Adi Kellermann (presented by Julie Gillin)

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Adi Kellermann(presented by Julie Gillin)

• International Council for the Exploration of the
  Sea (ICES)
• Copenhagen

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• BioDiversity (or BioDiv) is the term applied to
  the variety of life on Earth and the natural
  patterns it forms
• In scientific terms, it comprises species
  richness and abundance as parameters
• In practical terms, it also includes the
  diversity of habitats and landscapes
• It is a truly interdisciplinary approach!

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• Some experts predict that up to two-thirds of all
  plant and animal species may be lost by the end
  of this century. Biologists generally believe
  that these losses represent a threat to Earth
  system functioning and the well-being of human
  societies.

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• The Earth's biodiversity is a capital resource
  that provides vital ecosystem services, renewable
  goods such as food, fuel, fiber and medicines,
  and the aesthetic, recreational and cultural
  riches associated with nature.

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Threats to biodiversity
- indiscriminate fishing
e.g. overfishing, non-selective fishing,
discards, ghost fishing, physical damage

• other indiscriminate human activities

e.g. tourism, industrial development, extractions

• pollution

(oil spills chronic contamination)
- climate change
(in the sense that biodiversity will be altered)
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• As one conservation effort, it is essential to
  transfer knowledge about biodiversity, its
  status, trends and links with societies from
  scientists to public and policy levels to support
  advice and awareness

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• While biodiversity is on the retreat, the amount
  of information about it has increased
  significantly
• While this was confined to geophysics initially,
  other disciplines are becoming more involved
  (Brussels 2002)

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• What is needed for data access, sharing and
  dissemination?
• Distributed data bases with common management and
  access schemes?
• Define the role of international organizations
  such as ICES, IOC, FAO, CoML and OBIS, GBIF and
  others
• How to create and provide data bases on long-term
  and large-scale patterns as the foundation for
  assessment and advice?