“Mapping of national and sub-national organisations that fund and steer biodiversity monitoring schemes”

Biodiversa+ has mapped organisations funding and steering national and sub-national biodiversity monitoring schemes in its 23-country partner network (covering most EU Member States and some non-EU countries). This report summarises questionnaire and interview findings from environmental ministries and agencies, revealing key insights into biodiversity monitoring governance:

  • Ministries of Environment and/or Environmental Protection Agencies are primarily responsible for steering and governing monitoring schemes.
  • Biodiversity monitoring governance is split by realm (e.g., terrestrial and aquatic) in two-thirds of the countries.

The report provides a country-by-country overview, including:

  • Key monitoring organisations and their realm coverage;
  • Data gathering networks and the role of volunteers;
  • Data availability/workflow challenges and solutions;
  • Budget and financing information.

This mapping will support establishing a European Biodiversity Observation Network and developing an EU Biodiversity Monitoring Coordination Centre and its national/sub-national counterparts, contributing to improved European biodiversity monitoring across all taxa and realms.