At the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, a groundbreaking tool known as the Global Ecosystems Atlas was introduced on October 22, 2024. Developed by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), this innovative atlas aims to map, monitor, and evaluate ecosystems globally. It plays a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, tackling climate change impacts, and managing land degradation effectively.
The Global Ecosystems Atlas integrates national ecosystem data with advanced Earth observation technology, artificial intelligence, and field data. This combination creates a comprehensive global picture, providing consistent information across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments. The atlas aligns with the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Global Ecosystem Typology, ensuring accurate data for ecosystem health, extent, and risks, which is crucial for sustainable management.
The atlas is instrumental in helping nations fulfill their commitments under international frameworks like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. By providing tools to monitor ecosystem health, it enables governments to track biodiversity indicators and protected area coverage, ensuring adherence to global biodiversity and sustainability targets.
This atlas serves as a resource for various stakeholders, including governments, businesses, local and Indigenous communities, civil society, and financial institutions. Policymakers can utilize the data for effective ecosystem management, while businesses can integrate ecosystem risk data into their strategies. Local communities, particularly Indigenous groups, gain insights to restore and protect ecosystems, and development banks align investments with sustainability objectives.
South Africa and Mozambique exemplify the atlas's impact, where it has facilitated cross-border conservation. These countries share vital ecosystems such as savannas and coral reefs, benefiting from collaborative monitoring through the atlas. Shared data enables coordinated conservation efforts to protect biodiversity hotspots and mitigate environmental threats.
The Global Ecosystems Atlas employs Earth observation systems, artificial intelligence, and extensive field data, providing high-resolution ecosystem mapping. This advanced technological framework fills data gaps, offering reliable and consistent data crucial for comprehensive conservation efforts.
Development banks and financial institutions leverage the atlas’s data to make informed, eco-friendly investment decisions. Aligning projects with sustainability goals, the atlas supports both conservation and economic development. Local communities benefit by accessing ecosystem data that aids in restoring and protecting natural habitats, linking ecological health to community livelihoods.
The Global Ecosystems Atlas offers accessible, reliable data on biodiversity, essential for addressing urgent issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and habitat degradation. It empowers policymakers, conservationists, and investors to make informed decisions, ensuring the sustainability of ecosystems and enhancing resilience against environmental threats. As the saying goes, “Conserving ecosystems today is an investment in life for future generations.”
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