Biodiversity Observation Network in the Asia-Pacific Region

Under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), international efforts have been making to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss. We are now standing at the threshold of the 10th Conference of Parties (COP10) of the CBD, which will be held in October of 2010 in Nagoya, Japan. §It is essential that science is expected to play a leading role in the area of biodiversity, including characterizing biodiversity of various areas, clarifying ecosystem services supplied to society, quantifying how rapidly biodiversity is being lost, and justifying needs and identifying possibilities for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. To collect and analyze data on the status and trends of the world s biodiversity, the Group of Earth Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO-BON) was launched in 2008. However, the methodology to quantify biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national scale remains underdeveloped and integrative and predictive science for global biodiversity change must be urgently developed. DEVERSITAS, an international Programme of biodiversity science, is leading tasks of developing networks of integrative and predictive biodiversity science including GEO BON.§In May 2009, Japanese scientists have successfully organized J-BON, Japanese Biodiversity Observation Network. The aim of the J-BON was to have the network of research and/or monitoring of ecosystem and/or biodiversity in Japan and to establish a cooperative framework for building a robust research network. In addition, the Asia-Pacific BON has successfully launched in July 2009, and its second meeting was held in December 2009 in Tokyo. Having crossed into the Asian Millennium , many Asian countries are now rapidly growing their economies and social infrastructures. This, on the other hand, is causing a rapid loss of Asian biodiversity, giving us an urgent mandate to work toward achieving a harmonious balance between development and conservation in the region. §To provide a quantum step forward in advancing science that optimizes the synergy between development and biodiversity conservation in Asia, we would like to publish the book entitled as Biodiversity observation network in the Asia-Pacific Region .