Biodiversa+ is developing a roadmap to guide the implementation and operationalisation of novel technologies and approaches for biodiversity monitoring across Europe. This roadmap will inform future Biodiversa+ initiatives, including capacity-building events and potential mobility programmes.
To kickstart the roadmap development, Biodiversa+ convened an expert workshop, bringing together over fifty participants.
Key presentations
In the first part of the workshop, experts provided examples of opportunities and obstacles in implementing novel technologies for biodiversity monitoring:
- Cher Chow, lead author of the EuropaBON report on novel technology for biodiversity monitoring, introduced main findings of EuropaBON.
- Elaine van Ommen Kloeke introduced ARISE, a large national biodiversity technology infrastructure.
- Florian Leese from the University of Duisburg-Essen and coordinator of DNAquaNET proposed three options for developing standards for molecular biodiversity assessments in freshwater ecosystems.
- Adrià López-Baucells and Charlotte Roemer showcased the implementation of acoustic monitoring for bats in a pan-European project.
- Markus Erhard from the EEA gave a presentation on securing FAIR data when implementing new technologies and data streams for monitoring biodiversity.
Brainstorming sessions
Following the presentations, based on their expertise the workshop participants were split into four sub-groups:
- Remote sensing: Satellites, lidar, drones, and radars for habitat status and condition.
- Image-based approaches: Species monitoring using camera traps, drones, and thermal cameras.
- Acoustic sensors: Permanently deployed sensors for birds, bats, some marine mammals, and terrestrial insects.
- Molecular methods: Species and community assessments.
In each group, participants identified the main challenges and opportunities for scaling up and operationalising these novel methods and technologies across Europe. They also proposed concrete ways to overcome these challenges.
The outcomes of this workshop will inform the development of the Biodiversa+ roadmap, supporting the enhanced operationalisation of novel biodiversity monitoring methods and technologies across Europe.
