Attaining Operational Marine Biodiversity Observations Workshop

Under the auspices of the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST) Interagency Working Group on Ocean Partnerships (IWG-OP), the Biodiversity Ad Hoc Group hosted a workshop on Attaining Operational Marine Biodiversity Observations.

The biodiversity workshop was held 24-27 May at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership in Washington, DC and was attended by more than forty experts in the marine science field. Six federal agencies contributed funding to the workshop. Observation and management of biodiversity is increasingly important  in a changing climate to agencies that have a responsibility for managing and conserving elements of marine, coastal and lacustrine biodiversity. Managing biodiversity is also critical in order to to protect ecosystem services and functions for society. A national biodiversity observation network would allow the nation to determine status and trends of biodiversity in a changing environment. The goal of the workshop was to determine the status of current marine biodiversity observational capabilities and to scope future solutions to operationally monitor the status and trends of biodiversity.