Abstract

EBVs (Essential Biodiversity Variables) and GIS
Track: Conservation
Authors: Roger Sayre

EBVs (Essential Biodiversity Variables) are an emerging conservation and earth observation paradigm analogous to ECVs (Essential Climate Variables). Just as ECVs have guided the implementation of a Global Climate Observing System by parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, EBVs have been proposed as the basis of biodiversity monitoring programs across the globe (Pereira et al., in review, Science). While many of the genetic- and species-level EBVs will be difficult to assess spatially, the ecosystem-level EBVs are more amenable to global geospatial characterization and analysis. Twelve Essential Ecosystem Variables (distribution, structure, function, condition, community composition, uniqueness, species properties, phylogeography, phenology, threats, protection, and ecosystem services) are characterized with respect to suitability for geospatial analysis. Given the fact that ecosystems occupy space and can be geospatially delineated, many essential ecosystem variables can be geospatially conceptualized as attributes of ecosystem occurrences.