Speaker: Hugo Rivera Mendoza (Umweltbundesamt (UBA) Österreich, EBOCC Preparatory Action Project Manager)

The EBOCC Preparatory Action builds on Horizon 2020 EuropaBON recommendations. It aims to i) contribute to make biodiversity data from all EU Member States more accessible; ii) support the provision of relevant information on biodiversity for EU biodiversity policy implementation at the national, EU and global level; iii) contribute to reducing the administrative burden in Member States with regard to biodiversity monitoring and reporting for the Nature Restoration Regulation, the Birds and Habitats Directives, as well as the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. 
It focuses on Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBV) within six thematic areas (terrestrial, freshwater benthic invertebrates, freshwater habitats, marine mammals, seagrass habitats) and on providing support and building administrative and technical capacity for implementing the pollinator monitoring method as set out under Article 10 of the Nature Restoration Regulation (EU PoMS). 
Building on earlier activities and existing knowledge, the project will i) map monitoring practices and data workflows, ii) mobilize selected data and provide pathways for harmonization and improvement of its interoperability, iii) show pathways for optimized data frameworks, infrastructure and tools, iv) prioritize information for reporting, providing analysis and visualization; v) design and implement tailored capacity building for EU PoMS for Member States.
A consortium showcasing a mix of Member States’ Agencies and Institutes (EAA, SYKE, OFB, INBO, VLIZZ) scientific institutions (MLU/iDiv, MNHN) and consulting companies (adelphi, VITO) will collaborate with the EC, the EEA, Member State authorities, other initiatives and programs (e.g. Biodiversa+) and relevant stakeholders for this pilot exercise, which will inform the configuration and governance of a future EBOCC.