Smithsonian Launches Coastal Marine Biodiversity Project with $10M donation
Thanks to Michael and Suzanne Tennenbaum, this significant investment to study coastal areas globally is a huge step towards a standardized global monitoring network. With most people living in coastal zones, and declining fish populations and coral reefs, and the challenges facing the people and economies on which they depend, large amounts of coordinated data is needed to be able to make informed decisions to promote sustainable solutions. This initiative has the potential to really improve our ability to manage coastal ecosystems over the short and long term.
Marine Passive Acoustic Monitoring will be an important part of this, since it is a key method for biodiversity with the advantages of being low cost, operational day and night and in inclement weather, and the ability to acquire large amounts of species presence and activity data for months-years at a time.
To see more about the work I am doing to initiate and coordinate acoustic monitoring networks, check out:
Global Research and Arts Center for the Investigation and Advancement of Sustainability Solutions
The Listener Sculpture Project for Marine Passive Acoustic Monitoring
Monitoring with the Ecological Acoustic Recorder
For more on the Smithsonian Project, check out:
MarineGEO – Integrated Ecological Observatories for Changing Marine Ecosystems
