Global Data Interdependencies in Biodiversity Monitoring

Biodiversity monitoring is becoming increasingly global, involving a complex landscape of scientific institutions, public administrations, and data infrastructures that provide, use, or channel data across national boundaries. In international relations theory, such cross-boundary exchanges are typically understood in terms of interdependencies, which can reduce the costs of cooperation amongst involved actors, but may also be leveraged to pursue geopolitical interests. This paper employs a mixed methods approach to study the structure and effects of such ‘data interdependencies’ in the context of biodiversity monitoring. Based on a large corpus of biodiversity monitoring literature and text mining, this study first examines the global network of data flows among data users, providers, and infrastructures. It then qualitatively analyzes how forms of ownership, control, and governance over the network’s central infrastructures have affected data flows over time. By examining how data interdependencies give rise to forms of cooperation, weaponization, and unintended consequences, the paper highlights the politics of global biodiversity monitoring and data in international relations. It discusses implications for relevant UN processes such as the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the recently adopted Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).