The Program for Planned Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research is a platform for long-term biodiversity and biophysical research. The program facilitates integrated multidisciplinary research designed to answer targeted questions (e.g. management and ecosystem response to climate change). The system is based on a hierarchical network of permanent plots (terrestrial and aquatic) that are systematically spaced in grids (e.g. 5 km x 5 km) and modules (e.g. 5 km x 1 km) within a long-term ecological research network. Plots follow contour lines which facilitates orthorectification and validation of satellite imagery.
Metadata and data collected for biodiversity and biophysical research is stored and publicly available to facilitate ongoing integrated multidisciplinary research at local, mesoscale, landscape and global scales. The strength of the PPBio approach is that it facilitates multi-disciplinary research to assist managers to monitor both the impacts associated with local management practices, and the long-term responses and adaptive capacity associated with global climate change.
The aim of PPBio Australasia (as part of the international PPBio program) is to establish long-term ecological research grids covering the biogeographic regions throughout Australia.
The original PPBio Brazil concept was developed by the Minist'rio da Ci'ncia e Tecnologia. The Program for Planned Biodiversity Studies resulted from MCT's recognition of their national responsibility under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
This recognition was coupled with an understanding and awareness that studies of biodiversity needed to be integrated and conducted over large areas, to provide meaningful long-term data through which effective biodiversity could be achieved. Thus, along with its Institutes and their partners, PPBio Brazil was established.
The program was introduced to The Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies by Dr William E. Magnusson, at The National Institute for Amazon Research in Brazil.
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