DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e188550

Authors: Yuting Tai, Tom Bucx, Mindert de Vries, Sara Pino Cobacho, Richard Marijnissen, Iris van Dongen, Rutger van der Brugge, Åse Johannessen, Fabienne Horneman, Silvia Torresan, Elisa Furlan, Andrea Critto, Alice Stocco, Caterina Dabalà, Francesca Coccon, Paolo Comandini, Silvia Frias, Ferran Bertomeu, Carles Ibáñez, Laura Puértolas Domènech

Abstract: The REST-COAST Project (Large scale RESToration of COASTal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity) is an EU Horizon 2020 research project (Grant agreement No. 101037097) whose overall goal is to address with effective and innovative approaches and tools the key challenges faced by coastal ecosystem restoration across Europe. The approach chosen for this project will deliver a highly interdisciplinary contribution, with the demonstration of improved practices and techniques for hands-on ecosystem restoration across several pilot sites, supported by the co-design of innovative governance and financial arrangements, as well as an effective strategy for the dissemination of results. Work Package 4 (WP4) focuses on the development of scalable adaptation-through-restoration plans (for each pilot of REST-COAST) based on adaptation pathways that incorporate ecosystem services (ESS) and biodiversity value (BDV) from NBS building blocks. It is envisaged that these plans will be suited for upscaling restoration in coastal systems worldwide, supported by the global scale analysis of coastal risks, costs and governance performed in WP 2/3/5. Deliverable 4.3 aims at providing guidelines for building adaptationthrough-restoration pathways, based on NBS and technical measures that deliver ESS and BDV gains, tested and validated at the Pilots. When using the adaptation pathway guidelines, it is important to apply them with flexibility to accommodate the specific needs and contexts of individual pilots. While it is recommended to follow the methodology in Chapter 2—‘Generic Stepwise Approach’—to develop pathways, pilots should view these methods as flexible rather than rigid, to fit their unique restoration goals, timelines, environmental and social conditions. Chapter 3—‘Restoration Pilots’—serves as a reference to provide insight from three pilots with pilot-specific approaches to build the pathways. The guidelines should be seen as a dynamic tool that can evolve based on feedback, local stakeholder input, or new scientific data, ensuring that each pilot tailors its pathway to address local uncertainties, opportunities, and challenges.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187633

Authors: Eeva Karjalainen, Maria Hällfors, Maria Söderholm, Nikola Ganchev, Sari Erkkilä, Satu Soini

Abstract: OBSGESSION project management guide summarises the central rules and practices agreed in Grant Agreement and Consortium Agreement. This document also describes day-to-day working practices, and thus is a living document that is updated regularly.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187632

Authors: Maria Söderholm, Maria Hällfors, Susana Baena, Claire Brown, Marcel Buchhorn, Jorrit Scholze

Abstract: The OBSGESSION project (Observation of Ecosystem Changes for Action, https://obsgession.eu/) aims to enhance terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity monitoring and policy by new approaches for integrating data and modelling, and by developing science-based solutions. This data management plan (DMP) provides details about the data to be collected, generated, and processed in OBSGESSION, as well as other outputs. It also outlines the key principles of data management practices, as required in the Horizon Europe Programme Guideline. The project is committed to following the policies of open science and research as the foundation for all activities, including data management. Data management in the project will adhere to the FAIR principles, ensuring that data is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. The plan also specifies that other outputs besides data will be managed in line with these principles whenever applicable.The project will utilise a variety of data and combine biodiversity data from multiple sources. The types of data included in the OBSGESSION project are experimental, observational, statistical, and qualitative data, such as interviews. The DMP outlines the overall data management practices for the duration of the data lifecycle within the framework of the FAIR principles and provides details on planned practices and data-specific considerations. This includes, among other things, producing metadata and other documentation related to the data. The plan also presents practices for ensuring data interoperability, reusability, and publication. Relevant metadata standards have been identified to make EO data interoperable. In addition, the DMP describes the In-Situ database, OpenEO platform and Data Cubes as tools and mechanisms for implementing interoperability and (re)usability of EO and in-situ data.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187631

Authors: Nikola Ganchev, Gabriela Popova

Abstract: Deliverable D6.2 presents a plan for shaping the dissemination, exploitation, and communication (DEC) activities of OBSGESSION. These activities are crucial for ensuring OBSGESSION’s impact and amplifying the project's influence. The Communication Plan (CP) and Plan for the Exploitation and Dissemination of Results (PEDR) is developed in M6 (June 2024) and will be updated in M24 (December 2025, D6.3) and in M40 (April 2027, D6.4) to reflect OBSGESSION's progress and maturity level, providing a targeted approach for each stage according to evolving DEC needs.Aside from defining the goals and scope of the project's communication, dissemination, and exploitation, the CP and PEDR also identify the primary stakeholder groups and key messages for each. These have been outlined based on a consortium-wide questionnaire. The plans also include the expected knowledge outputs of the project. Based on this information, D6.2 details the main communication, dissemination, and exploitation tools and evaluates their relevance to different target groups. Finally, a specific implementation plan is provided for the project's first stage of development, along with indicators for actively monitoring the effectiveness of these actions.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187630

Authors: Joaquim Estopinan, Anne Thomas, Pierre Gaüzère, Wilfried Thuiller

Abstract: Detecting and attributing biodiversity changes is a multifaceted and demanding task. The first key challenge is gathering data on biodiversity metrics and the likely drivers that is sufficiently structured and aligned in space and time, and wide enough to cover the dynamical range of the target latent processes at play, enabling statistical inference. Demonstrating that a measure of biodiversity has significantly changed relative to a reference state — a reference which is often difficult to define due to a lack of past data — constitutes a second challenge. A third key challenge is designing an identification strategy that can isolate the contribution of multiple potential causal factors with statistical confidence.The review comprising the deliverable D3.1 addresses these three key challenges in a coherent framework, meeting the task expectations. It is entitled "Advancing Causal Inference in Ecology: Pathways for Biodiversity Change Detection and Attribution" (Schrodt et al., Methods in Ecology and Evolution, under revision). This work was achieved in collaboration with the IMPACTS synthesis group of the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research (FRB). This text provides conceptual and practical guidance on taking advantage of existing causal methods to detect and attribute changes in biodiversity. There is an emphasis on how remote sensing data can mitigate pressing issues related to confounding factors that occur across scales.By paying attention to the described challenges and relying on the suggested methods and workflow, the review introduces a solid basis to root biodiversity change studies in causal principles for better detection and attribution. The proposed manuscript is indeed highly interdisciplinary in its attempt to bring biodiversity studies closer to the science of attribution through causal inference from observational data. While this deliverable is fully autonomous, it is complemented by two perspective articles that are also under revision and a method decision tool that is under development. They cover related aspects of detection and attribution.As deliverable D3.1 format is a scientific manuscript, it is provided in its most recent version in Annex 1 below.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187629

Authors: Gabriela Popova, Nikola Ganchev, Slavena Peneva, Kremena Kaleva

Abstract: The communication efforts of OBSGESSION kicked-off as soon as the project launched. However, to ensure proper visibility, a set of dissemination and branding tools and materials have been designed within the first three months of the project duration, ensuring broad visibility from an early stage. A project logo, social media channels and a landing page were established in time for the OBSGESSION kick-off meeting in the end of January. These formed the backbone of the project branding and public recognition. Document templates were also developed and made available to the consortium, in order to facilitate the creation and internal uptake of the project corporate identity for dissemination and reporting activities such as deliverable, milestone and presentation. Social media accounts have been established in time for the launch of OBSGESSION on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn to ensure the widest possible uptake and outreach to stakeholders and other interested parties of project results, news and other announcements. The sustainability of project results and impact wil be secured through the development and maintenance of a public OBSGESSION website for a total of 9 years – 4 years of the project duration and additional 5 years after the project has ended.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187628

Authors: Ayesha Wijesekera, Zuhail Thatey, Claire Brown, Susana Baena, Joshua Barritt

Abstract: This report provides a review of the biodiversity policy landscape at the European Union (EU) level and identifies a set of priority Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) to support policy needs. Policy needs were determined based on the European 'Union's Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (EU BDS 2030), which serves as the overarching framework for biodiversity-related policies and legislation at the EU level in response to the requirement for countries to have a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) as Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The analysis focuses on the actions from the EU BDS 2030 as the key articulation of policy needs, and indicators to evaluate monitoring requirements. Actions were categorized based on their relevance to different stages of the policy process (e.g., planning, implementation, reporting or review), while indicators were categorized as relevant to policy reporting. Actions and indicators were also tagged by ecosystem realm (i.e., terrestrial, freshwater, marine) or as cross-cutting. The potential applicability of EBVs for broadly supporting the implementation of each of the 102 actions and sub-actions. Also, the monitoring of the 16 available indicators from the 'Strategy's dashboard, was assessed. The review found that EBVs could broadly be used to support the implementation of 37 actions and the monitoring of five indicators. These selected actions and indicators were then mapped to EBV classes and candidates based on the EBV framework by the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON). EBV candidates were ranked from high to low priority based on the total number of actions and indicators they were mapped to, both overall and within different ecosystem realms and stages of the policy process. Candidates linked to the greatest number of actions and indicators were considered the highest policy priority. Overall, the species abundance candidate ranked 1st in terms of policy priority, followed by species distributions (2nd), ecosystem distribution (3rd) and ecosystem vertical profile (4th), with markedly higher total scores than other candidates. These candidates were also consistently ranked among the top four candidates across different ecosystem realms and stages of the policy process. Taking into consideration the findings from the Europa Biodiversity Observation 'Network's (EuropaBON) User and Policy Needs Assessment, this review identified species abundances, species distributions and ecosystem distribution as priority EBVs for the development of remote sensing (RS) biodiversity products in the OBSGESSION project. The ecosystem vertical profile also ranked highly, but further assessment is recommended to determine its policy importance. While this review provides a priority set of EBV candidates based on policy needs, further prioritisation considering scientific gaps and technical feasibility for monitoring EBVs via RS will be continued under Task 1.2 as part of the Science Policy Traceability Matrix (SPTM), taking into consideration work already undertaken on RS-enabled EBVS.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e182926

Authors: Richard Marijnissen, Dirk S. van Maren, Luis Garrote, David Santillan, Ana Iglesias, Subbiah Bharathi, Xavier Sánchez-Artús, Vicente Gracia, Manuel Espino, Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla, Luciana Villa Castrillon, Benjamin Jacob, Johannes Pein, Wei Chen, Joanna Staneva, Pushpa Dissanayake, Dennis Oberrecht, Andreas Wurpts, Reinier Schrijvershof, R.J.A van Weerdenburg, Frederica Zennaro, Fabienne Horneman, Elisa Furlan, Silvia Torresan, Andrea Critto, Christophe Briere, Julien Fornasari, Rémi Caillibotte, Claire Mahe, Alexis Beudin, Rosaria Ester Musumeci, Massimiliano Marino, Sofia Nasca, Ahmad Alkharoubi, Luca Cavallaro, Enrico Foti, Nikolay Valchev, Petya Eftimova, Elitsa Hineva, Nataliya Andreeva, Grzegorz Różyński, Morgane Jolivet, Thomas Faraon, Olivier Boutron, Mathis Cathala

Abstract: Within this portfolio of restoration interventions, we present a range of model-based projections assessing the impact of large-scale Nature-based Solutions (NbS) on enhancing Eco System Services (ESS) in various coastal systems. This deliverable applies these models to detail how these systems respond to climate change and nature-based interventions intended to mitigate climate change impacts under different Sea Level Rise (SLR) scenarios. The models range from hydro-morphological simulations of future conditions to a machinelearning approach, all aimed at demonstrating the ESS provided by restoration in the future.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e182902

Authors: Manuel Espino, Vicente Gracia, Xavier Sánchez-Artús, Maria Liste, Luis Garrote, David Santillan, Ivan Federico, Causio Salvatore, Fabienne Horneman, Silvia Torresan, Elisa Furlan, Grzegorz Różyński, Luciana Villa Castrillon, Joanna Staneva, Benjamin Jacob, Wei Chen, Bas van Maren, Richard Marijnissen, Andreas Wurpts, Pushpa Dissanayake, Rosaria Ester Musumeci, Massimiliano Marino, Petya Eftimova, Nikolay Valchev, Elitsa Hineva, Nataliya Andreeva, Bogdan Prodanov, Rémi Caillibotte, Christophe Briere, Soazig Mahe, Julien Fornasari, Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla

Abstract: nature-based approaches, while reinforcing connectivity from river basins to the sea. Deliverable D2.2 is the second technical output of Work Package 2 (WP2), building upon the storm-based modelling work presented in D2.1. While D2.1 focused on current hazard conditions and model calibration, this deliverable explores future scenarios of sea level rise, changing sediment dynamics, and increasing storm impacts. It evaluates the long-term performance of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) through integrated hydromorpho-eco modelling and assesses their contribution to ESS delivery across seven REST-COAST pilot sites. This report supports the development of adaptive restoration strategies tailored to local contexts, while contributing to broader coastal management frameworks under climate change. By combining physical process modelling with ecological indicators and socio-economic relevance, D2.2 provides robust evidence to guide nature-based adaptation pathways across Europe’s diverse coastal systems.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e182018

Authors: Manuel Espino, Luis Garrote, David Santillan, Xavier Sánchez-Artús, Vicente Gracia, Maria Liste, Marc Mestres, Manel Grifoll, Marta Balsells, Joanna Staneva, Benjamin Jacob, Wei Chen, Luciana Villa, Pushpa Dissanayake, Mindert de Vries, Ivan Federico, Causio Salvatore, Olivier Boutron, Christophe Briere, Rémi Caillibotte, Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla

Abstract: The REST-COAST project (Large-scale RESToration of COASTal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity) is a Horizon 2020 research initiative funded by the European Commission under Grant Agreement No. 101037097. Its overarching aim is to restore coastal ecosystems across Europe by advancing science-based approaches to hazard mitigation and resilience, with a strong emphasis on nature-based solutions (NbS) and the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services (ESS). To meet this objective, the project adopts a multidisciplinary approach that combines modelling, monitoring, restoration, governance, and finance. Scientific development is tightly linked to practical implementation through a network of pilot sites representing diverse coastal typologies and pressures. These sites serve as laboratories for testing and validating coupled hydro-morpho-eco models capable of simulating the role of natural ecosystems in reducing risks such as coastal flooding, erosion, and saline intrusion. This deliverable, D2.1, documents the modelling work conducted under Task 2.1, focusing on present-day storm conditions. It presents the model configurations, validation procedures, and simulation outcomes used to evaluate the risk reduction potential of NbS across seven pilot sites. The work includes detailed analysis of hydrodynamic and morphodynamic processes, sediment transport, and vegetation interactions, as well as the derivation of site-specific ESS indicators. The models are tailored to local physical settings and restoration goals, and have been validated against real storm events using field and remote sensing data. D2.1 provides a robust technical foundation for assessing the effectiveness and operational relevance of ecosystem-based approaches to coastal risk management. The methods and results presented here contribute to the broader REST-COAST objective of supporting adaptive, transferable, and evidence-based coastal restoration strategies throughout Europe.

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DOI: 10.3897/rio.11.e163757

Authors: Geraint Tarling, E Abrahamsen, Yevgeny Aksenov, Madeline Anderson, Carol Arrowsmith, Chelsey Baker, Chris Barry, Anna Belcher, Mar Benavides, Milo Bischof, Emma Boland, Mike Bowes, J Brearley, Peter Brown, Amanda Burson, Sammie Buzzard, Nathan Callaghan, Arthur Coët, Kathryn Cook, Sarah Coombs, Chris Evans, Sophie Fielding, Elaina Ford, Isabelle Fournier, Jennifer Freer, E Garcia-Martin, VR Ghosh, Sarah Giering, Alanna Grant, Huw Griffiths, Ruta Hamilton, Katharine Hendry, Simeon Hill, Nathan Hubot, Aidan Hunter, Nadine Johnston, Anna Katavouta, Ezra Kitson, Melanie Leng, Isabel Lewis, Katrin Linse, Stephen Lofts, Clara Manno, Adrian Martin, Alice Marzocchi, Edward Mawji, Daniel Mayor, Rebecca McKenzie, Andrew Meijers, Michael Meredith, David Munday, M Pereira, Alexandra O'Brien, Justyna Olszewska, Stuart Painter, Julien Palmiéri, Shailee Patel, Amy Pickard, Jessica Richt, Stefanie Rynders, Rachael Sanders, Ryan Saunders, Andrew Shepherd, Thomas Slater, Bryan Spears, Gabriele Stowasser, Amy Swiggs, Laura Taylor, Petra ten Hoopen, Sally Thorpe, Tracey Timms-Wilson, Maud van Soest, Hugh Venables, Zoe Wright, Andrew Yool, Emma Young

Abstract: The export of elements (particularly carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) from the Poles critically supports global marine biodiversity and major fisheries as well as the sequestration of atmospheric carbon to the deep ocean. Ecosystem processes regulate this export, but major uncertainties remain in terms of how and by how much. Progress on understanding key ecosystem interactions is hindered by lack of data and their representation in Earth system models is poor. The two polar regions share similarities in environmental extremes which make them sensitive to the impacts of climate change. They both receive nutrients from multiple and diverse sources and the delivery of these nutrients to other oceans is regulated by similar ecosystem processes. However, the extent to which these ecosystem processes will be modified by climate change is unclear and urgently needs to be determined. BIOPOLE will determine how polar ecosystems regulate the balance of carbon and nutrients in the world’s oceans and, through it, their effect on global fish stocks and carbon storage. It will address this challenge by integrating ambitious fieldwork campaigns and innovative modelling in a multidisciplinary and highly coordinated approach. BIOPOLE will capitalise on world-leading capabilities and infrastructure in ocean and high-latitude research, including cutting-edge land-based facilities, state-of-the-art polar research vessels and innovative autonomous instrumentation. Collaboration with national and international partners will further strengthen BIOPOLE’s multidisciplinary approach and efficient use of infrastructure. BIOPOLE’s legacy will be the first assessment of the global impact of polar ecosystems on biogeochemical cycling and fish stocks; technologically-novel approaches and strong partnerships between leading international science groups.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e144611

Authors: Guy Ziv, Catriona Willoughby, Denise Hick, Arjan Gosal, Rosemary Wool, Chunhui Li, Jiaqi Ge, Paul Evans, Michael Beckmann, Anne Paulus, Meike Will, Birgit Mueller, Tomáš Václavík, Tomáš Čejka, Tomáš Čejka, Ruth Delzeit, Ornella Dellaccio, Jon Stenning, Anna Cord, Stephanie Roilo, Sanja Brdar, Joan Masó, Yoni Gavish, Danny Hooftman, James Bullock

Abstract: This Deliverable provides a roadmap to expansion of BESTMAP towards a operational pan-European modelling platform, as well as explore via pilot analyses several areas for improvement and future research. Considering new case studies, we analyse the locations where models parameterized in those regions can transfer to cover the most area. We conclude that in future case studies, they should be located in northern Spain, north-west Italy, central Italy, Montenegro/Albania, and Bulgaria. Testing if one can model water quality at the European scale, our modelling shows the NDR model (used in BESTMAP CS work) has generally good performance at EU scale, despite it being a rather simple process-based model. There is an overestimation of Nitrogen at low N, and underestimation of Phosphate at high P, which need to be considered in future work.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e144610

Authors: Cristina Domingo-Marimon, Joan Maso

Abstract: The BESTMAP dashboard, a pivotal element of the H2020 BESTMAP project, stands as a vital instrument for disseminating project findings and fostering informed decision-making processes. This platform enables exploration, analysis, and reporting on the outcomes of biophysical models, offering users valuable insights into various environmental factors. This deliverable offers a comprehensive overview of the dashboard's architecture, outlining its seamless integration into diverse environments. It also provides updates on the dashboard's final status, its content, and the creation of e-learning courses aimed at guiding users in effectively utilizing the tools and features available within the dashboard.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e144609

Authors: Pavel Stoev, Boris Barov, Gabriela Popova, Maria Mincheva, Milica Trajković, Dajana Vujaklija, Guy Ziv, Jodi Gunning, Michael Beckmann, Anne Paulus, James Bullock, Paul Evans, Tomáš Václavík, Cristina Domingo-Marimon, Anna Cord, Stephanie Roilo

Abstract: In order to enhance the visibility of BESTMAP project and its outcomes and to explore potential common activities and complementarities with other projects, initiatives, networks, and policy makers at EU level, the Plan of Engagement is developed and it will act as the strategy for creating a bridge between BESTMAP and all the other relevant projects or institutions. This document is an updated version of the Milestone 12 Plan of Engagement and it will serve as a strategic channel of relationship-building processes with identified related parties from now on. External relationships and engagement with relevant parties is a continuous process between BESTMAP and other parties. Therefore, the Plan of Engagement is considered as a living document that will be extended and changed as the engagement with all parties evolved.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e144185

Authors: Tomáš Čejka, Paul Evans, James Bullock, Guy Ziv, Stephanie Roilo, Tomáš Václavík

Abstract: Insights into potential policy outcomes may be biased if based on an unrepresentative selection of case study information. As case studies are a central element of the BESTMAP project, evaluating their representativeness in the wider EU context is one of the major tasks of WP5 - Upscaling. In this Deliverable, we first briefly describe the principles of meta-models of ecosystem services and biodiversity that were developed as part of Task 5.2 to upscale predictions of ecosystem services beyond case studies. Second, we report on the development of a distance metric used to determine case study representativeness, i.e. the degree of similarity in conditions between BESTMAP case studies and NUTS3 regions across Europe. Third, we describe the transferability diagrams that we used to obtain the relationship between the predictive power of the meta-models and the distance metric, which were then used to determine the threshold within the distance metric (similarity of conditions) that corresponds to a model prediction that we considered reliable (R 2>0.5 ). Fourth, for each ecosystem service and biodiversity, we present a series of transferability maps based on the set threshold to identify the transferability potential of BESTMAP models to NUTS3 regions across Europe. Finally, we discuss the limitations and challenges of our approach used to determine case study representativeness and the transferability potential of ecosystem service models.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e144184

Authors: Josie McCulloch, Jiaqi Ge, Paul Evans

Abstract: This document presents the generalised linear model (GLM) and agent-based model (ABM) that were developed in the H2020 project BESTMAP to model and predict the uptake of Agri-Environmental Schemes (AES) in the European Union. The deliverable is based on the work done in Work Package 4.1 (WP4.1) – Agent-Based Modelling and Analysis of BESTMAP. This deliverable comprises a description of the particular implementation of the ABM including a discussion of how and why the European Union model differs from the case study-specific models described in Deliverable 4.1. The link to the model’s code on GitLab is provided. Furthermore, data requirements and potential limitations with respect to data accessibility are outlined. The ABM code is accompanied by a model description in a structured form following the ODD+D protocol (Müller et al., 2013) in the Appendix. The deliverable focuses on the model development and how the GLM and ABM are linked. As an outlook, research questions that can be answered with the models, model limitations and potential further extensions are discussed. Additionally, it is briefly discussed how the ABM outputs will enhance the biophysical modelling upscaling, which is the other part of Task 5.2

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e144183

Authors: Paul Evans, Tomáš Čejka, Tomáš Václavík, Guy Ziv, Stephanie Roilo, James Bullock

Abstract: In this Deliverable, the outputs from the BESTMAP biodiversity and ESS models, necessary for this Deliverable, are briefly described. Second, the data used for meta-modelling is listed. Third, the process behind meta-modelling - the main focus of this Deliverable - is described in detail, specifying the logic of the technique, the steps that were taken within the context of this work, and how the models were fitted and tested. Fourth, we present the results of the meta-models in terms of the number of times different predictors were significant, to give an idea of the important predictors. Finally, the challenges that were faced are discussed, as well as the final potential uses for the outputs.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e144087

Authors: Tomáš Václavík, Tomáš Čejka, Marek Bednář, Meike Will, Stephanie Roilo, Michael Beckmann, Anne Paulus, Katharina Schneider, Bartosz Bartkowski, Nastasija Grujic, Sanja Brdar, Predrag Lugonja, Cristina Domingo-Marimon, Annelies Broekman, Rosemary Wool, Arjan Gosal, Chunhui Li, George Breckenridge, Jodi Gunning, Guy Ziv

Abstract: This document provides a summary of the systematic analyses conducted across BESTMAP five CS as part of the activities in Work Packages (WP) 1, 2, 3 and 4. First, we describe the main qualitative findings obtained from farmers during the semi-structured interview campaigns regarding their attitudes towards the implementation of agri-environmental schemes (AES). Second, we elaborate on the results from the follow-up online questionnaire which included the Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) to investigate farmers’ personal views, socio-economic background and especially their preferences for specific AES contract characteristics which were subsequently used to inform the parameterization of CS agentbased models (ABMs). Third, we summarise the similarities and differences in the types of farms that occur in each CS, using the Farming System Archetypes typology based on several categories of farm specialisation and economic size. Fourth, we quantify the main results of the biophysical models of WP3 tailored specifically for each CS, comparing the values of biodiversity and ecosystem services calculated for the scenario of the current AES implementation with ecosystem service values calculated for a scenario simulating no AES adoption. Finally, we synthesise the main findings of the ABMs developed in WP4, specifically investigating the effects of four AES policy scenarios (advisory support, high payment rates, short contracts and low bureaucracy) as compared to the status-quo scenario of the current AES adoption rates

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e144086

Authors: Cristina Domingo-Marimon, Stephanie Roilo, Michael Beckmann, Anne Paulus, Katharina Schneider, Tomáš Václavík, Arjan Gosal, Rosemary Wool, George Breckenridge, Jodi Gunning, Guy Ziv

Abstract: Most of the agricultural policies, such as the new CAP, or the European Union Sustainable Development Goals, already present their list of associated indicators to monitor impacts. As BESTMAP biophysical models aim to map the impacts of these types of policies, each of the model outputs have a range of associated policy indicators. This deliverable includes the results of an exhaustive review of policy indicators from different sources linked to agricultural practices, associated with or translated to BESTMAP model results. In some cases, BESTMAP models return an output that can be directly considered an indicator. In other cases, BESTMAP model results can support partially existing indicators.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e144085

Authors: Meike Will, Birgit Mueller, Chunhui Li, Jiaqi Ge, Nastasija Grujic

Abstract: This deliverable provides a report on the agent-based models (ABMs) for each of the case studies, developed in the Work Package 4 (WP4) – Agent-Based Modelling and Analysis of BESTMAP. In particular, it includes a description of how the models can be accessed and which input data is needed. This document is accompanied by a description of each case study model in a structured form (see Appendix) which follows the ODD+D protocol (Müller et al., 2013). Deviations from the main processes as described in Milestone M6 (First versions of ABMs for CS) are discussed for each case study.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e144084

Authors: Michael Beckmann, Miene-Marie Gastinger, Birgit Mueller, Anne Paulus, Meike Will, Anna Cord, Stephanie Roilo, Cristina Domingo-Marimon, Fanny Langerwisch, Tomáš Václavík, Marek Bednář, Guy Ziv, Arjan Gosal

Abstract: The Case Study Base Layer, described in this deliverable, is a harmonised geospatial database spanning across the five case study areas of BESTMAP: South Moravia (Czech Republic), Mulde (Germany), Humber (Great Britain), Backa (Serbia), and Catalonia (Spain). It is based on the Preliminary Case Study Base Layer (MS3) and includes geospatial information on climatic and soil conditions, biodiversity, land use/land cover (including crop types), farm structure and socio-economic data. It serves as a base for biophysical ecosystem service (ES) models as well as socio-economic statistical models. Thereby, the Case Study Base Layer will be crucial for mapping Farming System Archetypes (FSAs) and for building a common agent-based modeling (ABM) framework across all case studies. This report accompanies the data in Deliverable D3.1 and describes the compilation, harmonization, meta-data structure, secure storage and access of case study baye layer data using the BESTMAP instance of the UFZ GeoNetwork

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e144083

Authors: Michael Beckmann, Lena Friedrich, Miene-Marie Gastinger, Anne Paulus, Tomáš Václavík, Chunhui Li, Guy Ziv, Paul Evans

Abstract: The European Base Layer, described in this deliverable, is a harmonised geospatial database spanning across Europe. It builds upon the infrastructure created for the Case Study Base Layer (D3.1) and includes geospatial information on climatic and soil conditions, biodiversity, land use/land cover (including crop types) data. It serves as a base for all modeling activities in BESTMAP’s WP5 including biophysical ecosystem service (ES) models. Thereby, the European Base Layer will be crucial for mapping Farming System Archetypes (FSAs) and for building a common agent-based modeling (ABM) framework across Europe. This report accompanies the data in Deliverable D3.2 and describes the compilation, harmonization, meta-data structure, secure storage and access of case study Base Layer data using the BESTMAP instance of the UFZ GeoNetwork.

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DOI: 10.3897/rio.10.e139777

Authors: Luciana Frazão, Joana Alves, Miguel Moreira, Paula Castro, Maria João Martins, Anabela Paula, António Gouveia, Helena Freitas

Abstract: Defined as the benefits derived from nature to humans, the Ecosystem Services (ES) concept clarifies how ecosystems contribute to human well-being. Despite its relevance, integrating this concept into decision-making processes remains a challenge. Participatory approaches have proven crucial in developing mechanisms for managing, conserving, sustainably using and valuing ES. This work aimed to analyse the perceptions of Portuguese Biosphere Reserves’ (BR) managers regarding the ES provided by these territories through a participatory workshop. During the workshop, each participant specified the most relevant ES provided by the BR. The study identified three key ES: "Cultivated terrestrial plants (including fungi, algae) grown for nutritional purposes", "Characteristics of living systems that enable scientific investigation or the creation of traditional ecological knowledge" and "Characteristics of living systems that enable education and training". Additionally, participants discussed perceived threats, opportunities and potential solutions to enhance the value of these key ES in these areas. "Climate change" and "Pollution" were identified as the most significant threats, while "Climate adaptation", "Quality of life" and "Sustainable agriculture" emerged as the main opportunities. Solutions to address threats and maximise opportunities include the establishment of a closer, systematic and articulated relationship within BR to promote sustainability and resilience. Overall, the workshop was positively evaluated and deemed productive. It was also considered a powerful tool to foster collaboration towards a more holistic promotion of BR' sustainable governance, benefitting the environment, communities and the economy.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e140142

Authors: Elpida Besi, Georgia Chantzi, Florian Grossmann, Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla, Rositsa Stoeva

Abstract: Within the REST-COAST (Large scale RESToration of COASTal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity) project, the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) is a partner focused on the Black Sea region, where the project has Foros Bay as a prominent Pilot Site. Nevertheless, the project features Pilot Sites across Europe spanning West Europe (Arcachon Bay, Rhone Delta and Ebro Delta), North Europe (Wadden Sea and Vistula Lagoon) and East-Central Europe (Venice lagoon, Sicily Lagoons and Nahal Dalia). The project, as summarised in this booklet, investigates the technical, financial, planning, management, governance, and engagement aspects required for large scale coastal restoration. Which technical possibilities are there? What are the political and financial hurdles? How can they be overcome? To find answers, we combine field data, numerical tools and stakeholder requirements to enhance the application of coastal restoration in the nine project Pilots and beyond. The present booklet reports the application of project insights to the Black Sea region and discusses how some of REST-COASTs strategies can be efficiently transferred there.

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DOI: 10.3897/rio.10.e133454

Authors: Yann Hautier, Kathryn Barry, Mariet Hefting, Marijke van Kuijk, Edwin Pos, Betty Verduyn, Rola Johannes, George Kowalchuk, Merel Soons

Abstract: Extreme climate events such as floods and droughts are becoming increasingly frequent and intense across the world. Future climate scenarios predict both an increase in individual extreme events, as well as chronic changes in climatic seasonality. Yet, the combined and relative effects of these pressures on ecosystems remain unknown. Concurrently, human-induced ecological disruption is accelerating species extinction rates, which are estimated to be 100 to 1000 times greater than pre-human levels. This is alarming as greater biological diversity is thought to buffer ecosystem functioning against extreme climate events, thereby safeguarding the provisioning of essential ecological services that contribute to human well-being. However, how and to what extent biodiversity buffers ecosystems against climate variability remains unclear. We recently constructed experimental grassland communities in a mesocosm-based field design representing a realistic gradient of plant diversity. Both extreme events (drought and flood) and a change in seasonality of precipitation are manipulated in a full factorial design to quantify the effects of future seasonal shifts and extremes in precipitation. We will: 1) determine to what extent higher biological diversity ensures that grasslands can continue to provide multiple ecosystem services even in the context of climate change and 2) unravel the fundamental mechanisms by which this is achieved including species asynchrony and positive species interactions. Results of our experimental approach will advance our understanding of the buffering potential of plant diversity and contribute to the development of strategies for sustainable service provisioning of our ecosystems in the face of climate change.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e130555

Authors: Toke Thomas Høye, Pavel Stoev, Pierre Bonnet, W. Daniel Kissling

Abstract: The MAMBO project is developing novel monitoring tools to enhance knowledge of the state of European biodiversity. Through its demonstration sites and stakeholder engagement, MAMBO is showcasing its new technologies' effectiveness and added value. It thus provides critical input on how biodiversity-related monitoring efforts can be coordinated at the EU level. As such, MAMBO has the potential to improve the ecological monitoring landscape in Europe and beyond substantially. MAMBO contributes to the aims of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 by ensuring better coordination and streamlining of biodiversity observations in Europe.

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DOI: 10.3897/rio.10.e125086

Authors: Bekir Afsar, Kyle Eyvindson, Tuomas Rossi, Martijn Versluijs, Otso Ovaskainen

Abstract: Forests are crucial in supporting biodiversity and providing ecosystem services. Understanding forest biodiversity dynamics under different management strategies and climate change scenarios is essential for effective conservation and management. This paper introduces the Forest Biodiversity Dynamics Prototype Digital Twin (pDT), integrating forest and biodiversity models to predict the effects of management options on forest ecosystems. The primary objective is to identify optimal management strategies that promote biodiversity, focusing on conservation and adaptation to different climate conditions. We start with the case of Finnish forests and bird species and plan to expand to include more European countries and a variety of species as the pDT is further developed.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e128550

Authors: Martin Baptist, Richard Marijnissen, Grzegorz Różyński, Rosaria Ester Musumeci, Massimiliano Marino, Laura Borzi, Agata di Stefano, Morgane Jolivet, Alice Stocco, Fabienne Horneman, Silvia Rova, Silvia Torresan, Elisa Furlan, Caterina Dabalà, Francesca Coccon, Andrea Critto, Fabio Pranovi, Ferran Bertomeu, Carles Ibáñez, Nuno Caiola, Elitsa Hineva, Nataliya Andreeva, Petya Eftimova, Bogdan Prodanov, Valentina Doncheva, Nikolay Valchev, Shylee Berg, Mathis Cognat

Abstract: This deliverable presents the generation of EUNIS habitat maps for Europe as a whole and for each of the pilot areas in REST-COAST. Subsequently, it presents the assignment of semi-quantitative scores for the contribution of each EUNIS (sub)habitat to the five key ecosystem services applying the rank scale 0 (none), 1 (very low contribution), 2 (low contribution), 3 (medium contribution), 4 (high contribution) to 5 (very high contribution). It also describes the assignment of the IUCN Red List of Habitats to each of the depicted EUNIS (sub)habitats in the pilot areas. And finally, to assess coastal system behaviour and restoration effects on ecosystem services and biodiversity gains under climate change, a homogenised score card methodology is presented to overcome the problem of comparing minor changes (some percents) with major changes (tens of percents) in the total scores for ESS or BDV in each pilot area.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e128042

Authors: Camino Liquete, Dimitrios Bormpoudakis, Joachim Maes, Ian McCallum, W. Daniel Kissling, Lluís Brotons, Tom Breeze, Alejandra Moran, Maria Lumbierres, Leonie Friedrich, Sergi Herrando, Anne Lyche Solheim, Miguel Fernandez, Néstor Fernández, Tim Hirsch, Laurence Carvalho, Petteri Vihervaara, Jessi Junker, Ivelina Georgieva, Ingolf Kühn, Roy Van Grunsven, Aino Lipsanen, Guillaume Body, Hilary Goodson, Jose Valdez, Aletta Bonn, Henrique M. Pereira

Abstract: Observations are key to understanding the state of nature, the drivers of biodiversity loss and the impacts on ecosystem services and ultimately on people. Many EU policies and initiatives call for unbiased, integrated and regularly updated data on biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, biodiversity monitoring efforts are spatially and temporally fragmented, taxonomically biased and not integrated across Europe. EuropaBON has addressed this gap by developing an EU-wide framework for biodiversity monitoring. With this deliverable, EuropaBON proposes the terms of reference for an EU Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre (EBOCC), a permanent infrastructure that could coordinate and foster the generation and use of high quality data to underpin the biodiversity knowledge-base used across EU policies, providing guidance and trainings when necessary. Such a centre represents one of the key solutions to overcome the critical challenges of biodiversity monitoring in Europe. Having this integrated and continuous monitoring capacity would allow more timely and efficient interventions that would optimise our capacity to revert biodiversity loss and prevent environmental degradation. It would also increase the value-added to the data flows, reaching high-value outputs with some existing low-value inputs. This deliverable offers a critical analysis of the existing monitoring landscape in Europe, extracting key messages about the main challenges, lessons learned and possible solutions. Based on a comprehensive analysis of needs and, most importantly, on an inclusive consultation process, the deliverable designs an EBOCC that tackles the key biodiversity monitoring challenges. The proposal specifies the mission, the tasks, the most urgent topics, the main policies and the key stakeholders that the EBOCC should serve and focus on during the first stage of its implementation. It also includes detailed analyses about governance models and potential costs. With this proposal, EuropaBON fosters the setting up and testing an operational EBOCC that could address the urgent need for coordination, integration, harmonisation and strengthening of biodiversity data collection and analysis, in order to inform policy-making at local, national, European and international level.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e126021

Authors: Sergi Herrando, Sara Fraixedas, Guillem Pocull, Dani Villero, Anna Gamero, David Martí, Verena Keller, Petr Voříšek, Alena Klvaňová, Gabriel Gargallo, Lluís Brotons

Abstract: This deliverable shows, using farmland birds as a demonstrative case study, how the existing European network of bird monitoring schemes could be used to regularly update the distribution of terrestrial breeding birds across the whole of EU and neighbouring countries. In addition, it shows how changes in distribution could be assessed on frequent intervals suitable for informing on the achievement of EU environmental policy targets.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115410

Authors: Fausto Favero, Lieke Hüsken, Jochen Hinkel, Heleen Vreugdenhi, Umberto Pernice, Michael Sedlmeier

Abstract: This deliverable is the first contribution of Work Package 3 to the REST-COAST Project. The overarching purpose of REST-COAST is to provide the tools to address some of the key challenges faced by coastal ecosystems restoration. To achieve this objective, REST-COAST will improve coastal restoration practice and techniques through new hands-on restoration pilot projects, co-design effective governance arrangements and policies, and generate new tools and data for risk reduction assessment. In addition to these activities, Work Package 3 will design innovative financial arrangements and bankable business plans to support the implementation and thescaling up of coastal ecosystem restoration.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115409

Authors: Gabriela Popova, Iliyana Demirova, Boris Barov

Abstract: The main goals of WP6 Dissemination, exploitation and social transformation tools, are to establish and maintain a distinct project identity, as well as to maximise the impact of project results by marketing andcommunicating them to stakeholders and the broader public. To ensure the efficient communication, Pensoft has developed a number of promotional materials reflecting the REST-COAST corporate identity, aswell as a project website.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115391

Authors: Ruth Delzeit, Simone Markoff, Alena Schmidt, Birgit Mueller, Meike Will, Chunhui Li, Jodi Gunning, Guy Ziv

Abstract: This deliverable report provides an integration guide on how information gained in BESTMAP’s agent-based model can be used in the standard economic model to improve the assessment of agricultural policies in the European Union. First, the models used in the BESTMAP are explained. The integration guide discusses in detail the preconditions and challenges when linking agent-based models with standard economic models such as partial and general equilibrium models. As a result of an expert workshop, six challenges are identified. The report also presents suggestions on how to make use of the finding and presents a way forward to integrate the two types of models.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115390

Authors: Milica Trajković, Dajana Vujaklija, Pavel Stoev, Anna Sapundzhieva, Guy Ziv, Jodi Gunning

Abstract: Deliverable 6.3 Communication and Dissemination plan comprises actions, tools and channels to be used throughout the BESTMAP project scope. The purpose of this document is to outline the strategy, to define means of communication, tools and actions that will be done within the BESTMAP project in order to reach a wide range of stakeholders. This plan is a living document and will be officially updated in month 24 (D6.8). The first chapter of the Communication and Dissemination Plan explains the wider context of the project and highlights how the project duration and geographical scope impact the communication and dissemination activities. The second chapter presents communication and dissemination strategy including definition of objectives and target audiences, communication tools and key messages. The third chapter presents AGRIMODELS cluster, while the fourth chapter explains Social Media Strategy. The aim of the fifth chapter is to emphasize the importance of project partners’ involvement in communication and dissemination activities, and the sixth chapter showcases the list of relevant conferences for presentation of the BESTMAP project. Seventh chapter presents an action plan for communication and dissemination activities while a list of references can be found in chapter eight.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115389

Authors: Stephanie Roilo, Anna Cord, Michael Beckmann, Anne Paulus, Katharina Schneider, Predrag Lugonja, Arjan Gosal, Rosemary Wool, George Breckenridge, Jodi Gunning, Guy Ziv

Abstract: This document describes the interrelationships between the ecosystem services, biodiversity and socio-economic outputs modelled in the Work Package 3 (WP3), to identify bundles of co-occurring services. Furthermore, this document presents an analysis of how different types of Agri-Environmental Measures (AEM) drive trade-offs and synergies among different services. The analysis spans two AEM adoption scenarios, one without AEM and one reflecting the current AEM adoption levels, for all five Case Studies (CS) of BESTMAP.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115388

Authors: Guido Riembauer, Markus Metz, Guy Ziv, Jodi Gunning, James Bullock, Paul Evans, Tomáš Václavík, Fanny Langerwisch, Marek Bednář, Sanja Brdar, Predrag Lugonja

Abstract: This deliverable provides an overview of all work conducted in the context of Activity 5.3.1 (Developing remote sensing indicators) with respect to Farming System Archetype (FSA) Mapping (Task 5.3). This work is based on the FSA definition and mapping in ‘D2.2 - Conceptual Framework’ and ‘D3.5 - Farming System Archetypes for each CS’ and investigates the potential of remote sensing methods to inform different dimensions of FSAs. Findings from this analysis will contribute to the BESTMAP roadmap (Task 5.4). Specifically, methodologies for crop type mapping, crop yield estimation, and field boundary mapping are investigated in different case study regions and their relevance for FSAs are shown.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115387

Authors: Fanny Langerwisch, Tomáš Václavík, Marek Bednář, Guy Ziv, Jodi Gunning, Arjan Gosal, Anne Paulus, Sanja Brdar, Predrag Lugonja, Stefanija Stojkovic, Stephanie Roilo, Anna Cord

Abstract: This deliverable provides an overview of the methods and data used for developing the Farming System Archetypes (FSAs) in the five case studies - Humber, Mulde, SouthMoravia, Bačka and Catalonia. Additionally, it discusses limitations as well as problems and presents solutions. The FSAs are a generalized typology of farming systems that are assumed to have similar response to policy change. FSAs are a major component of the BESTMAP modelling architecture because they provide linkages between many aspects of the project, especially connecting the biophysical and agent-based modelling in the case studies (CS), based on local data (e.g. IACS/LPIS, for explanation see Methodology), with the modelling of policy effects at the EU level, based on FADN micro-data within the FADN regions. The FSA framework defines the main farm characteristics determined by two main dimensions: firstly farm specialization and secondly economic size, both calculated and mapped for each farm in the CSs. ‘Farmer agents’ who belong to the same FSA are then assumed to have similar decision patterns regarding the adoption of agri-environmental schemes, based on the relationships revealed in the CS agent-based models.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115386

Authors: Felix Wittstock, David Hötten, Sofia Biffi, Cristina Domingo-Marimon, Bořivoj Šarapatka, Marek Bednář, Minučer Mesaroš

Abstract: This deliverable presents a Summaries of data, obstacles and challenges from interview campaigns of the H2020 BESTMAP project. It aims at documenting the BESTMAP interview campaigns carried out to obtain data on farmers’ decision-making with regard to agri-environmental schemes (AES). It covers a detailed description of methodology, reporting on the concrete steps taken to collect and analyze interview data. It also discusses obstacles and challenges to BESTMAP interview campaigns. Finally, the deliverable presents the main qualitative and quantitative findings of the interview analysis, with a focus on qualitative content analysis of open interview questions.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115385

Authors: Ruth Delzeit, Simone Markoff, Sneha Thube

Abstract: This deliverable report elaborates on the development and results of a set of policy scenarios that represent the outcomes of Task 2.4. After clarifying the objective of the deliverable, key features of the DART-BIO model are explained, followed by a definition of two biofuel scenarios in which the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and in addition global biofuel policies are implemented. Further, two specifications of international climate policies are defined and their implementation explained. In the result section, the impacts of these policies on the EU’s agricultural markets and land-use change are illustrated. The results show that with the RED including a ban on palm-oil based biodiesel in place, EU’s rapeseed production and therewith also land used to cultivate rapeseed rises, while also imports of other vegetable oils increase. Land-use change outside the EU is limited. Adding biofuel policies in non-EU regions causes global land use-change towards more cropland used for biofuel feedstock (e.g. soybeans, palm fruit) at the expense of pasture land and crops not used for biofuel production. When implementing climate policies, the conversion of pasture land on the global average is reduced. Depending on the specification of climate policies (having a CO2 or all GHG emission reduction target), land-use change is affected differently. When only considering CO2 emissions, more biofuels and feedstock are imported into the EU, resulting in less area (-3 percentage points) devoted to rapeseed production compared to a situation with biofuel policies but no climate policy. Adding all GHG emissions to the reduction targets leads to a reduction of 1 percentage point in rapeseed areas in the EU since emission pricing reduces demand for livestock production. The results can serve as input into Agent-Based Modelling in case studies across the EU, changing land-use patterns and opportunity costs of participation in agri-environmental schemes.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115384

Authors: Cristina Domingo-Marimon, Joan Masó Pau, Guy Ziv, Jodi Gunning

Abstract: Dashboards for data visualisation and decision-making are information management tools that visually display, analyse and provide metrics of data, for better decisions and understanding improvement.Dashboards provide critical reporting of spatialised data and associated metrics information and are essential for displaying model results, guiding decisions and better navigating the landscape. The main aim of the dashboards is to quickly gain insights into the most relevant results of the data displayed. The main added value for users is that information is transformed into knowledge which is useful for decisions on policy making.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115383

Authors: Guy Ziv, Jodi Gunning, Tomáš Václavík, Michael Beckmann, Anne Paulus, Birgit Mueller, Meike Will, Anna Cord, Stephanie Roilo, James Bullock, Paul Evans, Cristina Domingo-Marimon, Joan Masó Pau

Abstract: This deliverable provides a General Framework for the BESTMAP Policy Impact Assessment Modelling (BESTMAP-PIAM) toolset. An update of the framework will be provided later in the project in Deliverable 2.4. The BESTMAP-PIAM is based on the notion of defining (a) a typology of agricultural systems, with one (or more) representative case study (CS) in each major system; (b) mapping all individual farms within the case study to a Farm System Archetype (FSA) typology; (c) model the adoption of agri-environmental schemes (AES) within the spatially-mapped FSA population using Agent Based Models (ABM), based on literature and a survey with sufficient representative sample in each FSA of each CS, to elucidate the non-monetary drivers underpinning AES adoption and the relative importance of financial and non-financial/social/identity drivers; (d) linking AES adoption to a set of biophysical, ecological and socio-economic impact models; (e) upscaling the CS level results to EU scale; (f) linking the outputs of these models to indicators developed for the post-2020 CAP output, result and impact reports; (g) visualizing outputs and providing a dashboard for policy makers to explore a range of policy scenarios, focusing on cost-effectiveness of different AES.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115382

Authors: Guy Ziv, Jodi Gunning, Anna Cord, Michael Beckmann, Anne Paulus, Tomáš Václavík, Cristina Domingo-Marimon, James Bullock, Paul Evans, Milica Trajković

Abstract: This document is the first version of the Data Management Plan of the H2020 BESMAP project. The Data Management Plan is intended as a living document and updated versions of this document will be produced in month 18 (D1.4) and month 36 (D1.6). The scope of the Data Management Plan is to describe the data management life cycle of all data sets that will be collected, processed or generated by the BESTMAP project. This document outlines how research data will be handled during the BESTMAP project, and after the project is completed. This Data Management Plan describes what data will be collected, processed or generated and what methodology and standards will be applied, whether and how this data will be shared and/or made open, and how it will be curated and preserved.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115381

Authors: Pavel Stoev, Anna Sapundzhieva, Teodor Georgiev, Margarita Grudova, Guy Ziv, Jodi Gunning

Abstract: To promote and disseminate the BESTMAP research across stakeholders and the general public, and to raise awareness of the project findings, BESTMAP launched a website at the initial phase of the project. This report describes in detail the purpose, creation process and content of the BESTMAP website – the project’s key tool for successful dissemination, communication and knowledge transfer. The deliverable also describes the current and future implementation and maintenance of the website.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e114825

Authors: Carles Ibáñez, Alba Alemany, Ferran Bertomeu, Silvia Frias, Judith Molero, Roberto Merciai, Laura Puertolas

Abstract: Coastal regions provide some of the most productive and biodiverse environments with an important and often underappreciated carbon storage potential. At the same time, they are among the areas of highest population density, natural assets, and cultural heritage in the world, yet are experiencing significant social, economic and environmental challenges, exacerbated by climate change and human pressures.The Rest-Coast Project (Large scale RESToration of COASTal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity) is an EU Horizon 2020 research project (Grant agreement No. 101037097) whose overall goal is to address with effective and innovative tools the key challenges faced by coastal ecosystem restoration across Europe. The approach chosen for this project will deliver a highly interdisciplinary contribution, with the demonstration of improved practices and techniques for hands-on ecosystem restoration across several pilot sites, supported by the co-design of innovative governance and financial arrangements, as well as an effective strategy for the dissemination of results.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e114824

Authors: Carla Danelutti, Emmi Lindqvist, Maria del Mar Otero, Mindert de Vries, Albert Vos, Nuno Caiola, Vicente Gracia, Nil Alvarez, Laura Puertolas, Jaime Ordonez, Silvia Torresan, Caterina Dabalà, Francesca Coccon, Grzegorz Różyński, Nikolay Valchev, Nataliya Andreeva, Elitsa Hineva, Olivier Boutron, Rosaria Ester Musumeci, Massimiliano Marino, Christophe Briere, Julien Dalle, Margot Defoort-Levkov, Margot Ahr, Yael Salame-Rubin, Simon Nemtzov, Avi Uzan

Abstract: Coastal regions provide some of the most productive and biodiverse environments with an important and often underappreciated carbon storage potential. At the same time, they are among the areas of highest population density, natural assets and cultural heritage in the world, yet are experiencing significant social, economic and environmental challenges, exacerbated by climate change and human pressures.The REST-COAST project (Large scale RESToration of COASTal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity) will demonstrate to what extent upscaled coastal restoration can provide a low-carbon adaptation, reducing risks and providing gains in biodiversity for vulnerable coastal ecosystems, such as wetlands or sea grass beds. By overcoming present technical, economic, governance and social barriers to restoration upscaling, REST-COAST will develop the large scale river-coast connectivity and increase the nearshore accommodation space for the resilient delivery of coastal ecosystem services (ESs). The selected ESs (risk reduction, environmental quality and fish provisioning) touch urgent coastal problems such as the erosion/flooding during recent storms or the accelerating coastal habitat degradation that seriously affects fisheries and aquaculture. Combining new techniques, risk assessments, innovative financial/governance arrangements and homogeneous metrics for ESs and biodiversity, REST-COAST will develop a systemic approach to coastal restoration based on a scalable coastal adaptation plan.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e114653

Authors: Anna Cord, Stephanie Roilo, Michael Beckmann, Anne Paulus, Katharina Schneider, Predrag Lugonja, Tijana Nikolić, Fanny Langerwisch, Marek Bednář, Tomáš Václavík, Paul Evans, Arjan Gosal, Rosemary Wool, George Breckenridge, Guy Ziv, Jodi Gunning

Abstract: This deliverable provides a report on the biodiversity and ecosystem services (ESS) models as well as the socio-economic statistical model, generated in the Work Package 3 (WP3) - Farming System Archetypes of BESTMAP. A general overview of the research goals and guiding principles under which the models were developed is given, followed by a detailed description of the four biophysical models (biodiversity, food and fodder, carbon sequestration and water quality) and of the socio-economic model, each with case study (CS) examples. This document is accompanied by model factsheets (see Appendix) which loosely follow the structure of the ODMAP (Overview, Data, Model, Assessment and Prediction) protocol developed by Zurell et al. (2020). The deliverable also discusses the obstacles and challenges encountered during the model adaptation and implementation in the different CS, and how the model outputs will be used in various other tasks within the project.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e109168

Authors: Alejandra Morán-Ordóñez, David Martí Pino, Lluís Brotons

Abstract: This report describes the database on biodiversity monitoring initiatives at the European level collected by EuropaBON (WP3 - task 3.1; EuropaBON biodiversity database from hereon) and the web-based platform (website) that contains it. The website serves the dual purpose of being the platform for data entry, as well as to allow the visualisation and quick consultation of the collected data. This report also gives a brief summary of the data collected up to the date of delivery of the report (end November 2021). Previous efforts on collecting information on existing monitoring efforts in Europe have concentrated in describing programs using a generalist approach that has received criticism because of lack of completeness even for well documented groups such as birds. Including all available information on monitoring in Europe at any spatial scale is difficult because of the high number of unlinked initiatives, specially at local scales, and the dynamic nature of these projects both in terms of the emergence of new efforts and the disappearance of old ones. To address this challenge, the EuropaBON project focusses on the monitoring network concept and aims at identifying, with priority, those monitoring efforts that are coordinated and especially those in which this coordination is consistent at a supranational level and at the European scale. Coordination in the context of monitoring is related to the integration of data and information across scales which is the underlying concept of a future successful biodiversity monitoring network in Europe.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e107578

Authors: Alex Vermeulen, Dick Schaap, Angeliki Adamaki, Tjerk Krijger, Raul Bardaji, Andreu Fornos, Ivan Rodero, Damien Boulanger, Cathrine Myhre, Richard Rud, Zois Zogopoulos, Claudio D’Onofrio, Gwenaelle Moncoiffé

Abstract: The Environmental Research Infrastructure (ENVRI) community is a cluster of European research infrastructures focused on the environment and Earth system science. The ENVRI-FAIR project aims to advance the FAIRness of their data and services with emphasis on interoperability and connect the ENVRI community to the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). In this article, we present a proposal for a science project that will develop and launch a dashboard for environmental indicators as a contribution from the ENVRI cluster to the EOSC platform. The dashboard will provide easy access to environmental data and services from multiple research infrastructures and disciplines and support interdisciplinary Earth system science and societal challenges. The proposal describes the objectives, implementation, impact, and dissemination measures of the project, as well as the partners involved and the target groups that can benefit from the dashboard service. We explain how the dashboard will showcase the usefulness and relevance of the observations provided by the research infrastructures, and how it will engage a larger community of researchers and potential data providers in co-creation processes. We also discuss how the dashboard will make use of existing and new EOSC services and resources, and how it will contribute to several EU initiatives and directives related to the environment and climate change.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e105599

Authors: Tom Breeze, Miguel Fernandez, Ian McCallum, Alejandra Morán-Ordóñez, Henrique Pereira, Jessi Junker

Abstract: Financial factors are among the most widely cited bottlenecks around biodiversity monitoring but are relatively poorly studied, compared to monitoring methodologies. The existing body of literature on the cost-effectiveness of monitoring focuses heavily on the hypothetical costs of generating data rather than the practical realities of undertaking and managing monitoring. To address this we used a combination of surveys and semi-structured interviews with 67 biodiversity monitoring managers to provide an in-depth exploration of 1) what are the main rivers of their costs, 2) how different factors affect their cost-effectiveness in generating biodiversity monitoring data, 3) What is the scale and economic value of volunteer labor and 4) what are the main cost bottlenecks and spending priorities. Analysis of these responses demonstrates that monitoring efforts are able to generate more data at a lower cost when they have a) higher numbers of volunteers, b) greater densities of sites and c) monitor a wider range of taxa and habitats. Volunteer labour was worth millions of Euros to these organizations, sometimes more than their total costs. Total budgets and volunteer recruitment and retention were the main cost related bottlenecks among respondents, while staff recruitment was the highest priority for new spending.  The results and discussion around them highlight the challenges faced by biodiversity monitoring organizations, particularly in recruiting and retaining qualified staff for the long-term. We produce a series of nine key messages and six recommendations for policy-markers and funders going forward.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e105600

Authors: Maria Dornelas, Cher Chow, Robert Patchett, Tom Breeze, Lluís Brotons, Pedro Beja, Laurence Carvalho, Ute Jandt, Jessi Junker, W. Daniel Kissling, Ingolf Kühn, Maria Lumbierres, Anne Lyche Solheim, Marit Mjelde, Francisco Moreira, Martin Musche, Henrique Pereira, Leonard Sandin, Roy Van Grunsven

Abstract: The goal of this task was to identify and characterise novel methods for biodiversity monitoring, and to assess their suitability for large scale deployment across Europe. To address this goal we combined extensive literature searches with expert consultation, namely using a survey and through an online workshop. The outcome of our searches is summarised in a metadatabase, which includes 282 methods or method components, which have been classified according to EBV classes addressed, target taxa, and broad method type the method relates to. We then consulted experts within the EuropaBON network and beyond, on the advantages and challenges associated with each of these novel methods, as well as their technology readiness level. In combination, our approaches revealed a wealth of novel methods and a highly active research field, with extensive emerging innovation on several fronts. However, it also revealed high variability in technology readiness, with lack of validation being a prevalent hurdle yet to be overcome for many applications of these methods (i.e. for some taxa and in some environments). Moreover, the opportunities for expansion in observations created by these novel approaches open new challenges associated to the standardisation, integration and storage of biodiversity monitoring data. Finally, the expansion of observations should take a designed approach, in order to deliver on its potential to improve representation and resolution of biodiversity monitoring, and should aim to complement rather than replace human observations. 

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e103765

Authors: Alejandra Morán-Ordóñez, Pedro Beja, Sara Fraixedas, Sergi Herrando, Jessi Junker, W. Daniel Kissling, Maria Lumbierres, Anne Lyche Solheim, Gabriel Miret, Jannicke Moe, Francisco Moreira, Henrique Pereira, Joana Santana, Dani Villero, Lluís Brotons

Abstract: The EuropaBON project seeks to design a European Biodiversity Observation Network to monitor the status and trends of European biodiversity and ecosystems in the coming years. To accomplish this, the project has brought together biodiversity monitoring experts and other relevant stakeholders from various sectors (policy, NGO, academia, business, citizen science) from all over Europe. These have agreed on a list of 70 Essential Biodiversity Variables (Deliverable 4.1) that should enable tracking the progress of biodiversity-oriented policy instruments and provide information on changes in biodiversity at different levels.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e101949

Authors: W. Daniel Kissling, Maria Lumbierres

Abstract: This document will form the basis for the EuropaBON virtual workshop on EBV workflows (22-24 February 2023) and for developing the co-design of the European Biodiversity Observation Network.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e99679

Authors: Elena Velado-Alonso, Ignasi Bartomeus, Kira Keini, Suresh Chithathur, Anna Sapundzhieva, Alexandra Korcheva, David Kleijn

Abstract: Communication and dissemination are key elements to maximise SHOWCASE project impact and ensure long‐term effects. For that, an effective communication strategy is essential to convey the principles and best practices to integrate biodiversity in farm management to favour farmers’ livelihoods while promoting conservation in agricultural landscapes. Current discourses around biodiversity, nature conservation and farming are contradictory with each other and not always engaging for SHOWCASE stakeholders. Thus, an inspirational narrative has been developed in the first months of the project by WP4 “Communicating the benefits of agrobiodiversity through multistakeholder knowledge exchange”, task 4.1. SHOWCASE narrative explains in an effective manner 1) why people care about biodiversity; 2) what we can do, and; 3) how we can do it better.

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