Page 68 - GIS for Science, Volume 3 Preview

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GIS for Science
CONCLUSION
The Half-Earth Project recognizes the urgent need for comprehensive, global biodiversity protection to sustain the health of our planet and uses the best available science to help guide a coordinated global response. With the help of countless biologists and conservationists working around the world, GIS powers a synthesis of information that advances our understanding of biodiversity. This knowledge is used to identify the places best suited to safeguard species, prioritize conservation actions, promote equitable decision-making, and track our conservation progress.
The Half-Earth Project Map provides tools for use by international organizations such as UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network, and The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services to characterize the current state of biodiversity conservation and to facilitate collaborative, coordinated global action plans through mechanisms such as the Convention on Biodiversity. By synthesizing and making more accessible the scientific evidence obtained through the joint effort of many researchers and conservationists, the Half-Earth Project Map also provides information to help citizens hold leaders accountable for their promises and push for further action. While ambitious, the goal of Half-Earth is achievable because of our determination to succeed and the science to guide us.
A chord diagram illustrating the amount of overlap in terrestrial vertebrate species composition between South American countries, representing 8,850 species in total.