Global biodiversity measurement to meet scale-dependent needs and opportunities

Walter Jetz, Marissa Balfour, Sean Breyer, Neil Burgess, Jillian Campbell, Yana Gevorgyan, Andrew Gonzalez , Paula J. Ehrlich, Samantha Hill, Tim Hirsch, Nancy Job, Alexander K. Killion, Kelly Levin, Melodie A. McGeoch, Tovah Siegel, Michelle Sims , Fred Stolle, Alison Taylor, David Thau, Jorgen Thomsen

In the face of rapid ecological decline, biodiversity information is essential for safeguarding life on Earth. Although this information is increasingly valued by governments, businesses, and other stakeholders, it remains insufficiently accessible and usable. Because the rarity and functions of biodiversity vary greatly across land- and seascapes, the global and local ecological and social significance of biodiversity change within and among regions can differ greatly. Measuring biodiversity at both scales is therefore critical for effective monitoring and conservation—an expectation embedded in global frameworks. We review the challenges and opportunities in biodiversity measurement, examining key users, producers, and use cases, and the role of emerging technologies. As catalysts for a more robust, efficient, and collaborative global measurement system we highlight Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) as a flexible foundation to integrate across scales by linking local data into global significance assessments. EBVs also underpin indicators, geospatial data products, and an evolving ‘bag of metrics’ required by different users. We call for improved incentives and organization around thematic and regional networks to produce EBVs and structured end-to-end initiatives and workflows as a blueprint for the next phase of coordinated biodiversity measurement globally