The European Boidiversity Observation Network - EBONE

EBONE (European Biodiversity Observation Network) is a project developing a system of biodiversity observation at regional, national and European levels as a contribution to European reporting on biodiversity. The project focuses on GEO (Group of Earth Observations) task BI 07-01 to unify many of the disparate biodiversity observation systems and creates a platform to integrate biodiversity data with other types of information. The system will make use of existing networks of site observations, wider countryside mapping and Earth Observation (EO). The project addresses issues important for development of biodiversity monitoring system e.g., the underlying concepts, selection of indicator species and habitats, in-situ and EO methods of biodiversity; database management and IT tools; protocols and harmonisation of available in-situ data. Special attention is paid to inter-calibration of in-situ and EO monitoring. The system, methods and protocols developed in the project will be tested and validated in the field. Refinements to the system, involving sites and protocols, will be proposed, based on this validation. The project aims to contribute to a world-wide monitoring system by developing a prototype for Mediterranean and related desert biomes outside Europe. Because of this wide scope, stakeholders will be involved in the design, development and testing of the monitoring system. The main outcome will be an integrated monitoring system based on key biodiversity indicators which will be implemented within an institutional framework at the European level.