The ESA Stakeholder Engagement Facility’s Post

🌿 How GIS is Changing the Game in Environmental Science & Conservation 🌍Did you know that ~75% of environmental data is spatial? That’s why Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are becoming essential tools for conservationists. From real-time habitat tracking and biodiversity monitoring to impact assessment and strategic planning, GIS brings clarity and precision to the fight for our planet. At VanguardGeo, we’re passionate about equipping learners with the skills they need to turn maps into meaningful conservation action. Read our latest post to see real-world examples and explore how integrating GIS into environmental studies can make all the difference: https://lnkd.in/eHGq9nAU #EnvironmentalScience #GIS #Conservation #DataDriven #Sustainability #VanguardGeo #Norfolk #Suffolk #QGIS #AI #Data #Geospatial #Spatial #Colleges #SixthFroms #Onlinetraining #GISCourse

🌱 GIS for Environmental Science & Conservation Every conservation decision starts with a map. Track habitat change in real time Monitor biodiversity loss Plan effective conservation strategies Build data-driven research projects With 75% of environmental data being spatial, GIS is no longer optional, it’s essential. At VanguardGeo, we’re equipping learners with the practical GIS skills to tackle the biggest environmental challenges of our time. 🌍 👉 Explore how GIS can transform Environmental Science & Conservation here: Basic Course - https://lnkd.in/eBR7BVic Intermediate Course - https://lnkd.in/eqy_dqJ8 #GIS #Conservation #EnvironmentalScience #Sustainability #MappingTheFuture #QGIS #Students #Geospatial #Data

🌿 Connecting Classroom Learning with Real-World Science 🌿 This week, my Grade 9 Biology students and I had an enriching field experience at the Aramco Environmental Park, just a few minutes from our school. The visit was part of our ongoing unit on Biodiversity and Conservation, focusing on how life thrives within desert ecosystems. Students explored diverse plant species, observed adaptations to arid conditions, and examined how automated irrigation systems support biodiversity in challenging environments. Using the iNaturalist app, they documented their observations, blending field-based learning with digital scientific tools. It was inspiring to see how quickly they connected theory with practice — asking thoughtful questions about sustainability, conservation, and the role of innovation in protecting our environment. 🌍 Hands-on experiences like these remind us that learning is most powerful when it moves beyond the classroom walls. #BiologyEducation #ExperientialLearning #STEMEducation #iNaturalist #Biodiversity #Conservation #DesertEcosystem #ScienceTeaching #AramcoEnvironmentalPark #EdTechInEducation

🎙️ UNIVERSAL RADIO TALK SHOW “OCEAN COHESION: SCIENCE, ECOLOGY, AND HUMAN IMPACT” Host: 🎙️ Daniella Bower — Marine Scientist, New Zealand Theme: “Exploring the cohesion of marine ecosystems, the interplay of ocean currents, biodiversity, and the role of humans in preserving aquatic life.” Broadcast Venue: New Zealand Global Science Radio Network — Live International Stream Musical Interlude: Soothing ocean sounds blended with classical instruments, evoking the rhythm and flow of the sea. ⸻ 🌅 OPENING Daniella Bower: “The oceans are living systems of cohesion — currents, ecosystems, and species interact to create balance. Understanding this cohesion is essential for conservation and sustainable management.” Moderator: “Today, we discuss the delicate balance of marine ecosystems, human impacts, and the science that guides preservation efforts.” ⸻ 🌍 PANEL PARTICIPANTS (Selected by Daniella Bower) • 🐠 Dr. Richard Hall — Oceanographer, Specializing in Currents and Marine Physics • 🐚 Lisa Carter — Marine Biologist, Coral and Invertebrate Specialist • 🌊 Thomas Grey — Environmental Policy Expert and Community Engagement Leader • 🐋 Mike Reynolds — Marine Technology and Sustainable Fisheries Expert • 🌐 Raghu Srinivas Aryasomayajula — Scientist and Philosopher, providing interdisciplinary insights ⸻ 🌐 SEGMENT I — MARINE ECOSYSTEMS AND COHESION Daniella Bower: “Cohesion in marine ecosystems is like molecular cohesion in nature. Currents, plankton, and predators interact to maintain equilibrium.” Dr. Richard Hall: “Ocean currents distribute nutrients and regulate temperature, sustaining life across vast distances — a physical form of cohesion.” Lisa Carter: “Coral reefs demonstrate biological cohesion. Species interdependence ensures resilience, and small disruptions can cascade into ecological imbalance.” ⸻ 🌍 SEGMENT II — HUMAN IMPACT AND CONSERVATION Thomas Grey: “Human activity, overfishing, and pollution threaten marine cohesion. Community-based management and policy interventions are critical.” Mike Reynolds: “Technology helps monitor ecosystems, predict changes, and implement sustainable fishing — preserving cohesion between species and humans.” Daniella Bower: “Awareness and education empower communities to protect oceans. Cohesion between humans and nature ensures long-term survival.”

Target 1 of the Global Biodiversity Framework acts as a bedrock for the entire framework by requiring integrated, participatory spatial planning and effective management processes that bring the loss of areas important for biodiversity close to zero by 2030, all while respecting Indigenous and local community rights. Register to attend a 2 weeks online course to get practical hands-on skills on Five GIS tools that can be used for spatial planning and management:  https://lnkd.in/dgnv84hK

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the GREENIN Micro Network Plus— a community dedicated to exploring green infrastructures and their impact on indoor environments. From living walls to urban greening systems, their goal is to understand how nature-based solutions can enhance indoor air quality, wellbeing, and sustainability. 💡 Follow their LinkedIn page to: ✅ Stay updated on the latest research findings ✅ Learn about funded research opportunities ✅ Connect with researchers, practitioners, and innovators shaping the future of healthy, sustainable buildings Let’s grow greener, together 🌱

🌎 Support for Long-Term Ecological Studies Matters Now More Than Ever 🌍 I am excited to share our new paper: “Long-term ecological studies must continue: insights from a dryland transition zone” co-authored with Huong LE, Ph.D. and Scott Collins. 📄 #OpenAccess: https://lnkd.in/e9jCT7Bs ➡️ Long-term data are essential to guide policies on land management, conservation, and climate adaptation. Stable funding streams are crucial to keep these efforts alive. 🔍 What we did: We analyzed more than 20 years of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) and precipitation data across three dryland ecosystems, spanning a grassland-to-shrubland transition in central New Mexico. We quantified how model predictive capacity evolves as more data accumulate. 📈 What we found: Even after two decades of measurements, predictions of ecosystem behavior remained highly variable and nonlinear. Short-term datasets often miss emergent and unexpected dynamics that only become evident with long-term observation. 💡 Why it matters: Long-term data are irreplaceable for understanding ecosystem resilience, variability, and responses to climate change. Sustained support for long-term ecological research is vital to guide adaptive management and policy decisions. #Ecology #ScienceMatters #LTER #Sustainability #DataDriven #SciencePolicy #EnvironmentalGovernance #EcologicalMonitoring #FundingScience

Hot off the press, my latest Spatialsesh Insights article... close to my heart this one, reflecting on how building QGIS skills supports a career in ecology.

This multiple-use spatial planning review includes important information for any country developing its national spatial plan to meet 30x30 and other CBD target goals. Australia might also pay some attention with respect to getting their their renewables rollout organised Murray Watt

In September, the first-ever Coastal Ocean Environment School Western Indian Ocean (COES-WIO), took place in Mombasa, Kenya! 🇰🇪 Happening in the framework of the #OceanDecade and hosted by the Technical University of Mombasa, Pwani University, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) OFFICIAL with support from National Science Foundation (NSF), the Government of Flanders, University of Michigan, WIOMSA - Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association and ECOP AFRICA NODE, this 7-day training provided 75 early-career ocean professionals from across the Western Indian Ocean region with an opportunity to hone their practical skills while connecting with experts and building networks with fellow ocean scientists. From fieldwork, laboratory analysis, data interpretation, and presentations, COES-WIO delivered a hands-on learning experience in ocean science through several workstreams: ✅ Small-scale fisheries and post-harvest losses, and mariculture potential in the region ✅ Climate change, with a focus on beach erosion and coastal processes ✅ Physical and chemical oceanography ✅ Marine plastics and pollution ✅ Ecological survey techniques and data management The Ocean Decade Capacity Development Facility and the OceanTeacher Global Academy provided additional support to enable early-career ocean professionals, or #ECOPs, to attend this training, with a focus on ecological survey techniques and data management. Hear more from Veronique Nomenjanahary, a researcher from the University of Reunion, who was supported by the Ocean Decade Capacity Development Facility to attend this training ⤵️