Network of Biodiversity Observatories in Ibero-American region

Mercedes Bustamante

The combined effects of climate change, habitat loss, and predatory activities significantly threaten the Ibero-American region's biodiversity and terrestrial, inland aquatic, and coastal-marine ecosystems. A more complete understanding of environmental changes requires researchers working at different sites to interact and exchange experiences and data. New monitoring methods have been developed to increase efficiency, reduce costs, or increase sampling comprehensiveness in space and time. Satellite imagery, soundscape recordings of terrestrial vocalizing organisms, and environmental DNA (eDNA), among others, can contribute to monitoring programs at various temporal and spatial scales. Depending on the research questions and scales, a range of biodiversity metrics and sampling strategies may be appropriate. The session will discuss strategies applied by different research and seek synergies to improve regional collaboration and knowledge sharing. In addition, it will discuss how science can provide technical assistance to enhance the enforcement and implementation of environmental legislation and multilateral environmental agreements, issuing early warnings of emerging hazards, timely identifying vulnerabilities, and building and strengthening capacity at regional and national levels for integrated environmental assessments.