About Move BON

Movement is a key component of at least nine Sustainable Development Goals, fifteen targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and is a central tenet of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS). However, workflows to transform raw movement tracks into global conservation policy are highly underdeveloped. With the establishment of an Animal Movement Biodiversity Observation Network (Move BON), we aim to close this science-policy gap by developing an informed community of practice that will facilitate the integration of tracking data into environmental policy at national and global scales. 

Core Aims of Move BON

• Enhance science-policy integration: Promote a shared understanding of the science-policy pipeline for movement data across aerial, aquatic, and terrestrial ecosystems.
• Coordinate with existing initiatives: Collaboratively pursue opportunities to close identified gaps in the information pipeline for movement data.
• Derive actionable insights for policymakers: Develop meaningful indices that explicitly link changes in animal movement with biodiversity outcomes at national and global scales.
• Operationalize solutions: Foster relationships with signatory countries to develop frameworks, build capacity, and create national-level case studies that demonstrate the value of incorporating movement-derived insights into decision-making processes.

Activities

• Introduced the Move BON Initiative at the World Biodiversity Forum in Davos, Switzerland in June 2024
• Introduced the Move BON Initiative at CBD COP 16 in Cali, Colombia in October 2024
• Held a technical workshop to develop movement metrics and indicators for ungulates in Front Royal, Virginia in November 2024
• Hosted the Move BON Development Workshop in Washington, DC in March 2025
• Launched Move BON at Living Data 2025!
  • Read the announcement of endorsement from GEO BON
  • Read the Press Release
  • Watch the session recording

How to Engage

As a first step, you can visit our new landing page on the GEO BON website and:

• Watch a brief introduction to Move BON by @lhughey
• Join the mailing list
  • Click "Register" and check "Move BON" to join the group and be automatically added to the mailing list.
• Get up to speed on global conservation policy frameworks through the lens of animal movement with our new series: Behind the Buzz: From Data to Decisions.
• Find us in person at these upcoming events:
  • CMS COP 15: March 23-29, 2026

  • World Biodiversity Forum: June 14-19, 2026

    • Session: Harnessing Animal Movement for Biodiversity Monitoring: From Movement Trait Data to Biodiversity Indicators and Decision-Making
      • Abstract submission deadline: November 18, 2025 (please note and plan ahead for €50 submission fee)
        • Call for Abstracts
    • Workshop: Integrating Animal Movement into the Essential Biodiversity Variable Framework

     

Visualizing the potential for Move BON to impact the conservation of biological diversity through a commitment to collaboration, coordination, accessibility, and knowledge sharing. Illustration by Nick Garnhart.

Acknowledgements

The Move BON Initiative is the product of a proposal developed by the Smithsonian Institution, WILDLABS, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and the University of Central Florida. Funding for initial mobilization has been provided by the Smithsonian Institution and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.