18.02.2019 | TOP NEWS, iDiv

White paper on National Centre for Biodiversity Monitoring

The white paper also addresses the monitoring of soil biodiversity. The picture shows a springtail living in the soil. (Photo: Andy Murray)

Note for the media: Use of the pictures provided by iDiv is permitted for reports related to this media release only, and under the condition that credit is given to the picture originator.

Halle, Jena, Leipzig. A team of scientists led by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) has published a white paper on the design of a National Centre for Biodiversity Monitoring. The white paper is intended to serve as a basis for discussion; it calls for the involvement of all relevant players in the conception and design of the future centre. The authors of iDiv, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leipzig University and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) make recommendations for a consistent national monitoring system for Germany. This system should include current monitoring initiatives and continue existing time series (prospective monitoring). Another aim should be the mobilisation of existing biodiversity data (retrospective monitoring) through the new centre: Data already collected in the past by agencies, professional societies and NGOs should be compiled and synthesised. According to the authors, this is particularly important in order to identify long-term trends. It is also crucial to identify the causes of these trends in order to develop targeted measures that can halt biodiversity loss. The iDiv scientists believe that biodiversity monitoring should be understood as a service for the general public and not as research. The scientists also recommend setting up the National Monitoring Centre on a permanent basis. In the coalition agreement, the German federal government decided to establish a National Centre for Biodiversity Monitoring. In the early summer of 2019, it intends to adopt a corresponding concept.
Volker Hahn

White paper:
https://www.idiv.de/fileadmin/content/iDiv_Files/Documents/White_paper_Monitoringzentrum_iDiv_et_al_20181218_de3.pdf The authors are collecting suggestions for amendments in order to further develop the white paper. If you would like to participate in this process, please contact Prof Helge Bruelheide: Prof Dr Helge Bruelheide
Professor for Geobotany
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU)
Co-Director of the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Email: helge.bruelheide@botanik.uni-halle.de
Web: https://www.botanik.uni-halle.de/geobotanik/helge_bruelheide/

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