WP leader: CEH, Terry Parr
In the first phase of the project we develop a conceptual framework for monitoring utilising the existing institutional context of European monitoring, databases, observation points and observing organisations agencies, and NGOs. The conceptual framework will be used to consider how monitoring of biodiversity trends can be linked with the ecosystem research on underlying processes, drivers and pressures at multiple scales.
The definition of protocols, proxies and indicators for different species groups will be carried out in a consultative process with the partners in the consortium and external advisors; it will include existing approaches as available in AlterNet, EuMon and BioHab (see this website). The criteria for identifying indicators will be defined in consultation using existing experience and the framework of the CBD end the EEA in the SEBI process.
The design of requirements, protocols and procedures for a cost-effective monitoring system for Europe requires bringing together existing knowledge on monitoring protocols into a concept that can be used to upscale and downscale data and observations from point locations to a general European level. It also needs a concept of the sampling design that can be used to test the existing data, observation points and databases.
In this work package definitions of monitoring units and proxies will be discussed and common approaches (umbrella definitions or compromises) will be made when needed. Common definitions will be needed such as already under development in the Synbiosys project for plant species, the network of the European Vegetation Survey (EVS). Other taxa especially birds and butterflies will be considered as they often have a direct link to habitats. National environmental gradients will be scaled up into European gradients making use of existing experience such as developed in BioHab (see this website). The statistical considerations of inter-calibration will be instrumental in the selection of indicators.
Collaboration with ongoing programmes in the domain of space based EO applications for biodiversity observation will be enhanced from the beginning of the project. The conceptual framework will be carried out as a European contribution to GEOSS fulfilling task BI-07-01 and international programmes of actions that already started on this task. Other related programmes, organisations and institutions are: Diversitas International, USGS/NBII, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), the World Data Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology (WDCBE) and Lifewatch.
