ARPHA Preprints, doi: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e84517
Europa Biodiversity Observation Network: User and Policy Needs Assessment
expand article infoHannah Moersberger, Juliette G. C. Martin§, Jessi Junker, Ivelina Georgieva|, Silke Bauer, Pedro Beja#, Tom Breeze¤, Lluís Brotons«, Helge Bruelheide», Néstor Fernández˄, Miguel Fernandez˅, Ute Jandt¦ˀ, Christian Langerˁ, Anne Lyche Solheim, Joachim Maes, Francisco Moreira, Guy Pe'er, Joana Santana, Judy Shamoun-Baranes, Bruno Smets, Jose Valdez¦, Ian McCallum, Henrique M. Pereira, Aletta Bonn˄
‡ Helmholtz Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany§ IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria| International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria¶ Schweizerische Vogelwarte Sempach, Sempach, Switzerland# CIBIO-Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal¤ University of Reading (UoR), U.K., Reading, United Kingdom« Centre Tecnològic Forestal de Catalunya, Solsona, Spain» Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany˄ German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany˅ California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, United States of America¦ German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germanyˀ Martin Luther University Halle Wittenberg, Halle, Germanyˁ Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg / German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany₵ Norsk Institutt for Vannforskning (NIVA), Oslo, Norwayℓ European Commission, Brussels, Belgium₰ University of Porto, Porto, Portugal₱ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany₳ BIOPOLIS-CIBIO/InBIO, Porto, Portugal₴ Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA), Amsterdam, Netherlands₣ VITO NV, Mol, Belgium₮ International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Wien, Austria₦ Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) / German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany₭ Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany₲ Helmholtz-Center for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
Open Access
Abstract

In this report, we present the analysis of the different available biodiversity data streams at the EU and national level, both baseline biodiversity data and monitoring data. We assess how these biodiversity data inform and trigger policy action and identify the related challenges the different European countries and relevant EU agencies face and the solutions to overcome them. To do this, we consulted with more than 350 expert stakeholders from policy, research and practice. The assessment identified a fragmented biodiversity data landscape that cannot currently easily answer all relevant policy questions. Quantity and quality of biodiversity baseline datasets differ for the different countries, ranging from non-existent biodiversity monitoring due to capacity issues, to regular monitoring of ecosystem processes and state. By engaging stakeholders and experts in both member states and non-member states and from several EU bodies, we identified key challenges and ways to address these with targeted solutions towards building a joint European Biodiversity Monitoring Network. Solutions include focussing on cooperation and coordination, enhanced data standardisation and sharing, as well as the use of models and new technologies. These solutions can however only be realised with dedicated funding and capacity building, in coordination with all stakeholders in partnership.

Keywords
challenges, data user, EBV/EESV, monitoring schemes, policy, solutions, stakeholders