About Us

About MBON

The Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) is a thematic node of the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON).

MBON is a global collaborative initiative that contributes to the effective management of marine biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Mission

Foster and coordinate a global community of practice for collecting, curating, analyzing, good management, and communicating marine biodiversity data and related services to the scientific community, policymakers, the public, and other stakeholders.

Vision

MBON envisions that observations of marine biodiversity, from local to global scales, become an integral part of observing systems to strengthen the understanding of marine biodiversity and monitoring of associated changes over time, to inform society for sustainable development and conservation priorities.

Goals:

Develop a common framework for high priority observations in the context of Essential Ocean Variables;
Promote best practice (OBPs) in observations, data management, and applications to advance interoperability and data integration (DarwinCore), and publication of data in open-access databases (OBIS);
Promote the publication of observations and development of products that inform policies, ocean uses, and research;
Facilitate capacity building;
Serve and work with the ocean science community and resource management practitioners to achieve their goals, expand their international contacts, and support the implementation of biodiversity observations to address local societal needs;
Coordinate membership through networking, communication efforts, and other facilitation services;
Foster the development of international and thematic networks within MBON;
Develop marine biodiversity observing and applications strategies that are coordinated and consistent with fresh water and terrestrial ecologists.

Guiding Principles:

MBON agenda is aligned with key international agreements and guidelines for evaluating changes in ocean biodiversity for sustainable development:

The United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development;
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD);
Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) global assessments;
GEO BON;
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

Ethics and Values

As a global network that strives to contribute to a sustainable world where people unite and take action to create change, MBON values diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the treatment and relationships between people. MBON celebrates the contributions of people regardless of their age, ethnicity, race, color, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

We, the MBON members, are international and strive to nurture a global community. We strive for the finest science, open knowledge, respect for each other, and the generation of FAIR data about life in the sea. We collaborate and communicate the value of preserving marine biodiversity, valuing knowledge, and informing action.

MBON
Co-Chairs

University of South Florida, USA

Frank Muller-Karger

University of Porto, Portugal

Isabel Sousa Pinto

Hokkaido University, Japan

Masahiro Nakaoka

MBON Steering Committee

David Obura

Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN)

Coastal Oceans Research and Development – Indian Ocean (CORDIO) East Africa, Kenya

Gabrielle Canonico

Global Ocean Observing System Biology Biology-Ecology panel (GOOS BioEco panel).
National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Silver Spring, MD, USA

Enrique Montes

America Pole to Pole
National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Florida, USA

Ward Appeltans

Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS)
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC),
Belgium

Emmett Duffy

Marine Global Earth Observatory (marineGeo)
Smithsonian Institution, USA

Amanda Bates

University of Victoria, Canada

Joana Soares

Executive Secretary
AIR Centre, Azores, Portugal
joana.soares@aircentre.org

Mark Costello

Nord University, Norway

Strategic and Implementation Plan

The MBON Strategic and Implementation Plan reflects the ocean observing community engagement to deliver a common vision, stronger statement, and steady partnership to achieve a sustained global ocean observations and data management system.

Learn more

MBON CODE OF CONDUCT

Values and principles regarding how we should work with others, engage with society, and how our work and methods impact life and nature.

OUR CODE

Marine Biodiversity Observation Network

Supporting Organizations

The Network Structure:

MBONs:

Partners and Affiliated Projects:

Working Groups:

Our work in Pictures