Events | Movement of Life
CONTENT

Move BON Planning Workshop

Harnessing animal movement data to achieve global biodiversity conservation goals

March 19-21, 2025

 

Reservoir Center for Water Solutions
301 Water Street SE, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20003

Overview

Movement is a key component of at least nine Sustainable Development Goals, fifteen targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and one class of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs). However, workflows to transform raw movement tracks into global conservation policy are highly underdeveloped. We aim to close the science-policy gap by developing an informed community of practice that will facilitate the integration of tracking data into environmental policy at national and global scales. A key outcome of the workshop will include the creation of a new thematic Biodiversity Observation Network (BON) to harmonize new and existing efforts with relevance to multilateral environmental agreements & processes (e.g., Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on Migratory Species) and to foster collaboration beyond the initial workshop. This effort is a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution, WILDLABS, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior.

 

Workshop goals

  • Enhance science-policy integration: Foster a shared understanding of the science-policy pipeline for movement data across aerial, aquatic, and terrestrial ecosystems.
  • Coordinate with existing initiatives: Collaboratively pursue opportunities to close identified gaps in the information pipeline for movement data.
  • Operationalize solutions: Develop strategies to implement recommendations in partnership with signatory countries.
  • Formalize a new Biodiversity Observation Network: Establish the scope and management structure for a proposed thematic Biodiversity Observation Network focused on animal movement.

This workshop is by invitation only. Please contact us if you would like to hear about future developments and opportunities or join the conversation in the WILDLABS Animal Movement Group!

MEETING TIME: 9:00 AM-4:30 PM each day

DAY 1: Getting oriented

  • Introduction to global conservation policy
    • Reviewing the status of movement within the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
  • Orientation to tracking networks and databases
    • Discussing the status of data aggregation efforts  and how to bridge technological and taxonomic gaps for broader policy goals
  • Identifying gaps in the information pipeline
    • Gaps in global and taxonomic coverage
    • Missing and proposed indicators
    • Data discoverability and accessibility
  • Advancing collaborations with partner countries (e.g., Kenya, Brazil, Colombia)

DAY 2: Components of closing the science-policy gap

  • Case studies of success
  • Advancing data standards and data integration
  • Indicator development
  • The role of community engagement
  • Priorities for technology development
  • Governance

DAY 3: Next steps

  • Move BON planning
  • Coordinating around upcoming opportunities to engage with IPBES, SBSTTA, CEOS
  • Next steps for partner countries
  • Plan for publishing workshop outcomes

Additional details coming soon!

Coming soon! 

Meeting Location

Reservoir Center for Water Solutions: 301 Water Street SE, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20003

Visitors should enter the ground floor lobby via the main entrance at 301 Water St. From the lobby, the second floor can be reached via stairs or elevator, where a receptionist will assist you with navigating the building. Please note that participants will need to complete a brief check-in process at an automated kiosk for each day of the workshop.

Ground Transportation

By DC Metro, take the green line to Navy Yard Metro station. From the M St entrance, it is an 8-minute walk to the Reservoir Center. For more information on using DC Metro check out WMATA Trip Planner.

By bike, there are three Capital bikeshares close to the facility, located at 3rd & Tingley St. SE, 4th & M St SE, and 1st & N St SE.

By car, there are three parking lots to choose from. The Yards Lot Q at 425 Tingey St SE (one block away), SP+ Parking at 1275 New Jersey Ave SE, and Colonial Parking at 300 M St SE.

Airport Information

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is 5.4 miles away.

  1. Take the DC Metro yellow line.
  2. Transfer at L’Enfant Plaza.
  3. Take the green line to the Navy Yard Metro station.

Dulles International Airport (IAD) is 32 miles away in Virginia.

  1. Take the Silverline Express shuttle to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station.
  2. Take the DC Metro silver line.
  3. Transfer at L’Enfant Plaza to take the green line to the Navy Yard Metro station.

Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is 32 miles away in Maryland.

  1. Take the Amtrak or Marc train to Union Station.
  2. Take the DC Metro red line.
  3. Transfer at Gallery Place-Chinatown to take the green line to the Navy Yard Metro station.

 

Lodging

We are currently negotiating discounted hotel rates within walking distance of the venue. Stay tuned for updates!

 

General Notes

Please bring a refillable water bottle or utilize cups and utensils provided by The Reservoir Center. No single use plastics including plastic water bottles are permitted in the building.

Main Contacts

Lacey Hughey, Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Research Ecologist and Program Manager (hugheyl@si.edu)

Talia Speaker, WILDLABS & WWF-US, Research Specialist (talia.speaker@wildlabs.net)

Co-organizers

Sarah Davidson, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Movebank Data Curator
Antonio Ferraz, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Researcher
Autumn-Lynn Harrison, Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Research Ecologist
Matt Ogburn, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Research Ecologist

Please don’t hesitate to contact the workshop organizers if you have any questions or concerns while planning your trip. We look forward to seeing you!

Funding for this workshop has been generously provided by Life on a Sustainable Planet, an initiative hosted by the Office of the Undersecretary for Science and Research at the Smithsonian.