José Manuel Sesma, es presidente de la Asociación sin ánimo de lucro Fotografía y Biodiversidad. Estudió Ciencias Biológicas en la Universidad de Barcelona con la especialidad en invertebrados. Socio fundador y presidente de d´Objectiu Natura, Associació de Fotógrafs de Natura de Catalunya. Ha publicado multitud de artículos científicos, y libros divulgativos. Dirige la galería de invertebrados de Biodiversidad Virtual de la que es presidente, ha concedido una entrevista para A cambio de nada, con el fin de acercarnos desde la fotografía hacia la naturaleza mostrando a su vez toda la información que a través de la fotografía obtenemos de ella. “Actualmente es habitual calcular la huella de carbono que generamos con nuestras actividades cotidianas y darnos cuenta así de cómo estamos alterando el planeta”. “Las instituciones deben establecer unas directrices globales para que los ciudadanos de forma individual y solidaria las llevemos a cabo”. “Algunas especies han desaparecido de las zonas más afectadas por las sequias”.
What is Virtual Biodiversity?
Virtual Biodiversity is a scientific and informative platform based on cooperative work and citizen participation. It consists of twelve thematic galleries of geolocated digital photographs, contributed by citizens, which make up a taxonomically ordered database. Virtual Biodiversity is a project of the Photography and Biodiversity non-profit Association, which has about 500 members. Virtual Biodiversity was created in 1995 as a Virtual Insectarium and it was not until 2008 that it was configured with the 12 current galleries as Virtual Biodiversity. Currently, almost 1 million visits are received per month and we have an impact worldwide. www.biodiversidadvirtual.org, www.fotografiaybiodiversidad.org
Photography is essential in your work. What kind of information can we collect through it?
Photography is essential, yes, but it must always be accompanied by the location and the date, so that each photo becomes a scientific date. Currently, most mobiles have a GPS system, and a watch that incorporates the location and date to the EXIF data, so the user only has to upload the photo to our platform. Once on our platform, the most difficult part comes, knowing what we have photographed, and for this we have a great team of specialists in different groups of flora and fauna that give the scientific name to what we have photographed. In the set of galleries, more than 70% of the photos that are uploaded are identified.
Once we have a name, date and location, we can start generating maps, graphics of blooms and insect flights, and in the case of invasive species, we can map how they advance through our territory.
What is the most striking phenomenon that you have come across through your studies?
Well, we have found new species for science, we have found new records for Europe and the Palearctic, we have seen how invasive species burst into our territory, migratory phenomena, etc. But we think that the most important thing is the large amount of biodistribution data that we generate. It gives us a real idea of where each species lives, including threatened and bioindicator species, and we are a great tool for proper management by environmental managers.
“Virtual biodiversity is a magnificent tool for proper management by environmental managers, as it gives us a real idea of where each species lives”
Virtual Biodiversity, can it become an open window to know in depth the direct relationship between climate change and biodiversity?
The rise in temperatures at the global level generates imbalances in ecosystems causing some species to disappear, others to move in altitude (towards the tops of the mountains), or in latitude, (towards the north) and causing new visitors appear, (invasive). This, which seems obvious, can also be deduced by analyzing the Virtual Biodiversity data and such. For example, we have been able to see how some species have disappeared from the areas most affected by droughts. To go further we have started monitoring butterflies, which are bioindicators, to see how their populations evolve and how they are affected by climate change and other anthropogenic activities, such as changes in land uses.
“The rise in temperatures at the global level generates imbalances in ecosystems causing some species to disappear.”
Do you think that initiatives such as those carried out in Virtual Biodiversity can help us to improve, anticipate and slow down the negative effects of climate change on biodiversity in some way?
Any initiative that contributes to knowing our biodiversity generates an awareness of respect and conservation and that is very positive, since global guidelines and individual awareness are necessary to stop the effects of climate change, although I understand that it will be difficult to give up the way of life we lead.
What actions do you think institutions should prioritize to stop the effects of climate change on biodiversity?
I mentioned it in the previous answer, institutions must establish global guidelines so that we citizens, individually and in solidarity, can carry them out, even if that means giving up part of the current welfare state. Currently it is common to calculate the carbon footprint that we generate with our daily activities and thus realize how we are altering the planet and what to do to reduce that footprint.
What project are you currently involved in?
Well, we’re involved in many, and they consume a lot of the free time of our team of collaborators. All work here is voluntary and collaborative, so projects work when someone is behind them. Let’s see if I don’t leave any out:
We have already spoken about the Virtual Biodiversity project (www.biodiversidadvirtual.org); It consists of generating a geo-referenced biodiversity database and we have already exceeded 2 million citations among the 12 thematic galleries.
Testings: Group outings to take photos, that is, to test the biodiversity of an area. They can be to photograph a specific group, commemorative, children’s,… They are always free to attend.
BV points. Natural spaces where a list of species is managed by a unit, and where people can take photos and upload them to Virtual Biodiversity to identify them.
Citizen Observatories of Biodiversity: Citizens of an area organize themselves, upload photos to Virtual Biodiversity and prepare a list of species in that area. There are COBs that exceed 3,000 species in their environment.
Taxophoto: A series of key elements to identify species by photography, indicating where we should look in each case. They are free and we can carry them on our mobiles and tablets.
Videotaxo: Our YouTube channel where we post videos recorded by our users of different species, along with a tutorial. Lately we are giving it a new dimension by adding to it interviews and workshops, always related in some way to different activities of our association.
Dicciotaxo: Created under the Taxofoto project, in support of the photographic identification keys that are developed in it. It consists of a glossary of terms, which includes all terms that may pose difficulties in understanding the key elements that appear in the Taxoforms. These terms are developed with simple, photo-based explanations and can be accessed from any gallery.
Publications: We carry out a series of publications, among the highlights is BV News Scientific Publications, where users who have photographed a finding are invited to publish with the rigor of the scientific world. The level of our magazine is extremely high in quality and to publish one of the photos that gives rise to the article, it must be uploaded to Virtual Biodiversity.
BV Sheets: Design and layout of sheets and posters for educational, pedagogical, and teaching purposes. The images used are generously provided by our users. We develop collections of flora and fauna, posters and brochures for OCBs, CEAs, museums, universities, botanical gardens, BV Points and IESs. Our work is accessible on the web for any patron who wants to visit. All of them are made without profit, with an express marketing ban.
Butterfly monitoring: We have recruited volunteers to do a weekly sample of the number of butterflies seen on a predetermined itinerary and over time to assess how populations change and what those changes are due to. This year, because of quarantine, they will be delayed, but we will continue in future years. This is a long-term project.
Blue project: A group of knowledgeable people give scientific names to species that are easy to recognize, some that are highly photographed, albeit common. This work encourages users to upload photos because of the immediacy of names and makes it easier for specialists to name many common species.
And there are other projects that we plan to launch when this bad dream of COVID-19 ends.