State of European Biodiversity 2007
Monitoring the achievement of policy targets
ALTER-Net: a long-term biodiversity, ecosystem and awareness research network
ALTER-Net is a partnership of 24 organizations from 17 European countries that develop durable integration of biodiversity research capacity at a European level.
ECNC is the leader organization of the work package on development of a science–policy interface to improve information exchange related to biodiversity assessment. ECNC and its associated partners also actively contribute to a number of other ALTER-Net work packages.
The ALTER-Net All Parties’ Conference was held in Palma de Mallorca in February 2007. ECNC Deputy Executive Director, Ben Delbaere, discussed the knowledge-providing role of ALTER-Net through its network of Long-Term Ecosystem Research sites and as a hotline to answer questions of policymakers and other end users, in a paper entitled ‘ALTER-Net, Tell me…’. ECNC organized the Network Advisory Committee meeting, held on the third day of the conference.
In April 2007 the ALTER-Net Council discussed the future of ALTER-Net beyond its current EC funding period, which will end in 2009.
On 3 July 2007 three of the work packages (science–policy integration, partnership between scientists and science communicators, and dissemination) organized a joint workshop at the Institute of Nature and Forests in Brussels. The aim was to discuss further development of tools to support the science–policy interface effectively.
ECNC promotes the dissemination and transfer of knowledge gained in this research network through effective mechanisms for integrating biodiversity research into the policy agenda. At the Sixth Ministerial Conference ‘Environment for Europe’ (Belgrade, 10-12 October) ECNC organized a side event seminar on behalf of ALTER-Net. The seminar concerned the policy-science interface, and how ALTER-Net could assist European governments and other stakeholders in implementing their policies and targets.
Funding: Sixth EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.
Partners: Natural Environment Research Council, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (NERC; UK); Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National des Sciences de l’Université de l’Environnement (France); Hydrobiological Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences (HBI CAS); Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA); Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (UK); Umweltforschungszentrum Leipzig – Halle GmbH (UFZ; Germany); National Environmental Research Institute (Denmark); Alterra (the Netherlands); Forest Ecosystems Research Centre, University of Göttingen (Germany); Corpo Forestale dello Stato, Servizio CONECOFOR (Italy); Department of Systems Ecology, University of Bucharest (Romania); Institute of Landscape Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences (ILE SAS); The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE); International Centre for Ecology, Polish Academy of Sciences (ICE PAS); Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Spain); Institute of Ecology and Botany, Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Institute for Nature Conservation (Belgium); At-Bristol Ltd (UK); Centre National du Machinisme Agricole, du Génie Rural, des Eaux et des Forêts (CEMAGREF; France); Umweltbundesamt GmbH (UBA; Austria); National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM; the Netherlands); Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK; Germany).
More details: www.alter-net.info
Urban life-style and urban biodiversity (ULUB)
This project centres on urban life-style and urban planning as driving forces for biodiversity change. The focus is on the interaction of these types of urban development with biodiversity changes in major urban areas. The research will approach biodiversity changes and improvements in urban areas primarily through the study of human perceptions of nature, starting with the question: What are the overall benefits of biodiversity – from ecological and economic to cultural and recreational?
The project was coordinated by NERI. ECNC assisted in writing the report, in particular the chapters on biodiversity, and planning in relation to biodiversity. ECNC also provided expertise in participation and stakeholder involvement.
This project is a subproject of the ALTER-Net project (see above).
Funding: ALTER-Net – Sixth EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.
Partners: NERI (Denmark; lead partner); SYKE (Finland); ILE-SAS (Slovakia).
BioScore: Biodiversity impact assessment using species sensitivity scores
ECNC is coordinator of the BioScore project, which is developing a tool for biodiversity impact assessment of European Community policies. It assembles data on species distribution in Europe and their sensitivity to selected environmental variables. These data form the basis, in combination with scenario-based data on changes in environmental variables, for forecasting what share of biodiversity is sensitive – either positively or negatively – to the change concerned.
The preliminary maps showing the potential distribution of species using environmental variables were presented at the third BioScore project team meeting, which was organized by ECNC and took place in De Bilt, the Netherlands, in February 2007.
In May 2007, at the BioScore Steering Group meeting in Brussels, the BioScore project team presented the initial results on how biofuel plantations might impact on biodiversity in Europe, as one of the applications of the BioScore database. The preliminary results of a test on biofuel policy revealed that potentially 44% of the species considered will be negatively affected and that 7% of species might benefit from the growth of bioenergetic crops in Europe (assuming increased woody plantations on abandoned and agricultural land). The effects will be different per biogeographic region; for example, for butterflies approximately 38% of the species considered will decrease mainly in the Mediterranean region and about 12% of the species will increase mainly in the northern region. The Steering Group felt that BioScore is starting to produce valuable results. They were pleased with BioScore tackling the issue of biofuels from the biodiversity point of view as it is a topic of increasing political interest.
A prototype tool has been developed that will allow assessment of the likely impact of selected Community policy options on Europe’s biodiversity. The tool basically is a database that integrates data on policy-related pressures with environmental variables and sensitivity of some 1100 species to changes in these variables. The prototype database and user interface were discussed during the BioScore project meeting in September 2007, hosted by the European Forest Institute in Joensuu, Finland. The tool is to be tested in three case studies.
In 2007 the BioScore team produced a first scientific paper on the BioScore methodology and results to date. A BioScore leaflet was also produced for broader dissemination.
Funding: Sixth EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP6) with co-funding by project partners. ECNC co-funding provided by Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.
Partners: MNP - Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (the Netherlands); INBO/BCEurope - Research Institute for Nature and Forest/Butterfly Conservation Europe (Belgium); Wetlands International, Alterra - Green World Research (the Netherlands); NINA - Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (Norway); University of Rome – La Sapienza, Department of Animal and Human Biology (Italy); EFI - European Forest Institute; EKBY - Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre (Greece).
Supporting public involvement in building capacity for Ukrainian biodiversity monitoring
Ukraine does not have a state system for biodiversity monitoring, although there is monitoring of some taxonomic groups of species in the most advanced protected areas. However, most of this is not coordinated, is not widely communicated and does not involve a wide range of stakeholders. The aim of this project is to enhance Ukrainian capacity in developing biodiversity monitoring by increasing public involvement.
In 2007 an actor analysis was carried out to identify who is currently involved in biodiversity issues in general and in biodiversity monitoring in particular. An interactive database of organizations, research institutes, universities, protected areas, state agencies and NGOs related to biodiversity monitoring has been developed. Also an inventory of current monitoring activities was produced.
A national seminar ‘Biodiversity monitoring in Ukraine: current status and perspectives’ (3 & 4 July 2007, Kyiv) made significant progress through a series of active discussion sessions where issues and barriers to change were identified. Agreement was achieved on the need for a coordinated strategy for monitoring biodiversity across the country.
Work is ongoing with regard to the selection of appropriate species groups, regions and leading organizations to carry out a pilot study in Ukraine.
Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BBI-Matra).
Partners: National Ecological Centre of Ukraine (NECU); Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; Institute of Botany of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
The European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity (ETC/BD)
ECNC has been a consortium partner of the ETC/BD since 1994. In this role it carries out part of the Topic Centre's annual work plans. ECNC's work in 2007 focused mainly on carrying out activities under the SEBI2010 process (Streamlining European Biodiversity Indicators), general indicator and monitoring work, expert input in the field of spatial and ecological aspects of Natura 2000 coherence, and climate change.
On 4 October 2007, ETC/BD Manager Carlos Romão and ECNC Deputy Executive Director Ben Delbaere attended the meeting of the EEA Scientific Committee in Copenhagen. At this meeting all five ETCs of the EEA presented their consortia and work.
ECNC participates in the ETC/BD Management Committee. In November 2007, the Management Committee meeting was held in Tilburg. Ben Delbaere, Deputy Executive Director ECNC, was re-elected to be the Committee’s chair in 2008.
Funding: European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity.
Partners: Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic (AOPK, Czech Republic); European Forest Institute (Finland); Istituto Centrale per la Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica Applicata al Mare (Italy); Joint Nature Conservation Committee (UK); Estonian Environmental Information Centre; Institute of Landscape Biology of Slovak Academy of Sciences; Wetlands International.
More details: http://biodiversity.eionet.eu.int
Impacts of climate change on biodiversity in South-East Europe
The aim of the project is to assist and increase the capacity of five countries in South-East Europe in taking the necessary measures to maintain the quality of their biodiversity and to avoid, where possible, further damage to ecosystem services on which local communities depend. The countries are: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey.
These goals will be achieved through the organization of a conference, focusing on the five countries, which will bring together experts and policymakers from the SEE region, and experts and expertise from other European countries, in particular Spain. This conference will be the basis for creating:
ALTER-Net: a long-term biodiversity, ecosystem and awareness research network
ALTER-Net is a partnership of 24 organizations from 17 European countries that develop durable integration of biodiversity research capacity at a European level.
ECNC is the leader organization of the work package on development of a science–policy interface to improve information exchange related to biodiversity assessment. ECNC and its associated partners also actively contribute to a number of other ALTER-Net work packages.
The ALTER-Net All Parties’ Conference was held in Palma de Mallorca in February 2007. ECNC Deputy Executive Director, Ben Delbaere, discussed the knowledge-providing role of ALTER-Net through its network of Long-Term Ecosystem Research sites and as a hotline to answer questions of policymakers and other end users, in a paper entitled ‘ALTER-Net, Tell me…’. ECNC organized the Network Advisory Committee meeting, held on the third day of the conference.
In April 2007 the ALTER-Net Council discussed the future of ALTER-Net beyond its current EC funding period, which will end in 2009.
On 3 July 2007 three of the work packages (science–policy integration, partnership between scientists and science communicators, and dissemination) organized a joint workshop at the Institute of Nature and Forests in Brussels. The aim was to discuss further development of tools to support the science–policy interface effectively.
ECNC promotes the dissemination and transfer of knowledge gained in this research network through effective mechanisms for integrating biodiversity research into the policy agenda. At the Sixth Ministerial Conference ‘Environment for Europe’ (Belgrade, 10-12 October) ECNC organized a side event seminar on behalf of ALTER-Net. The seminar concerned the policy-science interface, and how ALTER-Net could assist European governments and other stakeholders in implementing their policies and targets.
Funding: Sixth EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.
Partners: Natural Environment Research Council, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (NERC; UK); Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National des Sciences de l’Université de l’Environnement (France); Hydrobiological Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences (HBI CAS); Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA); Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (UK); Umweltforschungszentrum Leipzig – Halle GmbH (UFZ; Germany); National Environmental Research Institute (Denmark); Alterra (the Netherlands); Forest Ecosystems Research Centre, University of Göttingen (Germany); Corpo Forestale dello Stato, Servizio CONECOFOR (Italy); Department of Systems Ecology, University of Bucharest (Romania); Institute of Landscape Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences (ILE SAS); The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE); International Centre for Ecology, Polish Academy of Sciences (ICE PAS); Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Spain); Institute of Ecology and Botany, Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Institute for Nature Conservation (Belgium); At-Bristol Ltd (UK); Centre National du Machinisme Agricole, du Génie Rural, des Eaux et des Forêts (CEMAGREF; France); Umweltbundesamt GmbH (UBA; Austria); National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM; the Netherlands); Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK; Germany).
More details: www.alter-net.info
Urban life-style and urban biodiversity (ULUB)
This project centres on urban life-style and urban planning as driving forces for biodiversity change. The focus is on the interaction of these types of urban development with biodiversity changes in major urban areas. The research will approach biodiversity changes and improvements in urban areas primarily through the study of human perceptions of nature, starting with the question: What are the overall benefits of biodiversity – from ecological and economic to cultural and recreational?
The project was coordinated by NERI. ECNC assisted in writing the report, in particular the chapters on biodiversity, and planning in relation to biodiversity. ECNC also provided expertise in participation and stakeholder involvement.
This project is a subproject of the ALTER-Net project (see above).
Funding: ALTER-Net – Sixth EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.
Partners: NERI (Denmark; lead partner); SYKE (Finland); ILE-SAS (Slovakia).
BioScore: Biodiversity impact assessment using species sensitivity scores
ECNC is coordinator of the BioScore project, which is developing a tool for biodiversity impact assessment of European Community policies. It assembles data on species distribution in Europe and their sensitivity to selected environmental variables. These data form the basis, in combination with scenario-based data on changes in environmental variables, for forecasting what share of biodiversity is sensitive – either positively or negatively – to the change concerned.
The preliminary maps showing the potential distribution of species using environmental variables were presented at the third BioScore project team meeting, which was organized by ECNC and took place in De Bilt, the Netherlands, in February 2007.
In May 2007, at the BioScore Steering Group meeting in Brussels, the BioScore project team presented the initial results on how biofuel plantations might impact on biodiversity in Europe, as one of the applications of the BioScore database. The preliminary results of a test on biofuel policy revealed that potentially 44% of the species considered will be negatively affected and that 7% of species might benefit from the growth of bioenergetic crops in Europe (assuming increased woody plantations on abandoned and agricultural land). The effects will be different per biogeographic region; for example, for butterflies approximately 38% of the species considered will decrease mainly in the Mediterranean region and about 12% of the species will increase mainly in the northern region. The Steering Group felt that BioScore is starting to produce valuable results. They were pleased with BioScore tackling the issue of biofuels from the biodiversity point of view as it is a topic of increasing political interest.
A prototype tool has been developed that will allow assessment of the likely impact of selected Community policy options on Europe’s biodiversity. The tool basically is a database that integrates data on policy-related pressures with environmental variables and sensitivity of some 1100 species to changes in these variables. The prototype database and user interface were discussed during the BioScore project meeting in September 2007, hosted by the European Forest Institute in Joensuu, Finland. The tool is to be tested in three case studies.
In 2007 the BioScore team produced a first scientific paper on the BioScore methodology and results to date. A BioScore leaflet was also produced for broader dissemination.
Funding: Sixth EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP6) with co-funding by project partners. ECNC co-funding provided by Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.
Partners: MNP - Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (the Netherlands); INBO/BCEurope - Research Institute for Nature and Forest/Butterfly Conservation Europe (Belgium); Wetlands International, Alterra - Green World Research (the Netherlands); NINA - Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (Norway); University of Rome – La Sapienza, Department of Animal and Human Biology (Italy); EFI - European Forest Institute; EKBY - Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre (Greece).
Supporting public involvement in building capacity for Ukrainian biodiversity monitoring
Ukraine does not have a state system for biodiversity monitoring, although there is monitoring of some taxonomic groups of species in the most advanced protected areas. However, most of this is not coordinated, is not widely communicated and does not involve a wide range of stakeholders. The aim of this project is to enhance Ukrainian capacity in developing biodiversity monitoring by increasing public involvement.
In 2007 an actor analysis was carried out to identify who is currently involved in biodiversity issues in general and in biodiversity monitoring in particular. An interactive database of organizations, research institutes, universities, protected areas, state agencies and NGOs related to biodiversity monitoring has been developed. Also an inventory of current monitoring activities was produced.
A national seminar ‘Biodiversity monitoring in Ukraine: current status and perspectives’ (3 & 4 July 2007, Kyiv) made significant progress through a series of active discussion sessions where issues and barriers to change were identified. Agreement was achieved on the need for a coordinated strategy for monitoring biodiversity across the country.
Work is ongoing with regard to the selection of appropriate species groups, regions and leading organizations to carry out a pilot study in Ukraine.
Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BBI-Matra).
Partners: National Ecological Centre of Ukraine (NECU); Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; Institute of Botany of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
The European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity (ETC/BD)
ECNC has been a consortium partner of the ETC/BD since 1994. In this role it carries out part of the Topic Centre's annual work plans. ECNC's work in 2007 focused mainly on carrying out activities under the SEBI2010 process (Streamlining European Biodiversity Indicators), general indicator and monitoring work, expert input in the field of spatial and ecological aspects of Natura 2000 coherence, and climate change.
On 4 October 2007, ETC/BD Manager Carlos Romão and ECNC Deputy Executive Director Ben Delbaere attended the meeting of the EEA Scientific Committee in Copenhagen. At this meeting all five ETCs of the EEA presented their consortia and work.
ECNC participates in the ETC/BD Management Committee. In November 2007, the Management Committee meeting was held in Tilburg. Ben Delbaere, Deputy Executive Director ECNC, was re-elected to be the Committee’s chair in 2008.
Funding: European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity.
Partners: Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic (AOPK, Czech Republic); European Forest Institute (Finland); Istituto Centrale per la Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica Applicata al Mare (Italy); Joint Nature Conservation Committee (UK); Estonian Environmental Information Centre; Institute of Landscape Biology of Slovak Academy of Sciences; Wetlands International.
More details: http://biodiversity.eionet.eu.int
Impacts of climate change on biodiversity in South-East Europe
The aim of the project is to assist and increase the capacity of five countries in South-East Europe in taking the necessary measures to maintain the quality of their biodiversity and to avoid, where possible, further damage to ecosystem services on which local communities depend. The countries are: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey.
These goals will be achieved through the organization of a conference, focusing on the five countries, which will bring together experts and policymakers from the SEE region, and experts and expertise from other European countries, in particular Spain. This conference will be the basis for creating:
- a background document containing easily accessible scientific information about the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services;
- the conference proceedings;
- practical and tailor-made recommendations to mitigate the effects of climate change on biodiversity and to increase the resilience of ecosystems in SEE;
- a platform to increase the networking between stakeholders in order to enhance information exchange and the creation of synergy and innovation.
The results could also feed into the discussions on climate change and biodiversity in the framework of the EU, the Environment for Europe process and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The project started in September 2007 and will end in December 2008.
Funding: AECID - Spanish International Cooperation Agency for Development.
Partners: Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC).
