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Commission Plan 2002

Vegetation Dynamics, Climate, and Biodiversity Commission International Society of Biometeorology 3-year plan of Activities, 2002-2005

Mark D. Schwartz Chair

I. Broad activities and Goals

We intend to stress the following Commission objectives:

  1. To develop a combined observational program configured to be sensitive to modifications in plant/animal phenology and biodiversity changes which is able to form an effective system for early detection and warning of impending globalscale changes in ecosystems
  2. To strategically deploy new and augment existing observational networks, initially in mid latitudes.

In order to do this we will continue to promote the Global Phenological Monitoring (GPM) network protocol (http://www.dow.wau.nl/msa/gpm/) and establishment of new stations in this growing global phenological observation network. Particular efforts are also underway in the USA to establish an expanded phenological network. Infrastructure support for this network has been committed by the USA National Climatic Data Center, and initial expansion of the USA National Phenology Network (NPN) will begin in 2003. Efforts are also underway to reactivate national

II. Continued Cooperation with the European Phenology Network (EPN)

Over the next three years, the European Phenology Network will undertake a large number of activities under the umbrella of our ISB Commission. The European Commission funds EPN. EPN will organize five workshops and one international conference during this time. The workshops will focus on different subjects: earth observation data and phenological monitoring; human health; modeling; agriculture, climate change and economic consequences; and communication, dissemination and capacity building. The conference will provide the main integration tools where representatives of different user groups and different thematic sectors meet and exchange information. In addition to these meetings, EPN will improve use of data and knowledge by developing two databases. The first one is a metadatabase that will provide an overview of existing phenological monitoring networks. The second one is a bibliographical database. Finally, EPN will co-ordinate the integration, cooperation and further expansion of phenological networks by standardization of observation protocols, linkage with the educational project GLOBE and by preparing proposals for new projects.

III. Book Project

Professor Schwartz is editing a book entitled "Phenology: An Integrative Environmental Science" for Kluwer Academic Publishers which is scheduled to be completed in 2003. The book will have approximately 30 chapters, including contributions from about 12 commission members. The major sections of the book will include: 1)Phenological Data, Networks, and Research; 2) Phenology of Selected Bioclimatic Zones; 3) Phenological Models and Techniques; 4) Remote Sensing Phenology; 5) Phenology of Selected Lifeforms; and Applications of Phenology.