Building the backbone for Europe’s biodiversity monitoring – Nature

Report on Building the Backbone for Europe’s Biodiversity Monitoring

Introduction

Biodiversity is experiencing an unprecedented decline, threatening the planet’s natural heritage and destabilizing ecosystems that are vital for societies and economies. Addressing this crisis aligns directly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), which emphasize the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and urgent action to combat climate change.

Need for a Unified Biodiversity Monitoring System

Global commitments such as the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the European Green Deal necessitate precise and consistent tracking of biodiversity changes across all levels—from genes to ecosystems. However, current biodiversity monitoring efforts in Europe are fragmented, uneven, and lack integration across national borders, which hampers effective policy implementation and conservation action.

EuropaBON Roadmap: A Transnational Biodiversity Observation System

The proposed solution is the EuropaBON Roadmap, which aims to establish a unified, transnational biodiversity observation system in Europe. This system is designed around 84 Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs), which are critical indicators for monitoring biodiversity status and trends. The Roadmap supports several SDGs by promoting sustainable ecosystem management and enhancing biodiversity data accessibility.

Key Components of the Roadmap

1. Integration of Diverse Data Sources: Combining traditional field surveys, satellite and airborne remote sensing, DNA-based methods, citizen science, and emerging in situ sensors.
2. Optimized Spatial Design: Targeting taxonomic and geographic gaps to ensure comprehensive biodiversity coverage.
3. Standardized Data Sharing: Facilitating interoperability and scalability through coordinated governance.
4. Advanced Modelling: Transforming data streams into policy-ready insights to inform conservation strategies.
5. European Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre (EBOCC): A proposed central body to oversee the network, ensuring alignment with policy needs and fostering collaboration.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 15 – Life on Land: The Roadmap enhances monitoring of terrestrial biodiversity, supporting conservation efforts and sustainable use of ecosystems.
• SDG 13 – Climate Action: By enabling rapid detection of ecological changes, the system aids in understanding and mitigating climate change impacts on biodiversity.
• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: The transnational and coordinated approach fosters international cooperation and data sharing.
• SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The integration of advanced technologies such as remote sensing and DNA-based methods promotes innovation in biodiversity monitoring.
• SDG 4 – Quality Education: Engagement of citizen science initiatives supports education and public awareness on biodiversity issues.

Benefits and Impact

• Enables rapid and accurate detection of biodiversity changes across Europe.
• Strengthens conservation actions by providing timely and comprehensive data.
• Safeguards natural systems that underpin human well-being and economic stability.
• Offers a scalable and open framework that can serve as a global template for biodiversity monitoring.

Conclusion

The EuropaBON Roadmap represents a significant advancement towards achieving Europe’s biodiversity goals and fulfilling global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals. By establishing a unified, technology-enabled, and policy-aligned biodiversity observation system, Europe can lead the way in safeguarding biodiversity and promoting sustainable development worldwide.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article discusses monitoring of aquatic biodiversity, including marine and freshwater ecosystems, which aligns with SDG 14’s focus on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
2. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The focus on terrestrial biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem stability, and conservation actions directly relates to SDG 15’s aim to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • By enabling rapid detection of ecological changes and supporting conservation, the article indirectly supports climate action efforts to mitigate biodiversity loss driven by climate change.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article emphasizes transnational cooperation, data sharing, coordinated governance, and integration of diverse data streams, which align with SDG 17’s focus on strengthening global partnerships.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 14 Targets
   • Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.
   • Target 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification.
2. SDG 15 Targets
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity.
   • Target 15.9: Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning.
3. SDG 13 Targets
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
4. SDG 17 Targets
   • Target 17.6: Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation.
   • Target 17.18: Enhance capacity-building support to developing countries to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied for Measuring Progress

1. Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs)
   • The article centers on 84 EBVs as standardized metrics to track biodiversity changes from genes to ecosystems, serving as key indicators for biodiversity monitoring.
2. Data Integration and Monitoring Indicators
   • Indicators implied include species distribution and abundance, genetic diversity, ecosystem condition, and habitat fragmentation metrics derived from integrated data sources such as field surveys, remote sensing, DNA-based methods, and citizen science.
3. Policy-Ready Insights and Reporting
   • Indicators that can be used for reporting progress towards global biodiversity frameworks (e.g., Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework) and European policies are implied, including ecological change detection rates and conservation action effectiveness.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nature.com