A partnership renewal has been announced between the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) and the Atlantic International Research Centre (AIR Centre), for the continuation of a Secretariat to coordinate the global MBON.
The MBON and the AIR Centre share a common vision of the building and coordination of a global ocean biodiversity observation system. Both entities recognize the importance of interoperable and open-access information on biodiversity variables, to highlight trends in biological diversity and ecosystem functioning, with direct impacts on the well-being and development of today’s society.
The renewal agreement between the MBON and the AIR Centre recognizes ongoing cooperation to reinforce ocean biodiversity observing capacity to make use of the best available resources and expertise. The organizations focus on building global capacity for data collection, management, and open publication by sharing best practices and strengthening the exchange of ideas and integration with global marine observing and data initiatives. These include the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO, including OBIS, GOOS, OBPS, and OTGA), GEO BON, regional initiatives like the Asia-Pacific BON/MBON and the Americas MBON Pole-to-Pole effort, national programs, and individual academic, private sector, and government agencies and programs.
“It was with great pleasure that I saw the commitment to foster an ongoing collaboration dialogue to support the international science and operations community by standing up the MBON,” says Joana Soares, Executive Secretary of MBON and Project Officer of the AIR Centre. “We need such networks to bring different people together to work on difficult questions like where marine life exists and how and why it is changing. The knowledge will help to make a sustainable use of the ocean for the benefit of our own and future generations.”
Photo credit: Renata Romeo, Ocean Image Bank.
