UNIVERSITY OF ZURICH (CH)
The “EO for Genetic Indicators” project explores the potential of satellite Earth Observation (EO) to support the monitoring of genetic diversity in terrestrial ecosystems, in line with the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Genetic diversity is a fundamental component of biodiversity, underpinning ecosystem resilience, adaptive capacity, and the sustainable provision of ecosystem services. However, it remains one of the most challenging dimensions of biodiversity to monitor, with current assessments relying on sparse and resource-intensive in situ observations.
Recent advances under the CBD, including the adoption of genetic diversity indicators within the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), have created an urgent need for scalable, cost-effective monitoring approaches. Existing methods, often based on repeated field sampling and genetic analysis, are difficult to implement at large scales, particularly in remote or high-risk areas. As a result, there is a growing demand from the biodiversity community for innovative solutions that can complement traditional approaches.
In this context, the project aims to challenge the prevailing assumption that EO cannot contribute to genetic diversity monitoring. It will develop, test, and validate novel methodologies that integrate EO data with ecological and population-based information to provide proxies and insights relevant to genetic diversity.
The main objective is to assess the feasibility and added value of EO-based approaches to support genetic diversity monitoring, contributing to the refinement of genetic diversity indicators and enabling CBD Parties to meet their monitoring and reporting obligations. The work will focus in particular on two KM-GBF indicators:
Through innovation, demonstration, and validation, the project seeks to establish EO as a complementary, scalable tool for global genetic diversity monitoring.
