Biodiversity Collapse: Space for Climate

Improve the quality of available information

Scientists agree that global biodiversity loss is intensifying. Nevertheless, as an article in Nature claimed back in 2015, it is hard to assess progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets for 2011 to 2020 and beyond, set by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). One of these targets, for example, aims to halve global deforestation rates by 2020, but reliable indicators for deforestation that can be monitored remotely have not been developed or agreed on. National biodiversity monitoring programmes differ widely, most data sets are inconsistent, and few data are shared openly.

To improve the quality of available information, ecologists have proposed classes of ‘essential biodiversity variables’, including plant and animal species characteristics and populations, and ecosystem variables. But measuring these on the ground is laborious and limited.

Satellite remote sensing is crucial to getting long-term global coverage. It can rapidly reveal where to reverse the loss of biological diversity on a wide range of scales in a consistent, borderless and repeatable way. Variables such as vegetation productivity or leaf cover can be measured across continents from space.

Space Opportunities for Climate Challenges

The monthly ‘Space for Climate’ webinar series offer relevant information, news, events, calls, partners and customers for space applications related to climate challenges.

This first series of webinars is part of the “Open Campus” in which, Eurisy and dotSpace bring together research, government and industry experts to talk about their innovative solutions and funding opportunities. This highly multidisciplinary initiative also provides an open networking and knowledge sharing platform where space & non-space peers can exchange ideas, discover opportunities and meet people to help improve their activities (business, decision-making, legal, research, education, etc.).

Why attend?

• Learn about the latest innovative ideas from leading research institutions and universities in Europe;
• Scout for funding opportunities and open calls from European and national entities;
• Find partners for joint innovation, collaboration and consortium forming.

Biodiversity & Plant Health

The first webinar on 2 December 2020 will address the topic of Biodiversity, and more specifically Plant Health. We have an exciting range of speakers, including:

• Jana Müllerová from the Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Science, will explain how satellite imagery helps to manage alien invasive species.
• Baldissera Giovani, coordinator of the Euphresco network at the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection (EPPO), will speak about plant health surveillance and opportunities on how satellite remote sensing can support activities in the field.
• Cécile Renaud, Business Developer at Aerospacelab, will present the environmental intelligence that the company aims to provide to relevant stakeholders.
• Iris van Duren, Assistant Professor at ITC-University of Twente and Education Coordinator of the WWF Regional Team Twente and Vechtdal, will present about opportunities of Earth Observation for Biodiversity.
• Marjan van Meerloo, Policy officer Earth Observation at the European Commission. Working on Earth Observation and Innovation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and an expert on the latest EC funding calls.

Share your ideas in a one-minute pitch

Do you have an interesting story, product, service, study, call for ideas or offer related to the topic? Then tick the “one minute pitch” box in the registration form to claim your one-minute pitch slot! We would love to hear from you!

Stay connected!

The Space for Climate platform will act as a catalyst for new collaborations, supporting participants to connect and form new alliances, partnerships, consortia or trade relations. Continue the discussions on the open networking platform where you will also find more information about the topic!

Register for the first FREE webinar on 2 December 2020!

The first webinar in this joint Eurisy and dotSpace “Space for Climate” Open Campus webinar series will be on Wednesday 2 December 2020, from 16:00 to 17:00 (allowing networking time until 17:30) CET.

To register for FREE go to the registration page here, or click on the visual below: