Since its foundation in 2009, AP-BON has been developed as a coordinated network contributing to CBD and IPBES through the observations of the states and trends of biodiversity and ecosystems in the Asia-Pacific region. AP-BON is promoting network activities on observations. AP-BON is also promoting data sharing and publishing data papers. Until now, three volumes of AP-BON books on various data, information, and knowledge have been compiled. Considering the potential contribution of AP-BON to CBD Aichi targets and IPBES assessment, AP-BON faces needs and challenges to develop a new work plan towards 2020. One of the challenges of AP-BON towards 2020 is to promote multi-scale observations of spatial and temporal changes in biodiversity and ecosystem structure and functions by combining field surveys, sensor networks, satellite observations, and various simulation models. In this regard, AP-BON considers the initiative to facilitate (i) in depth observations at some “super-sites” placed along the environmental gradients, to find essential biodiversity variables (EBVs) and key biophysical characteristics that can be measured by satellites, (ii) multi-point observations at “a network of inventory sites” to monitor spatial variation of biodiversity and ecosystems under various pressures including land/sea use changes and also various efforts of conservation and restoration, and (iii) integrated analyses of the changes in biodiversity, ecosystems, and human-nature interactions important. This Working Group aims at sharing the current status and vision of biodiversity and ecosystem observations of AP-BON and other networks such as International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER) Network, and then discussing the ways forward considering the contribution to one of the Societal Benefit Areas (SBAs) in GEO Strategic Plan (SP) 2016-2025: Implementing GEOSS, “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Sustainability”, and further to a few targets involved in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Co-Chairs:
   Tetsukazu Yahara (Kyushu University, Japan)
   Sheila Vergara (ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, Philippines)
   Eun-Shik Kim (Kookmin University, Korea)

9:15-9:30	Welcome and Introduction (Co-Chairs)
9:30-11:10	Session 1: Overview of regional and national BON activities Moderators: Tohru Nakashizuka, Reiichiro Ishii 1) AP-BON (Tetsukazu Yahara, Sheila Vergara, Eun-Shik Kim) {15min} [PDF 2.1MB] 2) Sino BON and ABCDNet (Keping Ma) {15min} [PDF 20.3MB] 3) Achievements of GBIF in Asia (Sheila Vergara) {15min} [PDF 5.8MB]
10:15 – 10:30	Break
	4) Freshwater fish database in Asia (Yuichi Kano) {15min} [PDF 2.7MB] 5) Reports from other countries (Indonesia [PDF 3.1MB], Korea [PDF 3.9MB], Nepal [PDF 309KB]) {5min each}
11:10-12:00	Session 2: GEO Strategic Plan 2016-2025 and GEO Work Programme 2017-2019 Moderator: Eun-Shik Kim 1) Challenges and opportunities of in-situ observations in GEO Work Programme 2017-2019（Hiroyuki Muraoka）{10min} [PDF 4.4MB] 2) BON development: National needs and approaches (Laetitia Navarro) {20min} [PDF 2.7MB]
12:00-13:00	Lunch
13:00-15:20	Session 3: Development of broader observation network Moderators: Shin-ichi Nakano, Hiroyuki Muraoka 1) National Survey on the Natural Environment of Japan (Hajime Hirosawa) {20min} [PDF 4.2MB] 2) Long-term Forest Observation, Data Sharing and Future Extensions in Japan (Masae Ishihara and Tsutomu Enoki) {20min} [PDF 5.1MB] 3) ILTER East Asia and Pacific regional network (Yongyut Trisurat) {20min} [PDF 5.5MB]
14:00–14:20	Break
	4) From biodiversity prediction to ecosystem service evaluation: marine case studies in Japan (Takehisa Yamakita) {20min} [PDF 5.6MB] 5) Status and trends of mangroves in SE Asia (Faridah-Hanum Ibrahim) {20min} [PDF 3.4MB] 6) Global Ecosystems and Environment Observation: Annual Report from China (GEOARC) (Liao Xiaohan) {20min} [PDF 8.1MB]
15:20-15:50	Break
15:50-17:20	Discussion towards broader engagement of observation and user communities Moderators: Tetsukazu Yahara, Sheila Vergara, Eun-Shik Kim 1) Vision of multiple observatory network (Shin-ichi Nakano) {10min} [PDF 3.3MB] 2) Data-Knowledge-Information chain: Japan Biodiversity Outlook 2 (Tohru Nakashizuka) {10min} [PDF 1.7MB] 3) ASEAN Biodiversity Outlook and data sharing (Sheila Vergara) {10min} [PDF 18.5MB] Discussion items for the new work plan of AP-BON toward 2020 • Mission and plans of AP-BON, by broadening its network. • Promotion of data sharing: motivation and mechanisms • In-situ and satellite observations: challenges, gaps and opportunities, and EBVs • Contribution to SBA process and delivery to SDGs (to prepare Day3 Discussion) • Action plans 2017-2020
17:20	Closing Remarks (Co-Chairs)