GEOBONStructureTowards2020:
WorkingGroupsandBiodiversityObservationNetworks
Version2.2,26.01.20171
Background
ThecurrentworkingstructureofGEOBONwasconceivedin2009,andfollowedtheideaof
joining together scientists and practitioners around existing communities of practice on
biodiversityobservationsandresearch.Asmanyofthecommunitiesofpracticewerearound
ecological realms, we also created terrestrial, freshwater and marine working groups.
Furthermore,weidentified3verticallevelsofbiodiversity:genes,speciesandecosystems,
and organized specific working groups for those levels, mostly with a focus on terrestrial
ecosystems.Finally,GEOBONhadsomeintegrativeworkinggroups,suchastheecosystem
servicesandthemodellingworkinggroups.
ThisworkinggroupstructureprecededthedevelopmentoftheEssentialBiodiversityVariable
Framework and the concept of National, Regional and Thematic Biodiversity Observation
Networks,whicharekeyapproachesintoday’sdevelopmentofGEOBON.Italsopreceded
the new governance structure of GEO BON implemented in 2014. Therefore, the
ManagementCommitteeofGEOBONproposedinearly2016thatareorganizationofthe
workinggroupstructurewasdesirabletomatchandalignwiththekeydevelopmentactivities
andgovernancestructureofournetworkoverthelastfewyears.
FortheGEOBON2016OpenScienceConferenceandAllHandsmeeting(GEOBON2016OSC),
participantswereinvitedtosubmitworkshopsandideasforworkinggroupstodevelopan
implementationplanfor2017-2019.Theseideasandproposalswerefurtherdiscussedatthe
endofthemeetingbytheImplementationCommittee,theAdvisoryBoard,andworkshop
leaders.TheGEOBONstructureoutlinedbelowsynthesizestheresultofthosediscussions.
ThenewGEOBONstructure
GEO BON activities are structured into two main categories: (1) Working Groups; (2)
Biodiversity Observation Networks. In addition, both categories are supported by
Taskforces,builtaroundspecificissuesofcriticalrelevancefortheoperationsofGEOBON
and co-lead by members of the Management Committee and the Secretariat. The role of
Working Groups is to develop the concepts, methods and tools of the global biodiversity
observationsystem,andfocuslargelyaroundtheconceptofEssentialBiodiversityVariables.
TheroleoftheBiodiversityObservationsNetworksistoapplyandtesttheconcepts,methods
and tools to implement and enhance operational networks collecting observations and
providingdatatothecommunityandusers.TheBiodiversityObservationNetworksinmany
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Basedon“AproposalforanewWorkingGroupStructureforGEOBON”,3March2016.
instancescanalsobeseenasdevelopersandcontributorsofbestcasemethodsandtools.
The coordinators of the working groups and the coordinators of regional and thematic
biodiversity observation networks have a seat on the Implementation Committee of GEO
BON(Figure1),whichisthemainexecutivebodyofthenetworkandwhichelectsachairand
vice-chaireverythreeyears.TheImplementationCommitteereceivesstrategicadvicefrom
anAdvisoryBoardcomposedofrepresentativesoforganizations,governments,andexperts,
withagenderandgeographicallybalancedcomposition.ThedailymanagementofGEOBON
isconductedbytheGEOBONSecretariat,whichincludesseveralofficersinadditiontothe
Chairs.
Figure1.ThestructureofGEOBONfor2016-2019
WorkingGroups
WorkingGroupsarestructuredaroundparticularclassesofEssentialBiodiversityVariablesor
otherintegratingactivities.ActivitiesofworkinggroupscutacrossmultipleBONs,asWGsare
developing applied and relevant methods, tools and activities that ultimately support the
development of powerful, efficient and interoperable biodiversity observation networks.
Workinggroupshaveoneormultiplecoordinatorsandorganizetheirworkaroundafiniteset
of3to5activities,whichmayhavetheirownleads.Theoutputsoftheworkinggroups,and
particularlythedevelopmentofstandardEBVandecosystemservicemonitoringtoolsthat
wouldbedeployedviaBONinaBoxhasbeenidentifiedasoneofthemainexpectationsfrom
usersforGEOBON.ActivitiesofworkinggroupsmayalsoincludetheidentificationofR&D
gapsandneeds,alistofpriorityR&Dtopics,theestablishmentofTechnicalReadinessLevels
tohelptrackprogress,researchpapers,books,whitepapers,webapps,datacollectionand
analysis(e.g.modelling)tools,oranyothertoolinsupportofGEOBON.
AttheGEOBON2016OSC,threeworkinggroupsonEBVdevelopmentemergedaroundthree
majorEBVclasses:SpeciesPopulations;EcosystemStructure;andEcosystemFunctioning.
The Species Populations WG will develop the concepts and applied methods and tools
associated with the species distribution, population abundance, and population structure
candidateEBVs.TheEcosystemStructureWGwilldevelopcandidateEBVsandassociated
applied output products (e.g. methods, tools, models, etc.) such as Ecosystem Extent and
Fragmentation, Habitat Structure. The Ecosystem Functioning WG will work on the
developmentofEBVssuchasNetPrimaryProductivityandDisturbanceRegime,anddevelop
thecorrespondingappliedoutputproducts.ManyoftheseEBVscanbemonitoredthrough
RemoteSensing.However,itwasagreedthatweshouldnotstructuretheEBVWGsaround
specificmonitoringapproaches,asEBVsshouldbetool-agnosticandsincespecificmethods
canbeusedacrossmanyEBVs.
TheneedtoestablishWGsforotherEBVclasses(e.g.GeneticComposition,SpeciesTraits)is
recognizedasaprioritytobeaddressedbytheSecretariat.PotentialinterimWGleadswillbe
approachedhavinginmindtheestablishmentofthesegroupsbytheendof2016.
Afourthworkinggroup,theEcosystemServicesWGisnotdevelopingaspecificclassofEBVs
perse,butinsteadusingEBVsandotherdatatomonitorecosystemserviceschangeaswell
asdevelopingasetofEssentialEcosystemServiceVariables.Sincethegroup’sworkplanis
based on research on essential variable concepts, and tools and methods, rather than on
operational monitoring, it was agreed that it fell under the definition of a working group
rather than a BON. Finally, a fifth working group on Biodiversity Observation Networks
Development(BONDevelopment)willberesponsibleforcreatingadirectlinkbetweenthe
EBVworkinggroupsandtheBiodiversityObservationNetworks(Figure1).Thisworkinggroup
has the goal of bringing the concepts, methods and tools being developed in the other
workinggroupsintofruitioninthedifferentBONs,usingBON-in-a-Boxasoneofthemain
vehicles.Itwillalsoberesponsibleforsharingexistingandnewmethodsandtoolsemployed
by or created by the BONs to the Working Groups. The BON Development WG will also
supportthedevelopmentofnovelBONs,developtrainingandcapacitybuildingactivities,and
connectwithcitizenscienceinitiatives.
AllWorkingGroupswillproduceaworkplandocumentthatisintegratedintotheGEOBON
Implementation Plan. Those work plans include the WG’s main goal and objectives, the
approach chosen for membership and the designation of the WG leads, along with a
descriptionoftheWG’sactivities.TheactivitiesanddeliverablesoftheWorkingGroupsare
meanttocoverallrealms,whichshouldbereflectedintheircomposition.
Composition:Anyexpertmayparticipateinaworkinggroup,pendingapprovalbytheWG
leadsbasedondeclarationofinterestandsubmissionofCurriculumVitae.WGleadscanbe
suggestedbytheMC,butultimatelyareelectedbythemembersoftheWGandconfirmed
bytheIC.
BiodiversityObservationNetworks
TherulesofproceduretocreateaBiodiversityObservationNetworkunderGEOBONhave
beendescribedinaGEOBONwhitepaper2.BiodiversityObservationNetworksmaycovera
politicalunitsuchasacountry(NationalBON),aregion(RegionalBON),oraspecifictheme
(ThematicBON)suchasataxonomicgroup,ecosystemtype,orevenmonitoringapproach
(e.g.sitebasedmonitoring).ExamplesofRegionalBONsincludetheAsia-PacificBON,andthe
ArcticBON(CircumpolarBiodiversityMonitoringProgram).ThethematicBONsshouldalso
haveaninternational,andideally,globalcoverage.ExamplesofthematicBONsincludethe
MarineBONandtheFreshwaterBON.ABONaimsatcarryingoutbiodiversitymonitoringand
at making biodiversity data and data products publically available. It should have an
operationalcomponentofcollectingdataandmakingitaccessibleanditshouldnotbetime
bound,thatis,thesenetworksshouldbedesignedtooperateinperpetuity.Inpractice,in
many cases, emerging Biodiversity Observation Networks are communities of practice in
certainregionsorthemesandarestillworkingtowardsbecomingoperational.Adistinction
betweenoperationalBONsandemergingBONsmaybewarrantedinthefuture.Asitwillnot
be possible in the future to ensure that all National BON coordinators have a seat in the
ImplementationCommittee,itmaybeneededthatnationalBONsnotdirectlyaffiliatedwith
aRegionalBONelectarepresentativeintheImplementationCommittee(Figure1).
TheBONsproduceaworkplandocumentthatisintegratedintheGEOBONimplementation
plan.ThoseworkplansmustaddressthegoalsandactivitiesoftheBON,theirstatusinregard
totheendorsementprocessdevelopedbyGEOBON3,and,whenappropriate,theirapproach
toconnecttheiroutputswithstakeholders(e.g.policy-makers,nationalgovernments).
Composition:Thenetworkparticipants—bothindividualsaswellascomponentnetworks,if
applicable--aredecidedbytheregional/national/thematicnetworks.Atleastonecoordinator
shouldrepresenttheBON(RegionalorThematic)intheIC.Thenationalnetworksshouldalso
haveacoordinatorrepresentedintheregionalnetworks.
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http://geobon.org/Downloads/Other_documents/Draft_Criteria_for_BONs.pdf
http://geobon.org/become-a-bon/become-a-bon/
Taskforces
Somespecifictaskswereidentifiedthatmaynotrequireafully-fledgedworkinggroupbutdo
requirestrongcoordinationandinteractionfromtheSecretariat.UnliketheWorkingGroups,
taskforcesarespecificallydesignedtocarryonshort-termactivities.Theywillbeco-ledby
membersoftheGEOBONnetworkandbyamemberoftheManagementCommittee,thus
maintaining strong ties with the Secretariat. A few have already been identified: EBV
development; Data Portal and Standards; Policy and Indicators; and Funding. The EBV
development Taskforce will develop a conceptual framework for Essential Biodiversity
VariablesandastrategyforthecontinuingrefinementandendorsementofEBVs.TheData
PortalandDataStandardsTaskforcewillcontinuethedevelopmentoftheEBVwebsite,the
EBVdataportal,andwilllinkexistingactivitiestopromotedatastandardsforEBVs.ThePolicy
andIndicatorsTaskforcewilldevelopastrategytoengagepolicy-makersandlinktheEBVs
developed by the WGs to the indicators used to monitor global conservation and
developmenttargets.TheFundingTaskforcewilldevelopafundingstrategyforGEOBON
andengagekeyfunders.
Composition:duetotheirnature,thetaskforceswillbelimitedtofewermembersthanthe
workinggroupsandBONs.Memberswillbeinvitedbytheleadsofthetaskforcesbutcan
alsobesuggestedbytheIC.
IntegrationoftheWorkingGroups,Taskforces,andBONs
CommunicationbetweentheWorkingGroups,theBiodiversityObservationNetworks,and
the Taskforces will be essential to ensure the good functioning of GEO BON and the
achievementofitsmanytargets.Threemechanismsfacilitatethisintegration.First,theBON
DevelopmentWGactsasabridgebetweenWGsandBONs.Inaddition,theleadsofeachWG
andBONtakepartintheImplementationCommitteewhichreunitesquarterlyforanonline
discussion, and once a year in person. The Taskforces, being co-lead by members of the
ManagementCommittee,willalsohaverepresentationintheImplementationCommittee.
Thesemeetingsaremeanttofacilitateknowledgetransferandcommunicationbetweenthe
differentGEOBONactors.Athirdmechanismforintegrationisaquarterlyprogressreport.
ThisshortdocumentismeanttokeeptheGEOBONcommunityinformedonwhatisbeing
developed within the Working Groups, Taskforces and BONs, in terms of tools and EBV
developmentandmonitoring.Theprogressreportwillhencebeatoolforthesecretariat,as
wellasforalltheWGandBONsleads,toconnectwiththeGEOBONmembersworkingon
topicsrelevanttotheirownactivities.
Membershipandleadership
The Secretariat encourages the Working Group and BONs to be inclusive of the GEO BON
community, to have open membership, and to consider the geographic and thematic
distributionofitsmembers.TheconnectionbetweenpotentialmembersandWGleadswill
beoperatedviacommunicationontheGEOBONwebsiteordirectlybytheSecretariat.The
processtodeterminetheleadershipwithintheWGsandBONswillbelefttothediscretionof
the leads and members. If needed, the Secretariat can assist in the process of formal
elections.
UpdatingtheWGsandBONs
At any time, proposals for BONs or WGs may be submitted, which follow the structure
discussed here. The number of WGs will be kept small in order to avoid fragmenting the
community.Asaresult,insomecasesnewproposalsforWGsmaybedirectedtowardsjoining
existingWGsorTaskforces.ThereissomemorefreedomwiththenumberofBONs,butthe
secretariatwillalwaysencourageconnectionsbetweenrelatedBONs.
Responsibilitiesandfunctioningofthegovernancebodies(figure1)
AdvisoryBoard:
Responsibilities:meetsonceayeartoprovidestrategicdirectionandfeedbackonGEOBON
andfundinghelp.
Composition:RepresentativesofNGOs,governments,commercialcompanies,andexperts,in
ageographicallybalancedcomposition;influentialindividualsandwithgoodtiestofunding;
3yearterms,renewableonce.Itshouldbecomposedbyaround15individuals.
ManagementCommittee:
Responsibilities:dailyGEOBONoperations;meetatleastbimonthlytodiscussmoretechnical
andsubstantiveissuesregardingGEOBONimplementationandcoordination.
Composition: outlined below, includes both the employees of the GEO BON Secretariat
(Executive Secretary, Secretary, Programmer, Scientists), the Chair/Vice-Chair and other
Officers.TheChairandVice-ChairareelectedbytheICfor3yearterms,renewableonce.
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Chair:providesoverallleadership,coordinationandoversight;representingGEOBONatkey
meetings;canbeattributedaparticularsetoftasksforcoordination4
Vice-Chair:providingleadership;representingGEOBONatkeymeetings;canbeattributeda
particularsetoftasksforcoordination
Executive Secretary: engaging WG’s and activity leads, overseeing product delivery;
coordinatingtechnicaldevelopment(website,etc.),fundraising,representingGEOBONatkey
meetings
GEOScienceOfficer:managethelinkbetweenGEOBONactivitiesandtheGEOsecretariat;
GEOBONITOfficer:coordinationoftheWebPageandITinfrastructure
Secretary:providingassistancewithalladministrativeandmanagementduties
GEO BON Scientist(s) working at the Secretariat to provide scientific outputs and support
regardingsubjectsdirectlyrelatedtoGEOBON
OtherOfficersandmembersoftheGEOBONSecretariat:otherofficerscanbeproposedby
theImplementationCommitteeorManagementtoservespecifictasks.
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Forthecurrentmandate,thesplitoftasksbetweentheChairandVice-Chairhasbeenagreedasfollows.
Chair:coordinationofthescientificaspectsofGEOBON(e.g.developmentofEBVs);workingdirectlywith
ES.Vice-Chair:coordinationofnationalandregionalcapacitybuilding(e.g.BoninaBox).
ImplementationCommittee
Responsibilities:ImplementthedeliverablesandimplementationplanofGEOBON.Approves
annual budget. Elects the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Managament Committee. It has an
executive function, although much of the daily operation tasks are delegated to the
ManagementCommittee.Meetsbyphonequarterlyandinpersononceayear.TheChairand
Vice-Chair of the Management Committee are also the Chair and Vice-Chair of the
ImplementationCommittee.
Composition: Those actively engaged in implementing GEO BON including all members of
ManagementCommittee,WGLeads,TaskForcesleads,andNational,Regional,andThematic
BONcoordinators.NewmembersshouldbeconfirmedbythepeersintheImplementation
Committee.