In the framework of an initiative to advance biodiversity research in Germany, we will establish three exemplary large-scale and long-term research sites (funded by the German Research Foundation). They are termed Biodiversity Exploratories, in contrast to mainly descriptive observatories. The exploratories will establish and sustain the scientific infrastructure and develop the intellectual framework needed to address critical questions about changes in biodiversity and to evaluate the impacts of those changes for ecosystem processes. Thus, in the exploratories biodiversity and ecosystem research will be merged at a large scale and with a long-term perspective. In this first phase the exploratories will address the relationship between land-use intensity, biodiversity change, and ecosystem functioning for selected taxa. After establishment, these exploratories will also integrate further contributing projects proposed by the German research community. Thus, the biodiversity exploratories will serve as a stimulating research platform for the whole German biodiversity research community. ... [Information of the supplier]
The Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute (vTI) is one of four German federal research institutes under the auspices of the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV). The vTI was created on January 1, 2008 from the German Federal Research Centre for Fisheries, the German Federal Research Centre for Forestry and Forest Products and part of the German Federal Agricultural Research Centre. The vTI drafts scientific basics as decision-making helps for the policy of the German federal government and thus serves, with its application oriented and practice related research, the development of the society of tomorrow. The vTI pursues interdisciplinary research in the following areas: Economics (micro and macroeconomics of agriculture, forestry, lumber, food and fish production), Technology, Material use of renewable natural resources, Climate, Biodiversity, Organic Farming. The vTI comprises 15 specialty institutes. The headquarters of the vTI are in Braunschweig with facilities in Hamburg, Großhansdorf, Eberswalde, Waldsieversdorf, Rostock, Cuxhaven, Ahrensburg and Trenthorst. ... [Information of the supplier]
he main objective of EU BON is to build a substantial part of the Group on Earth Observation’s Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON). In light of the new Intergovernmental science-policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), such a network and approach are imperative for attaining efficient processes of data collation, analysis and provisioning to stakeholders. A key feature of EU BON will be the delivery of near-real-time relevant data – both from on-ground observation and remote sensing – to the various stakeholders and end users ranging from local to global levels. Doing so will require (1) the establishment and adoption of new data standards and integration techniques, (2) harmonized data collection, and (3) the development of new approaches and strategies for future biodiversity monitoring and assessment. We will develop and provide practical indicators and interpretation tools for endusers from, e.g., agriculture to nature conservation. EU BON will support national and international authorities, as well as private stakeholders and the general public with integrated and scientifically sound biodiversity data analyses. The project intends to develop a full-scale model for a durable mechanism for higher level integration of biodiversity information providers and users through a network of networks approach scalable from local to global biodiversity observation systems. ... [Information of the supplier]
