Europa Biodiversity Observation Network: integrating data streams to support policy
Authors: Pereira Henrique M. , Junker Jessi , Fernández Néstor , Maes Joachim , Beja Pedro , Bonn Aletta , Breeze Tom , Brotons Lluís , Bruehlheide Helge , Buchhorn Marcel , Capinha César , Chow Cher , Dietrich Karolin , Dornelas Maria , Dubois Grégoire , Fernandez Miguel , Frenzel Mark , Friberg Nikolai , Fritz Steffen , Georgieva Ivelina , Gobin Anne , Guerra Carlos , Haande Sigrid , Herrando Sergi , Jandt Ute , Kissling W. Daniel , Kühn Ingolf , Langer Christian , Liquete Camino , Lyche Solheim Anne , Martí David , Martin Juliette G. C. , Masur Annett , McCallum Ian , Mjelde Marit , Moe Jannicke , Moersberger Hannah , Morán-Ordóñez Alejandra , Moreira Francisco , Musche Martin , Navarro Laetitia M. , Orgiazzi Alberto , Patchett Robert , Penev Lyubomir , Pino Joan , Popova Gabriela , Potts Simon , Ramon Anna , Sandin Leonard , Santana Joana , Sapundzhieva Anna , See Linda , Shamoun-Baranes Judy , Smets Bruno , Stoev Pavel , Tedersoo Leho , Tiimann Liis , Valdez Jose , Vallecillo Sara , Van Grunsven Roy H. A. , Van De Kerchove Ruben , Villero Dani , Visconti Piero , Weinhold Claudia , Zuleger Annika M. 
Published: January 2022

Observations are key to understand the drivers of biodiversity loss, and the impacts on ecosystem services and ultimately on people. Many EU policies and initiatives demand unbiased, integrated and regularly updated biodiversity and ecosystem service data. However, efforts to monitor biodiversity are spatially and temporally fragmented, taxonomically biased, and lack integration in Europe. EuropaBON aims to bridge this gap by designing an EU-wide framework for monitoring biodiversity and ecosystem services. EuropaBON harnesses the power of modelling essential variables to integrate different reporting streams, data sources, and monitoring schemes. These essential variables provide consistent knowledge about multiple dimensions of biodiversity change across space and time. They can then be analyzed and synthesized to support decision-making at different spatial scales, from the sub-national to the European scale, through the production of indicators and scenarios. To develop essential biodiversity and ecosystem variables workflows that are policy relevant, EuropaBON is built around stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange (WP2). EuropaBON will work with stakeholders to identify user and policy needs for biodiversity monitoring and investigate the feasibility of setting up a center to coordinate monitoring activities across Europe (WP2). Together with stakeholders, EuropaBON will assess current monitoring efforts to identify gaps, data and workflow bottlenecks, and analyse cost-effectiveness of different schemes (WP3). This will be used to co-design improved monitoring schemes using novel technologies to become more representative temporally, spatially and taxonomically, delivering multiple benefits to users and society (WP4). Finally, EuropaBON will demonstrate in a set of showcases how workflows tailored to the Birds Directive, Habitats Directive, Water Framework Directive, Climate and Restoration Policy, and the Bioeconomy Strategy, can be implemented (WP5).