the global networks to fill observational and knowledge gaps.
APBON concerns about the pandemic of zoonotic diseases as a biodiversity issue because of weak
resilience of natural system, the increasing contact with wildlife and livestock through land-use change,
wildlife exploitation, global transportation, and land exposure. Human activities are responsible for thesethreats and therefore the regional cooperation is essential to address this cross-cutting issue for healthy
ecosystems and sustainable society.

APBON’s work plan 2021 and beyond
APBON responds to the following new needs to the biodiversity observations:(1) developing national BONs and networking them in the region to contribute to CBD Aichi Biodiversity
Targets and post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework,(2) filling observational and knowledge gaps for biodiversity status and trends to contribute to IPBES
assessments,(3) producing data and knowledge to address the issues particularly related to biodiversity andecosystem sustainability by coordinated activities with GEO and AOGEO,(4) contributing to achievements of SDGs (11, 13, 14, 15) by providing adequate, long-term, site-based
and defensible biodiversity data that help developing policy for conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity, and(5) identifying the challenges of biodiversity and related cross-cutting issues under COVID-19 pandemic
and on-going climate and societal changes.