International Workshop Highlights Integration of Earth Observation and Citizen Science for Biodiversity Monitoring
27 Mar 2026
On 11 March 2026, an international expert workshop titled "Integrating Earth Observation and Citizen Science to Support SDG 15 Progress Reporting" brought together leading researchers and practitioners to explore innovative approaches for monitoring Sustainable Development Goal 15 – Life on Land.
The event was organized by the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS) and supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). GUO Huadong, CAS Academician and Director General of CBAS, and Zhang Yiwei from NSFC delivered opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of multi-source data for global biodiversity monitoring.
The hybrid-format workshop focused on how Earth Observation (EO) and citizen science (CS) can complement each other. EO provides long-term, large-scale ecosystem data, while CS contributes species-level observations and local ecological knowledge. Participants explored advances in combining satellite data, crowdsourced observations, and in-situ measurements to improve ecosystem monitoring and SDG 15 reporting.
Presentations highlighted practical applications of integrated approaches. Experts shared studies on assessing biodiversity conservation effectiveness in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, large-scale vegetation mapping, and multi-source ecological monitoring. Discussions addressed priority SDG 15 indicators, data integration methods, quality standards, and uncertainty management, reinforcing the potential of combined EO and CS data for more accurate and comprehensive biodiversity assessments.
The workshop concluded with plans for joint policy briefs, pilot studies in Biosphere Reserves, and expanded international research collaboration. By providing a platform for dialogue among researchers, institutions, and policymakers, the event underlined the value of data-driven approaches for advancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable development worldwide.
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International Workshop Highlights Integration of Earth Observation and Citizen Science for Biodiversity Monitoring
On 11 March 2026, an international expert workshop titled "Integrating Earth Observation and Citizen Science to Support SDG 15 Progress Reporting" brought together leading researchers and practitioners to explore innovative approaches for monitoring Sustainable Development Goal 15 – Life on Land.
The event was organized by the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS) and supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). GUO Huadong, CAS Academician and Director General of CBAS, and Zhang Yiwei from NSFC delivered opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of multi-source data for global biodiversity monitoring.
The hybrid-format workshop focused on how Earth Observation (EO) and citizen science (CS) can complement each other. EO provides long-term, large-scale ecosystem data, while CS contributes species-level observations and local ecological knowledge. Participants explored advances in combining satellite data, crowdsourced observations, and in-situ measurements to improve ecosystem monitoring and SDG 15 reporting.
Presentations highlighted practical applications of integrated approaches. Experts shared studies on assessing biodiversity conservation effectiveness in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, large-scale vegetation mapping, and multi-source ecological monitoring. Discussions addressed priority SDG 15 indicators, data integration methods, quality standards, and uncertainty management, reinforcing the potential of combined EO and CS data for more accurate and comprehensive biodiversity assessments.
The workshop concluded with plans for joint policy briefs, pilot studies in Biosphere Reserves, and expanded international research collaboration. By providing a platform for dialogue among researchers, institutions, and policymakers, the event underlined the value of data-driven approaches for advancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable development worldwide.
Group photo. (Image by AIRCAS)