Understanding biodiversity change requires combining observations across biological, spatial and temporal scales. Yet satellite observations, field measurements, species surveys and genomic data often remain fragmented, limiting their use for integrated ecosystem assessments and biodiversity monitoring.
This Alliance plans to connect projects selected under the Horizon Europe call Integrating Remote Sensing and in-situ observations of Biodiversity, towards a fully interoperable observation and data framework with planned ESA Biodiversity+ activities. The collaboration will explore opportunities to integrate complementary biodiversity observations and advance interoperable datasets, methodologies and scientific applications.
ESA’s planned Biodiversity+ activity aims to develop a multi-mission Biodiversity+ datacube, drawing on new satellite capabilities such as BIOMASS, FLEX, EnMAP and the future CHIME. Combining these satellite-derived products with in-situ and genomic observations could improve biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem assessments and modelling.
The Alliance aims to maximise scientific synergies between EC- and ESA-funded activities. Following project selection, participating consortia will be invited to define cooperation modalities and identify potential joint deliverables.
Collaborative outputs will be jointly defined between projects and may include, but are not limited to:
- Aligning monitoring campaigns, datasets, scenarios and model assumptions;
- Facilitating access to and uptake of satellite products and related methodologies through data sharing agreements and open science practices;
- Defining joint monitoring protocols, working towards defining community standards or aligning geographic scope;
- Coordinating data-management and open science approaches;
- Developing shared outputs such as jointly defined datasets, open tools, joint publications, community standards, assessment contributions and policy briefs;
- Joint communication activities;
- Training and capacity building activities, exchange of staff and/or young researchers.
Collaboration is expected to evolve with the scientific needs of the participating projects. Further exchanges during Horizon Europe Annual Meetings, relevant scientific workshops and conferences will be encouraged, to provide opportunities to identify additional cooperation based on the evolving needs and added value for participating projects.