Interested in our latest report on biodiversity monitoring harmonisation?
On 26 November, Michelle Silva del Pozo provided a concise overview of this new guidance. The presentation covered three main aspects from the report:
- Mapping existing monitoring communities: The report identifies around 60 established thematic communities (or about 120 active groups) operating across Europe and beyond, dedicated to specific domains like butterflies or marine turtles. These existing communities form a strong foundation that the new framework must respect and build upon for successful harmonisation.
- Defining Common Minimum Requirements (CMRs): CMRs define essential elements for comparability without enforcing identical methods. The report focuses on alignment in two key areas: monitoring objectives and sampling design. The guidance recommends using Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) as a shared language for objectives and results.
- Proposing expert-led Thematic Hubs: These hubs would formalise existing expertise, acting as collaborative pillars to apply CMRs and harmonised protocols, supporting the proposed EU Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre (EBOCC) without adding bureaucracy.
The report calls for enabling structures, including an official mandate (formal recognition from the European Commission), dedicated resources (budget for collaboration and capacity building), and cross-sector integration (exploring synergies with areas like conservation planning).
