Open AccessUsing expert-elicitation to deliver biodiversity monitoring priorities on a Mediterranean island
Author(s) -
Jodey Peyton,
Margarita Hadjistylli,
Iakovos Tziortzis,
Elena Erotokritou,
Monica Demetriou,
Yianna Samuel,
V. Anastasi,
Georgios Fyttis,
Louis Hadjioannou,
Christina Ieronymidou,
Nikolaos Kassinis,
Periklis Kleitou,
Demetris Kletou,
Athanasia Mandoulaki,
Nikolas Michailidis,
Athina Papatheodoulou,
G. Payiattas,
D. J. Sparrow,
Rosalyn Sparrow,
Katharine Turvey,
Elli Tzirkalli,
Androulla I. Varnava,
Oliver L. Pescott
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0256777
Subject(s) - biodiversity , expert elicitation , environmental resource management , measurement of biodiversity , environmental planning , process (computing) , environmental monitoring , globe , biodiversity conservation , geography , computer science , environmental science , ecology , biology , neuroscience , meteorology , operating system
Biodiversity monitoring plays an essential role in tracking changes in ecosystems, species distributions and abundances across the globe. Data collected through both structured and unstructured biodiversity recording can inform conservation measures designed to reduce, prevent, and reverse declines in valued biodiversity of many types. However, given that resources for biodiversity monitoring are limited, it is important that funding bodies prioritise investments relative to the requirements in any given region. We addressed this prioritisation requirement for a biodiverse Mediterranean island (Cyprus) using a three-stage process of expert-elicitation. This resulted in a structured list of twenty biodiversity monitoring needs; specifically, a hierarchy of three groups of these needs was created using a consensus approach. The most highly prioritised biodiversity monitoring needs were those related to the development of robust survey methodologies, and those ensuring that sufficiently skilled citizens are available to contribute. We discuss ways that the results of our expert-elicitation process could be used to support current and future biodiversity monitoring in Cyprus.