Perspective: sustainability challenges, opportunities and solutions for long-term ecosystem observations

Area of Science:

• Ecological science
• Environmental monitoring
• Biodiversity conservation

Background:

• Growing societal recognition of natural capital and biodiversity value necessitates improved ecosystem observation.
• Significant barriers hinder the establishment and maintenance of large-scale, fine-resolution ecosystem observations, including data scarcity and logistical challenges.
• Existing monitoring efforts often lack comprehensive data on biodiversity and anthropogenic factors, and struggle with systematic, long-term in situ maintenance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss strategies for sustaining ecosystem observations for biodiversity change detection through cross-regional and cross-sectoral collaboration.
• To identify and address barriers to establishing and maintaining large-scale, fine-resolution ecosystem observations.
• To propose a framework for joint monitoring of biodiversity and anthropogenic factors, emphasizing equitable solutions for a global network.

Main Methods:

• Examination of individual case studies and emerging frameworks, with a focus on examples from Japan.
• Discussion of emerging techniques such as environmental DNA (eDNA) and citizen science.
• Analysis of opportunities presented by existing and underutilized monitoring sites.

Main Results:

• Ecological science critically depends on long-term data for understanding environmental change.
• Neglecting basic planetary monitoring exacerbates the environmental crisis.
• Emerging techniques and collaborative approaches can help overcome difficulties in large-scale, fine-resolution ecosystem observations.

Conclusions:

• A call to action for joint monitoring of biodiversity and anthropogenic factors, systematic in situ observations, and equitable global network solutions.
• Proposed framework and Japanese examples can initiate broader discussions and collaborations among diverse stakeholders.
• Equitable and feasible monitoring is essential for detecting socio-ecological system changes and ensuring future global sustainability.