Opinion: To advance sustainable stewardship, we must document not only biodiversity but geodiversity
ORCID
- Iain Stewart: 0000-0002-9746-8667
Abstract
Rapid environmental change is driving the need for complex and comprehensive scientific information that supports policies aimed at managing natural resources through international treaties, platforms, and networks. One successful approach for delivering such information has been the development of Essential Variables for climate (1), oceans (2), biodiversity (3), and sustainable development goals (4) (ECVs, EOVs, EBVs, and ESDGVs, respectively). These efforts have improved consensus on terminology, and identified essential sets of measurements for characterizing and monitoring changes on our planet. In doing so, they have advanced science and informed policy. As an important but largely unanticipated consequence, conceptualizing these variables has also given rise to discussions regarding data discovery, data access, and governance of research infrastructures. Such discussions are vital to ensure effective storage, distribution, and use of data among management agencies, scientists, and policymakers (5, 6).
Publication Date
2019-08-13
Publication Title
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA
ISSN
0027-8424
Embargo Period
2020-07-10
Recommended Citation
Schrodt, F., Bailey, J., Kissling, D., & Stewart, I. (2019) 'Opinion: To advance sustainable stewardship, we must document not only biodiversity but geodiversity', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA, . Available at: 10.1073/pnas.1911799116