Consensus had grown that concertation and co-ordination at
European scale is urgently required to implement long-term and
large-scale marine biodiversity research and to plan the adequate
use of the European research infrastructure. Many research questions
cannot be addressed at local scales and require cooperation and the
establishment of a committed network of scientists and institutes.
There is no agreed common methodology for many aspects of
biodiversity research; this needs careful preparation. The
objectives of the Concerted Action are to achieve a European
consensus on the selection and implementation of:
- a network of Reference Sites as the basis for long-term and
large-scale marine biodiversity research in Europe (Work
package 1),
- internationally agreed standardised and normalised measures
and indicators for (the degree of) biodiversity (Work
package 2),
- facilities for capacity building, dissemination and
networking of marine biodiversity research, by a) workshops, b)
improving training and mobility, c) an internet web-site
including an overview of ongoing research programs and existing
infrastructure for marine biodiversity research in Europe, d) a
database on, reviewed and evaluated, available data, aiming at
employing data for socio-economic questions such as the impact
of fisheries or tourism (Work package 3).
The objectives will be complemented through 3 Workpackages,
consisting of a series of evaluations, recommendations, regional
meetings and joint workshops.
The methodology in each of the Workpackages is similar,
following a sequence of 1) inventories and reviews made by WP
leaders consulting all members, 2) regional meetings and a general
workshop to discuss drafts and recommendations, 3) reports and
implementation. The inventories, meetings and reports will focus
on:
- expanding the existing networks of marine biodiversity
research organisations,
- establishing a rationale and recommendations for selection of
reference sites for marine biodiversity research,
- establishing a series of methodologies, protocols, and
putative indicators of marine biodiversity in Europe,
- publishing an annotated checklist of available long term
datasets, species diversity lists, and associated publications,
- initialising an Euroconference on marine biodiversity,
- establishing a web site for dissemination of European marine
biodiversity information to scientists, administrators and the
public at large,
- indicating data available to end-users, suitable for
integration with socio-economic questions.
The CA will enhance Marine Biodiversity Research in Europe
through a network of marine institutes establishing an agreed
series of reference stations and indicators. This allows
inter-site comparisons and long term surveys, maximises the
integration of efforts in marine biodiversity research at
pan-European scale for students, researchers and managers dealing
with socio-economic questions, and increases the awareness of the
public. |
