European partnership on biodiversity
Introduction: definition of European partnerships and possible partners
European Partnerships are initiatives where the EU together with private and/or public partners commit to jointly support the development and implementation of a programme of research and innovation activities.
The partners could represent industry, universities, research organisations, bodies with a public service remit al local, regional, national or international level or civil society organisations including foundations and NGOs.
European partnership on biodiversity: part of the Horizon Europe
1. Type of partnership:
The European partnership on biodiversity is co-funded: based on a joint programme agreed by partners: commitment of partners for financial and in-kind contributions & financial contribution by Horizon Europe.
2. Overview:
The schematic representation depicts the working areas and overarching goals of the European Partnership on biodiversity, aiming at contributing to the 2030-2050 biodiversity goals and the 2050 vision of people living in harmony with Nature.
Source: Executive Summary of the European Partnership on Biodiversity
3. Objectives:
The European Partnership on biodiversity will implement an ambitious programme to help ensure that, by 2030, nature in Europe is back on a path of recovery, and by 2050 people are living in harmony with Nature.
The European Partnership on biodiversity has five overarching objectives:
(1) improve monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem services across Europe;
(2) generate science-based, actionable knowledge to tackle the biodiversity crisis and the drivers of biodiversity loss;
(3) reinforce the evidence base for the development, deployment and assessment of tools such as Nature-based solutions;
(4) make the business case for biodiversity;
(5) ensure efficient science-based support for biodiversity policy making in Europe.
4. Areas:
The Partnership will meet these objectives by implementing a range of activities organised in four working areas plus two transversal working areas.
Relevant working areas:
– *Working area 1: Knowledge and data on biodiversity status & dynamics, drivers, levers of action
Input 5: Engage relevant infraestrructures: R & I Infraestructuras, ESFRI landscape (biodiversity) LifeWatch, eLTER, GBIF……
Activity 2: Develop database of R&I projects, programs & RIs.
– Working area 2: R & I to design and implement NbS (nature based solutions) and value biodiversity in private sectors
– Working area 3: Connecting R & I programs, results and experts to policy
– *Working area 4: Internationalisation of Europe R & I activities
Input 3: Engage international networks, research infraestrructures and conventions
Activity 4: Fostering linkages between global RIs and EU counterparts.
*Within each work area, specific inputs and activities have been identified. The activities and inputs of areas 1 and 4 have been highlighted in green as it is in these two areas that the clearest opportunities linked to the fields of action of the Ecobiodiv ITP have been identified.
Transversal working areas:
- Transversal working area 1: Communication, outreach & capacity building
- Transversal working area 2: Stakeholder engagement
5. Outcomes:
The expected outcomes of the Biodiversity Partnership, in relation with its overarching goals are the following:
Source: Executive Summary of the European Partnership on Biodiversity
6. Benefits (opportunities):
Through its membership and governance, the Partnership will promote tighter collaboration between national/local and European policy makers in charge of biodiversity and related issues, including environmental agencies, and R&I policy makers and R&I programme funders, in relation with diverse stakeholders. The Partnership will provide an overarching platform fostering seamless collaboration and exchange amongst relevant actors (scientific community, public authorities, businesses, citizens, societal actors, NGOs etc.) at appropriate levels and scales. This in turn will help and support citizens, policy makers and businesses in taking adequate action at European, national and local level.
The Partnership will build critical mass in capacity, resources and expertise across countries/EU, across R&I and monitoring, and across science/society/policy, which reaches far beyond the achievements of traditional actions through national or Framework Programmes. The Partnership will also further increase synergies between existing initiatives to avoid duplication, validate previous investments and harness existing expertise.
7. Connection with other international and European initiatives:
Overall, this Partnership will address the drivers and consequences of biodiversity loss, many of which are of transboundary nature, as highlighted by the IBPES 2019 Global Assessment. It will increase science-based support to action on the ground and policymaking, contributing to a sustainable ecological transition in Europe. Anchored in the post 2020 global biodiversity framework, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, the Partnership will contribute to the implementation of the European Green Deal, and the ‘New Deal for Nature and People’ under the Convention on Biological Diversity globally.
8. Tentative Budget:
The global budget for the partnership is 389.7 M €. This figure shows the budget related to the portfolio of activiries per working areas & type of activities.
Source: Information Webinar on the European co-funded Partnership ‘Rescuing biodiversity to safeguard life on earth’. Biodiversa.
9. Next steps:
Source: Information Webinar on the European co-funded Partnership ‘Rescuing biodiversity to safeguard life on earth’. Biodiversa.