Framing the concept of Satellite Remote Sensing Essential Biodiversity Variables: challenges and future directions

The concept that satellite-based variables are key components to a unified and global biodiversity monitoring strategy has gained traction in recent months yet a definitive and agreed list of these variables still remains elusive. The growth of interest in biodiversity variables observable from space has been underpinned by the development of the Essential Biodiversity Variable (EBV) framework by the Group on Earth Observation – Biodiversity Observation Network, which itself was guided by the process of identifying Essential Climate Variables. This contribution introduces a set of definitions and principles that are believed to be necessary if ecologists and space agencies are to agree on a list of EBVs that can be routinely monitored from space. Progress towards the identification of satellite remote sensing EBVs (SRS-EBV) will require a clear understanding of what makes a biodiversity variable essential, as well as agreement on who the users of the SRS-EBVs are. Technological and algorithmic developments are rapidly expanding the set of opportunities for satellite remote sensing in monitoring biodiversity, and so the list of SRS-EBVs is likely to evolve over time. This means that a clear and common platform for data providers, ecologists and remote sensing experts to interact and share ideas needs to be identified to support long-term coordinated actions.

PETTORELLI Nathalie;  WEGMANN Martin;  SKIDMORE Andrew;  MUCHER S.;  DAWSON Terrence;  FERNANDEZ Miguel;  LUCAS Richard;  SCHAEPMAN Michael;  WANG Tiejun;  O'CONNOR Brian;  JONGMAN Rob H.G.;  KEMPENEERS Pieter;  SONNENSCHEIN Ruth;  LEIDNER Allison;  BÖHM Monika;  HE Kate;  NAGENDRA Harini;  DUBOIS Gregoire;  FATOYINBO Temilola;  HANSEN Matthew C.;  PAGANINI Marc;  DE KLERK Helen;  ASNER Greg;  KERR Jeremy;  ESTES Anna;  HEIDEN Uta;  SCHMELLER Dirk;  ROCCHINI Duccio;  PEREIRA Henrique M.;  TURAK E.;  FERNANDEZ Nestor;  LAUSCH Angela;  CHO Moses;  ALCARAZ-SEGURA Domingo;  MCGEOCH M.A.;  TURNER Woody;  MUELLER Andreas;  ST-LOUIS Véronique;  PENNER Johannes;  VIHERVAARA Petteri;  BELWARD Alan;  REYERS Belinda;  GELLER Gary; 

2016-04-07

John Wiley & Sons Ltd

JRC98398

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rse2.15/full,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC98398,   

10.1002/rse2.15,