How should we monitor biodiversity quickly, affordably, inclusively, and in detail, with limited resources? This challenge is especially tricky for a more hidden and harder to study piece of biodiversity – genetic diversity. But we are making progress.

Readily available satellite Earth observations allow us to assess key genetic diversity metrics at landscape level, worldwide: As part of the Genes from Space project we have integrated Earth observations data into a platform that makes them accessible to anyone interested in calculating genetic diversity indicators for assessment, monitoring and restoration of species around the world – without requiring any programming skills or genetic data. This innovative methodology kicked off with a hackathon-style workshop held on 22 January in Bern, Switzerland, attended by more than 100 scientists and practitioners from 30 countries around the world.

Satellite observations can track habitat changes

Genetic diversity is the foundation of biodiversity and essential for species survival. Yet, monitoring it at large scales remains a challenge. Traditional approaches rely on DNA sampling, which is costly and labor-intensive. However, satellite-based Earth observation (EO) data can help bridge this gap, particularly in remote or inaccessible habitats where repeated DNA sampling is impractical.

The core idea is that genetic diversity depends on the health and stability of species populations. If populations are large enough and remain stable over time, genetic diversity can be maintained. While direct population monitoring from space is not yet possible, satellite observations can track habitat changes – such as the decline or disappearance of specific ecosystems that support key species. By identifying known population locations and assessing habitat trends, we can estimate expected shifts in population size. These estimates form the basis for the two Genetic Diversity Indicators adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity and required for reporting under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

An intuitive tool with an open development

The Genes from Space prototype tool allows users to map species populations using occurrence data – either uploaded manually or retrieved from public databases. This offers an accessible and scalable approach to estimating genetic diversity indicators – a significant step forward toward integrating genetic metrics into global biodiversity monitoring frameworks.

A key highlight of the tool is its accessibility and ease of use. Unlike other Earth observation-based biodiversity monitoring systems that require technical expertise in remote sensing, this tool was designed with user-friendliness in mind. Participants needed only a few inputs – such as species name, population density estimates, and expected isolation distances – to generate genetic diversity indicators in just minutes.

The prototype tool is developed within BON in a Box, an open platform designed to facilitate the development and sharing of computational tools for biodiversity monitoring. This platform supports the creation of pipelines within a modular framework, enabling researchers to expand existing tools with additional functionalities or to assemble new frameworks using pre-existing modules developed by others. BON in a Box

A global challenge can only be tackled with global collaboration

More than 100 participants from 30 countries worldwide attended our workshop. To ensure an even broader accessibility, a dedicated presentation and discussion channel in Spanish was provided. Participants included ecologists, geneticists, conservation biologists, policymakers, and other stakeholders interested in biodiversity monitoring.

The workshop was a unique opportunity for discussing potential improvements to the tool. Participants actively engaged in discussions about integrating additional genetic data sources, refining input parameters, and ensuring the tool’s applicability to a broad range of species and conservation needs. We are currently analyzing participant’s feedback to enhance the tool’s performance and usability. Future updates will incorporate additional functionalities, improve data integration, and address challenges identified during the workshop.

Ultimately, this initiative paves the way for a global effort to monitor genetic diversity using Earth observation data. By making genetic diversity indicators widely accessible, the Genes from Space project aims to support conservation planning, species management, and biodiversity policy development on a global scale.

Genes from Space is an international research initiative supported by the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern. Led by UZH researchers Claudia Röösli and Meredith Schuman, the transdisciplinary team combines expertise in biodiversity monitoring, genomics, and remote sensing. The tool was developed by UZH researchers Oliver Selmoni, Simon Pahls, and Isabelle Helfenstein.

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Oliver Michele Selmoni, Spatial Genetics