The Full Picture

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monitoring biodiversity of different groups of organisms will be

developed and distributed.

The use of identical sampling methods has been a central tenet of

the CTFS programme and allows for maximal combinability and

comparability of the data. In addition, this research will be coupled

with training workshops to build professional capacity in develop-

ing countries to maintain biodiversity monitoring programmes. It

is hoped that this, in turn, will lead towards wise decision-making

for sustainable management of natural resources. The Monitoring

and Assessment of Biodiversity (MAB) Program at CRC and STRI

have considerable experience in fostering the growth of professional

capacity.

Furthermore, NMNH scientists will work with STRI scientists to

DNA barcode selected taxonomic groups such as trees, inverte-

brates, nematodes and microbes. The Smithsonian Institution is

the host of the Consortium for the Barcode of Life, an interna-

tional initiative devoted to developing DNA barcoding as a global

standard in taxonomy. Many if not most of the plants, inverte-

brates, nematodes and microbes in the tropics are formally

undescribed species, including some of the tree species that have

been mapped and measured on the plots. Coupling the formal

taxonomy with DNA barcoding will provide an extremely useful

database for future researchers interested in genetics, systematics,

and bioprospecting.

Finally, scientists from the NASM and the Smithsonian

Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) will work to link data on the

ground (plots) to regional and global predictions

through space-based assessments. For example, SAO has

pioneered the measurement of formaldehyde (HCHO)

from space, its use as the main proxy for volatile organic

compound (VOC) emissions, and the development of a

climatology of emissions. Isoprene is emitted by heat-

stressed trees and is thus a direct indicator of global heat

stress on forests. NASM in turn, will use remote sensing

technology to extend ground-based measurements of

carbon dynamics to broader scales.

CTFS has successfully melded observation, data

analysis, models, and basic and social research to

enable scientists and policymakers to better understand

global environmental issues. The expanded methodol-

ogy and objectives of SIGEO will provide the necessary

platform to supply critical scientific data to address the

needs of society into the future. In the environmental

sciences, CTFS stands as one of the premier interna-

tional partnerships, and SIGEO aims to integrate the

SI network of forest dynamics plots with the GEOSS

to further advance the progress of science across

borders. CTFS and SIGEO promote large-scale envi-

ronmental monitoring, and maintain enormous banks

of data and metadata that galvanize advanced data

networks and sophisticated analyses from forest plots

to outer space.

SIGEO sites

Twenty-two established SIGEO sites in black (blue dots) and 12 candidate sites in blue (red dots). CRC and SERC are also shown

Source: Lina Gonzalez, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI)

GEOSS C

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