The General Assembly is the formal decision-making body responsible for the overall strategy and priority tasks of Biodiversa+. It is composed of Biodiversa+ members. Acting on behalf of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), the Monitoring Centre is one of three German partners with voting rights in the General Assembly.

Main responsibilities of the General Assembly include:

• Deciding on the thematic direction of the so-called Flagship Programmes
• Shaping the content of international research calls
• Allocating the budget
• Approving strategic partnerships (for example with IPBES, CBD)

As part of our membership, we also contribute to the development of strategic and project reports, which summarise the project outcomes of each phase and serve as key milestones.

The Monitoring Centre is also involved in the development of a Europe-wide network of biodiversity monitoring centres.

Potential tasks at a glance:

• National coordination, stakeholder communication, participation in international platforms
• Capacity building: training programmes, exchange of methods, development of guidelines
• Data harmonisation, FAIR principles, establishment of data standards
• Communication and public engagement: outreach, citizen participation, policy advice
• Funding of national monitoring activities: financial models, funding sources, resource management
• Societal integration and engagement: involvement of civil society and participatory approaches

In a feasibility study spanning ten European countries, soil biodiversity is being investigated in semi-natural forests. In Germany, six sites are surveyed, where vegetation, meso- and macrofauna, and microorganisms (eDNA) are recorded.

The methodology used is comparable to the approach used in SoilBON, creating synergies with the broader national biodiversity monitoring framework currently being developed by the Monitoring Centre.

This pilot project explores the use of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to monitor bats, birds, and nocturnal insects across twelve European countries.

• Acoustic monitoring of birds and bats using audio recorders and AI-based species identification
• Image-based monitoring of moths using standardised camera traps combined with automated image recognition (AI)

The Monitoring Centre’s central office is also involved in a strategic project to develop BioDash, a European information tool designed to provide a structured overview of (sub)national biodiversity monitoring programmes. BioDash is based on the framework of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs).

The goal is to establish BioDash as a transnational platform at the European level – to link monitoring programmes, support harmonisation, and increase the visibility of existing data sources.

The Centre actively contributes to the technical and content-related specification of the tool and supports the collection of relevant data. This work strongly aligns with the Monitoring Centre’s planned information and networking portal for biodiversity monitoring in Germany.

The development phase of BioDash is scheduled for 2024 to 2028.

The "Guide on Harmonising Biodiversity Monitoring Protocols Across Scales" was developed as a collaborative product between Biodiversa+ and EuropaBON. The guide defines a monitoring protocol as a structured collection of procedures, methods, and guidelines used for collecting biodiversity data. It presents approaches for harmonising existing protocols to improve data comparability and establish a solid foundation for effective biodiversity monitoring at local, national, and European levels.

Target audience: nature conservation authorities, research institutions, policymakers, and all stakeholders interested in developing harmonised biodiversity monitoring protocols.

Key contents:

• Three alternative harmonisation strategies:
  • Strictly standardised protocols
  • Flexible protocols based on locally generated Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs)
  • A hybrid approach with flexible protocols and parallel data streams
• Flexibility of protocols: Recommendations to adapt existing protocols and harmonise minimum standards in order to preserve historical data and integrate new technologies.
• Data flows: Emphasises the use of raw data and EBVs as key to flexible and widely applicable data analysis.
• Collaborative approach: Highlights the importance of cooperation and shared frameworks across science, policy, and practice.

The guide is linked below.

The "Stakeholder Engagement Handbook" provides a practical guide for effectively involving stakeholders in biodiversity research projects. It helps enhance the societal relevance and impact of research results while fostering strong collaboration between science, policy, and society.

Target audience: Practitioners in monitoring, researchers, public authorities, policymakers, and NGOs aiming to strengthen the societal benefit of their biodiversity research.

Key contents:

• Why stakeholder engagement? Enhances the link between research and society, improves the applicability of research findings, builds trust, and encourages cooperation. It helps to address local contexts and to develop sustainable solutions.
• Methods: Overview of best practices for identifying relevant actors, planning engagement processes, and addressing challenges such as conflicting interests or limited resources.
• Best practices and case studies: Successful examples of stakeholder engagement in solving specific environmental issues.

Highlights:

• Tools for success: Practical guidance on planning, conducting, and evaluating engagement activities.
• Conflict management strategies and promoting constructive dialogue.
• Sustainability: Recommendations for ensuring the long-term impact of engagement processes.

The handbook is linked below.

The "Citizen Science Toolkit" by Biodiversa+ showcases how citizen science can be effectively integrated into research projects to collect data, engage with the public, and make science more accessible. It outlines best practices, challenges, and resources for implementing citizen science.

Target audience: Monitoring practitioners, public authorities, researchers, policymakers, and NGOs looking to use citizen science as a tool for biodiversity research and conservation.

Key contents:

• What is citizen science? Defined as the active involvement of citizens in scientific processes, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Benefits and challenges: Citizen science facilitates large-scale data collection, strengthens science communication, and raises awareness. The guide also addresses issues like data quality and long-term volunteer engagement.
• Key principles and recommendations: Based on the ten principles of the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA).

Highlights:

• Tools and resources: Practical guides, data management plans, digital platforms, and quality assurance methods.
• Case studies: Projects such as "UrbanGaia" and "BIOVEINS" highlight citizen science's role in urban biodiversity and environmental monitoring.
• Examples from Germany: Successful programmes in Germany include Butterfly Monitoring Germany, Wild Bee Monitoring under MonViA, and the Common Breeding Bird Monitoring of the DDA.

The toolkit is linked below.

The "Data Management Guide" by Biodiversa+ is a comprehensive manual that helps researchers and organisations to organise, store, and share data efficiently. Its recommendations are based on international standards and the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), promoting sustainable data use.

Target audience: Researchers, institutions, and policymakers promoting sustainable and transparent data management practices.

Key contents:

• Open science and data policy: Explains the importance of open data for collaboration and innovation, and presents relevant European and international policies.
• Data management plans (DMPs): Practical advice on creating and maintaining DMPs, including adaptable templates.
• Resources and tools: Overview of repositories, licensing options, and useful software for organising and publishing research data.
• Legal compliance: Sections on data protection regulations (e.g. GDPR) and handling sensitive data.

Highlights:

• Focus on FAIR principles.
• Standardised templates suitable for projects of various sizes.
• Tools such as DMPTool and GitHub to support researchers.

The guide is linked below.

This Biodiversa+ guide helps maximise the policy relevance of biodiversity research. It aims to strengthen the connection between science and policy, fostering evidence-based decision-making.

Target audience: Scientists, policymakers, and research funders seeking to increase the policy impact of biodiversity research.

Key contents:

• Why policy relevance? Research aligned with policy questions delivers societal value and supports needed transformations. The guide explains how research can influence political strategies and regulatory frameworks.
• Methods: The S.I.E.V. model as a central approach:
  • State: Align research with political questions
  • Identify: Identify relevant policy actors
  • Engage: Plan and support stakeholder engagement
  • Value: Emphasise European and international implications
• Best practices and case studies: Examples show how research was integrated into national and EU-level policy.

Highlights:

• Strategies for success: Communicating research to political actors
• Support from Biodiversa+: Tools like policy briefs and workshops
• Practical guidance for targeted stakeholder engagement

The guide is linked below.

This report explores how nature-based solutions (NbS) can drive transformative change for the sustainable management and use of biodiversity. It assesses the effectiveness of NbS in tackling environmental and societal challenges.

Target audience: Monitoring practitioners, researchers, and policymakers interested in sustainability and resilience.

Key contents:

• Definitions and foundations: NbS are defined as actions that protect, restore, or sustainably manage ecosystems to address social, economic, and environmental challenges. Transformative change is described as a deep, systemic reorganisation of socio-ecological relationships.
• Methods: Systematic review of case studies from academic and grey literature across various biomes and regions.
• Findings:
  • Most cases showed positive impacts of NbS on biodiversity, well-being, and ecosystem services.
  • Transformative changes observed in governance, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable practices.
  • Common indicators: path-shifting and restructuring.

Highlights:

• Six indicators of transformative change, including innovation and persistence
• Global perspective: cases from forests, coasts, urban landscapes
• Recommendations: clearer definitions and standardised evaluation frameworks

The report is linked below.

This report, developed under Biodiversa+, reviews the current knowledge on biodiversity's role in shaping, implementing, and benefiting by NbS. A quick scoping review of 45 studies and 48 case examples explored interactions between biodiversity, ecosystem services, and NbS outcomes.

Key contents:

• Definition of NbS: Actions using natural or modified ecosystems to address societal and ecological challenges sustainably.
• Biodiversity's role: Critical to supporting ecosystem services that enable climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, food security, and habitat protection.
• Context-specific perspectives: The role of biodiversity depends on ecosystems, species, metrics, and intended outcomes.

Highlights:

• Measuring biodiversity: various metrics, with emphasis on functional and phylogenetic diversity
• Positive effects: 28 out of 38 cases show benefits for climate, resilience, and well-being
• Broad scope: includes terrestrial, marine, and urban ecosystems, with focus on forests, agriculture, and coasts
• Recommendations:
  • Develop standard metrics for biodiversity's role in NbS
  • Integrate biodiversity early in NbS planning
  • Support ecosystem adaptation and restoration

The report is linked below.

This practical guide introduces the development and application of biodiversity scenarios. Created under the BiodivScen joint action by Biodiversa+ and the Belmont Forum, it supports integrating scenarios into decision-making for biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Target audience: Scientists, policymakers, NGOs, and other stakeholders aiming to use scenarios for informed decision-making.

Key contents:

• Definition and basics: Explanation of what scenarios are, how they are developed, and types (exploratory, goal-oriented).
• Case studies from research projects: Five international case studies (e.g. CoForTips, GreenFutureForest, ENVISION) demonstrate real-world application in policy and management.
• Stakeholder involvement: Emphasis on participatory approaches to ensure relevance and feasibility.

Highlights:

• Tools for scenario development: participatory and model-based methods
• Decision support: help to navigate uncertainties and evaluate options
• International collaboration: highlights the need for transdisciplinary cooperation

The handbook is linked below.