GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEM: Technical Report from Sweden to the IBP ad hoc Committee on Global Monitoring

• Published in: Bulletins from the Ecological Research Committee - N.F.R. 1970-01 (10), p.1-64
• Main Authors: Lundholm, B., Svensson, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0587-1433

This report is a contribution to the discussion on the possibilities of establishing monitoring activities to follow environmental changes on a global scale. For convenience, the biosphere has been separated into Atmosphere, Hydrosphere and Pedosphere. Each of these components has been discussed and a series of recommendations made listing the most informative parameters for showing secular trends by monitoring. Living organisms have been discussed under the headings Organosphere and Biological Parameters. Although special attention has been paid to these, particularly insofar as they affect man, it is considered that too little is known at present to allow the formulation of comprehensive recommendations for biota. It is suggested that using international cooperation, pilot activities are started to review critically and select the appropriate parameters, in particular, biological variables. Special attention should be paid to relevance, feasibility, measuring techniques and costs. Actions within IBP are important. At the same time, planning should start to construct an intergovernmental organization to take responsibility for the Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS). During this planning stage, the interests and activities of the different intergovernmental and non-governmental bodies must be taken into account. The role of the international scientific community in relation to GEMS should be clarified and agreed especially the future role of SCOPE. The plans for GEMS with all its aspects including costs should be presented to the UN Conference on the Human Environment 1972. Finally, it must be stressed that global monitoring is a long term project and in many cases it will take a long time before secular trends where they exist can be established with any certainty.