Biodiv Sci ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (3): 24526.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2024526  cstr: 32101.14.biods.2024526

• Special Feature: How the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Becomes a Mainstream Work Ob • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Rapid assessment of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework implementation progress based on remote sensing monitoring: Pathway and prospects

Hui Wu1, Le Yu1,2*, Zhenrong Du3, Qiang Zhao1, Wenchao Qi1, Yue Cao4, Jinzhou Wang5, Xiaoli Shen6, Yao Sun7, Keping Ma6,8   

  1. 1 Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China 

    2 Ministry of Education Ecological Field Station for East Asian Migratory Birds, Beijing 100084, China 

    3 School of Information and Communication Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024, China 

    4 Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China 

    5 Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China 

    6 Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China 

    7 Beijing Zhipu Huazhang Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing 100089, China 

    8 College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China

  • Received:2024-12-01 Revised:2025-03-03 Online:2025-03-20 Published:2025-03-04
  • Contact: Le Yu

Abstract:

Background: The Earth is approaching a critical tipping point of irreversible biodiversity loss. As the latest global action plan for biodiversity conservation, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) sets out 4 long-term goals and 23 action targets. Tracking and assessing progress toward the KMGBF has become a global concern. However, challenges such as unclear progress, untimely monitoring, and incomplete evaluations remain prominent, highlighting the urgent need to address technical barriers like a large number of evaluation indicators, inconsistent assessment standards, and weak data foundations. 

Aims: This study aims to explore rapid assessment methods for evaluating the implementation progress of the KMGBF using remote sensing monitoring. By integrating remote sensing-based and ground-based data, as well as combining quantitative and qualitative evaluations, this approach seeks to meet the multi-scale needs of quickly tracking the progress of the KMGBF. 

Problems & Prospects: This paper first points out that the existing monitoring frameworks exhibit significant uncertainties in effectively assessing the progress of the KMGBF. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a more operationally robust set of indicators, indicator calculation methods, and high-quality datasets with higher spatial resolution and more frequent updates to ensure the timely and effective tracking and assessment of the KMGBF. Second, this paper provides an in-depth analysis of the application of remote sensing technology in biodiversity monitoring and evaluates its feasibility in assessing the progress of the KMGBF. Based on this analysis, a spatial intelligence service framework integrating data, knowledge, and computation is proposed to support ecosystem mapping, biodiversity mapping, and the development of remote sensing-based essential biodiversity variables (RS-EBVs). Finally, this paper advocates for a quantitative assessment approach based on RS-EBVs, complemented by a qualitative assessment derived from National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and National Reports (NRs). Additionally, it suggests leveraging artificial intelligence to develop an intelligent real-time monitoring system for the KMGBF, enabling rapid multi-scale progress assessments. These technological approaches aim to provide practical and feasible support for tracking the progress of the KMGBF and offer scientific evidence for countries to formulate and implement biodiversity conservation policies.

Key words: biodiversity, remote sensing monitoring, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, artificial intelligence