Project description
The optimal marine protected area network for European seas
The EU-funded MPA Europe project will systematically map an optimal network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in all European seas that include as high a biodiversity of species, habitats and ecosystems as possible, and blue carbon stores. The project will include the first data-driven classification of ecosystems in European seas and range maps for thousands of species using data from Copernicus, EMODnet and the Ocean Biodiversity Information System. The results will be freely available through the project’s online atlas. Stakeholders, including national and regional authorities, industry and NGOs, will know where MPAs are located to optimise the inclusion of biodiversity and blue carbon through marine spatial planning in 30 % of European seas, and best meet the targets for marine protection by 2030.
Objective
We will map the optimal locations for Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in European seas using measures covering the range of biodiversity from species to ecosystems, including habitats. The contribution of these measures to carbon storage will be quantified and mapped. The top 10% and 30% of the area that includes most species, habitats, and ecosystems, and maximises blue carbon benefits, will be prioritised as an MPA network. The geographic scope is the Atlantic Exclusive Economic Zones of the EU and its neighbours, and all of the Mediterranean, Baltic and Black Seas. Feedback from Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) stakeholders in the regional seas on the proposed MPA network and methodology will be reported.
A first data-driven classification of ecosystems in European seas will use environmental data from Copernicus and EMODnet. Environmental niche models will map thousands of species and biogenic (fauna and flora structured) habitat ranges and add to existing seabed habitat maps in EMODnet. Analyses of spatial relationships between biodiversity measures and evidence of carbon storage will support the prioritisation analyses. Parallel modelling of current connectivity and the velocity of climate change will map connectivity within the proposed MPA network and how it will accommodate species distribution shifts due to anthropogenic climate change. All data and maps will be freely available through EMODnet, the Ocean Biodiversity Information System, EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity, and the project’s online atlas. The atlas will provide transparency, traceability and enable reproducibility of the results. Its synthesis will show stakeholders (MSP, NGO, students, researchers) why areas have been prioritised. The use of decision support software will enable alternative network designs based on stakeholder preferences and could thus support wider MSP beyond the subject and study area.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software
- social sciences political sciences political policies civil society civil society organisations nongovernmental organizations
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.2.6 - Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
HORIZON.2.6.4 - Seas, Oceans and Inland Waters
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL6-2021-BIODIV-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8026 Bodo
Norway
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.