The Marine Biodiversity Observation Network Pole to Pole of the Americas: Building a Community of Practice for Detecting Rapid Changes in Coastal Biodiversity

Abstract

The Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) is a globalcommunity of practice and network that links individuals and groupsin an effort to monitor and understand changes in marine biodiversity.MBON functions within the larger framework of the Group on EarthObservations Biodiversity Observation Networks (GEO BON). Thesenetworks support mobilization of data to help nations to achievethe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UnitedNations (UN) in 2015 and to address their own internal, local managementneeds. Marine biodiversity data are important for allowing countriesand local communities to monitor changes that result from localhuman pressures and climate change. Such data enable informedplanning and management of coastal areas and resources.MBON activities align with global initiatives that include theUN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development(2021–2030) and its programs, such as Marine Life 2030 and theOcean Biomolecular Observing Network. A key focus is promotingstandards for the interoperable collection and publication of marinebiodiversity data (Muller-Karger et al., 2018, 2024) that are essentialfor assessments like those by the Intergovernmental Science-PolicyPlatform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).