The “China Biodiversity Observation and Research Network” (Sino BON) working meeting was held in Beijing

On January 21, the “China Biodiversity Observation and Research Network” (Sino BON) working meeting was held in the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The directors of ten specific networks and the synthetic center attended the meeting. Prof. Keping Ma, the Deputy Director and Secretary General of Biodiversity Committee, CAS, presided over the meeting.

Prof. Ma introduced the design, orientation and organization of Sino BON. The Sino BON was priority supported by the Twelfth Five-year Plan and Thirteenth Five-year Plan as an observation platform at CAS level. It was started during the Twelfth Five-year Plan, 10 networks, 1 synthetic center and the equipment were the key construction project during Thirteenth Five-year Plan. The networks are the important units of the entire Network; interactions in monitor and research among networks were encouraged. Prof. Ma also introduced the major objectives of the synthetic center, which were standard & criteria formulating, data management & sharing, and remote sensing.

The directors of the networks discussed in details about the development plans. Each unit would further clarify the scientific objectives, monitoring objects, monitoring indicators and potential outputs, etc., and implement those in text. The Network will also organize a variety of training workshops to promote the development of monitoring work.

The participants agreed that, the work before monitoring should be well prepared to ensure the authenticity and reliability of the data. This would make the Network becoming one that was supported by solid data and provide detailed and reliable information for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, especially for fulfilling the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Background
Sino BON was established by CAS followed the basic principle of “scientific planning, unified layout” and was formally accepted by Asia Pacific Biodiversity Observation Network (AP BON) as its partnership on October 11, 2014. For now, the organizational structure of Sino BON includes zoological diversity network, botanical diversity network, microbial diversity network and synthetic center. The six networks belonging to zoological diversity network are as follows: mammal diversity observation network, bird diversity observation network, amphibian & reptile diversity observation network, insect diversity observation network, fish diversity observation network, and soil invertebrate diversity observation network; the three networks belonging to botanical diversity network are as follows: CForBio, steppe & desert biodiversity observation network, and forest canopy biodiversity observation network; soil microbial observation network belongs to microbial diversity network. Synthetic center would take charge of standard & criteria formulating, data management & sharing, and remote sensing.