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User-oriented Solutions for Improved Monitoring and Management of Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in vulnerable European Seas

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - B-USEFUL (User-oriented Solutions for Improved Monitoring and Management of Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in vulnerable European Seas)

Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-10-01 do 2024-03-31

We are currently experiencing a rapid and accelerating decline of marine biodiversity worldwide that threatens not only unique habitats and biota, but key ecosystem functions and services essential for human well-being (e.g. food provisioning and climate regulation). Tackling the current biodiversity crisis requires well-informed science advice and operational decision-support tools allowing end-users to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation actions for biodiversity protection, notably with regards to marine protected areas (MPAs). This in order to protect “hotspots” of biodiversity, while ensuring their capacity to provide services vital to society and other human uses of ocean space. B-USEFUL will contribute to achieve the ambitious policy goals set out by the Biodiversity Strategy 2030 by developing user-oriented tools and solutions to protect marine biodiversity, effectively building upon existing European data infrastructures and governance frameworks. To that end, B-USEFUL will provide evidence-based guidance for ecosystem-based management and marine spatial planning (MSP) to ensure a sustainable use of European marine resources.

To achieve this overall goal B-USEFUL will pursue the following objectives:
1. Identify key end-user needs to support decision-making for marine spatial planning and biodiversity protection
2. Co-develop a set of operational indicators, targets and “what-if” scenarios
3. Compile and standardize available data on marine species and habitats across areas and organism groups,
4. Advance our understanding of the adverse cumulative impacts of climate change and anthropogenic pressures on marine biodiversity
5. Quantify the risk, vulnerability and resilience of species, communities and habitats to human impacts
6. Develop and apply new model infrastructure to better characterize and forecast changes in marine biodiversity
7. Co-develop interactive, user-oriented tools and solutions for decision-making fitting the needs of marine spatial planning

To ensure project outcomes with high operational readiness, B-USEFUL will go beyond the present state-of-the-art by advancing a number of key components and infrastructure as follows:
i) set up interactive end-user forums ensuring the identification of end-user needs and co-development of project outcomes
ii) maximize the uptake and harmonization of available European data infrastructure for monitoring and assessing marine biodiversity.
iii) create a step change in our ability to assess and understand cumulative impacts and risks acting on marine biodiversity.
iv) provide new model infrastructure and capacity to make projections of future biodiversity and ecosystem services.
v) co-develop a user-oriented decision-support tool hosted within an existing infrastructure for science advice and ocean governance.

B-USEFUL will employ three complementary pathways to generate and ensure a broad range of impacts towards fulfilling the ambitious vision of the EU Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy. These pathways are range from higher level impacts targeting policy on biodiversity and ecosystem services (Pathway 1: “Science to policy”), to tailored impacts on decision-making through direct involvement of end-users (Pathway 2: “Science for decision-making"), as well as lower level (but equally important) impacts serving to raise awareness and transfer of knowledge among scientists, managers and the general public on the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss (Pathway 3: “Science for Training”).
During the first reporting period (until month 18) we have managed to setup an interactive end-user forum, including a broad range of stakeholders ranging from managers, policy makers, industry representatives and NGOs. Furthermore, we have completed a series of workshops with end-users where valuable discussions and feedback was received regarding biodiversity indicators and barriers to conservation. In addition, a serious game (“iBlue”) has been developed and tested to facilitate dialogue among end-users regarding opportunities, bottlenecks and challenges of biodiversity protection and conservation within the context of marine spatial planning. Upcoming initiatives in WP1 include a series of follow-up workshops, as well as in-depth interviews with end-users. With regards to data collection and management (WP2) we have gained access to all relevant input data needed for modelling purposes, as well as developed methods and approaches for data standardization, harmonization and sharing. The key results have been featured as part of a data management plan (DMP), as well as a set of interactive meta-data catalogue of available data. In terms of modelling (WP3), we have successfully organized two training workshops on joint-species distribution modelling (JSDMs) and initiated modelling activities in both the Atlantic and Mediterranean, focusing on marine fish. At present, initial models have been setup and parameterized, but not yet fully cross-validated. During the coming reporting period we aim to expand modelling activities to also consider benthic invertebrates. With regards to risk assessment (WP4) and forecasting (WP5) the assessment method and framework have been discussed and key data needs identified, as well as pilot runs of JSDMs undertaken to setup the simulation infrastructure needed for forecasting changes in biodiversity. Finally, work on dissemination, outreach and policy links (WP6) is progressing well with the establishment of website, social media platforms, as well as engagement in relevant science-policy forum, including a joint clustering event together with all HE funded projects on marine biodiversity.
With the current progress of the project we are set towards developing novel decision-support tools (DST) informing end-users and practitioners involved in biodiversity conservation and marine spatial planning, particularly with regards to the placement of marine protected areas (MPAs) and their potential trade-offs with other ocean users (such as off-shore energy and fishing). The uptake and use of this framework will be greatly facilitated by having end-users co-developing and co-designing the DST, as well as hosting the tool at ICES serving as a platform for ecosystem-based advice in the Europe. More progress on this will be reported underway.
A schematic representation of a decision-support tool co-developed with end-users within B-USEFUL. T
A conceptual figure outlining the complex social-ecological system linking human activities and pres
Conceptual figure illustrating the three primary pathways to impact of B-USEFUL aiming to target and