We are witnessing in real time biodiversity monitoring pivoting towards eDNA, a transition highlighted at the recent GEO BON Conference “Monitoring Biodiversity for Action” in Montreal, Canada. This revolutionary technology escalates our capability to detect species at any given location marking a substantial advancement in data for biodiversity conservation efforts.
The fusion of breakthroughs in molecular biology with plummeting costs of technology are positioning eDNA as a linchpin in generating critical biodiversity data. This transformation is happening within the GEO BON community, which convenes top scientific experts in biodiversity monitoring. GEO BON, a keystone organization for orchestrating biodiversity observations, underpins our endeavor to mitigate the detrimental impacts of human activities on species and ecosystems.
The consensus is clear: transitioning to eDNA monitoring is inevitable and urgent. Miguel Fernandez, emphasized: “The transition to eDNA technology for monitoring is not a question of ‘if’, but ‘when’, and the sooner the better for biodiversity." The cost-effectiveness of eDNA has begun to eclipse conventional technologies, creating greater efforts and thinking even at global scales for biodiversity monitoring. eDNA biodiversity monitoring is attracting the attention of private sectors and governments, aligning with their sustainability and biodiversity conservation agendas.
Kristy Deiner presented our plans to soon launch a perpetually funded eDNA monitoring system financed by investment in Franklin tokens. The reception was inquisitive and exciting since most in this space are not looking to Blockchain for solutions. Thus it was a welcomed new thought. “We have a lot of work to do to build a global biodiversity monitoring system, and eDNA data will be a part of this larger tech stack” said Deiner.
By decade's end, eDNA is anticipated to dominate the global biodiversity monitoring market, an assertion substantiated by its growing adoption, as seen in the surge of eDNA-centric presentations at GEO BON compared to five years ago.
This positive trajectory is a beacon of hope for policymakers navigating the biodiversity crisis. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, endorsed by nearly 200 countries, outlines an ambitious agenda towards harmonizing human existence with nature by 2050. Central to this goal is robust biodiversity monitoring, underscored at COP15, which spotlighted eDNA as a pivotal tool.
Despite the headway, establishing a sustainable framework for continuous biodiversity monitoring remains a challenge. Success hinges on tripling both the volume of data and the pace at which it's collected globally, underscoring the essential role of eDNA in safeguarding our planet's biodiversity.
See more:
Here are video collections of all keynotes from the GEO BON conference
Here are the GEO BON and the GEO BON Global Conference: Monitoring Biodiversity for Action websites
Here are the LinkedIn profiles of Miguel and Kristy from the text above
Reach out to explore our solutions and find your best fitting role with the use of eDNA-based biodiversity monitoring: https://www.simplexdna.com/