Biostrat is a Specific Support Action funded in FP6, aiming at the further development of the EU Biodiversity Research Strategy. It supports the European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy (EPBRS, http://www.epbrs.org) in biannually bringing together policy makers and scientists from and outside of Europe, to identify key research areas for policy in the field of biodiversity conservation. Electronic conferences are organized prior to these meetings to gather input from the widest range of scientists and policy makers possible in the given topic, the outcome of which serves as the basis for discussion by invited delegates to the successive meeting. Recommendations produced as a result of each EPBRS meeting are disseminated to the European Parliament, the European Commission and governments of Member States. The latest topics were:

• Supporting the European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy (EPBRS) to develop and continually revise the EU Biodiversity Research Strategy

• Including the results of existing and ongoing biodiversity research projects in the development of the EU Biodiversity Research Strategy.

• Linking the EU Biodiversity Research Strategy to the national, European and international funding programmes, especially the ERA-Nets related to biodiversity issues

• Incorporating GEOSS objectives in the EU Biodiversity Research Strategy• Linking EU Biodiversity Research Strategy with international initiatives including the multi-

stakeholder consultative process of the Paris Conference, the Millennium Ecosystem assessment, the 2010 target, ESRI, GTI, GBIF, CBD, and DIVERSITAS.

EPBRSMeeting 1

E-Conference 1 E-Conference 2 E-Conference 3 E-Conference 4 E-Conference 5 E-Conference 6

ResearchReview 1

ResearchReview 2

ResearchReview 3

ResearchReview 4

ResearchReview 5

ResearchReview 6

Communication Communication Communication Communication Communication Communication

Workshop GEOSS

Workshop Int. Initiativ

WP1

WP2

WP3

WP4

WP5 Workshop NBP

Workshop BIOTA

EPBRSMeeting 2

EPBRSMeeting 3

EPBRSMeeting 4

EPBRSMeeting 5

EPBRSMeeting 6

Biostrat organizes a workshop to assist the European contribution towards the GEO Biodiversity Observation Network

For more info, please visit http://www.biostrat.org

In a nutshell

• mountain biodiversity• youth and biodiversity• urban ecology and biodiversity• how to reach the 2010 -and beyond- target: research influencing policy• biodiversity and ecosystem services – the Millennium Ecosystem

Assessment framework in a European perspective • Biodiversity in the wider countryside• European biodiversity research and the global perspective• marine biodiversity• biodiversity of freshwaters

Overall objectives

Biostrat also promotes scientific and policy results of its partner countries by supporting the preparation of national reviews related to the topics of EPBRS meetings. The activities and organizational structure of National Biodiversity Platforms, the bodies responsible for the preparation of these reviews, are synchronized by Biostrat.Biostrat also collaborates with relevant organizations inside and outside Europe by carrying out intensive networking activity to harmonize the Strategy with other projects and initiatives.

Workpackages

1. Further development of the European biodiversity research strategy2. Involvement of Framework Programme projects in the development of the

EU biodiversity Research Strategy3. Introducing GEOSS objectives into the EU Biodiversity Research Strategy4. Linking the EU Biodiversity Research Strategy with international initiatives5. Integrate EU Member States and Candidate Countries into the ERA area

for biodiversity6. Project coordination

National Biodiversity Platforms

BIOSTRAT

Provide support

Provide information WP 5

NGO’s

National Research capacities

Civil society

Environmental authorities

Funding agencies

European Scientifc

community,Biodiversity

Stakeholders,Sceince Policy

Makers,EU Parliament

EPBRS

DG Research

Society at the interface

science-policy outside FP6 countries

WP 1

E-conferences, seminars

WP 1

InternationalInitiatives

DIVERSITASSCB

GEOSS…

ERA-Net

WP 6

WP 3 & 4

SBSTTA

Support meetings

Dissemination of NBP-

idea

FP6 ProjectsWP 2

WP 3 & 4WP 4

Figure 1. Biostrat communication links

Direct links supported by BIOSTRAT/EPBRS activities

Indirect links supported by NBPs and BIOSTRAT-members towards other groups and bodies

Figure 2. Relation of workpackages

Dr. Katalin TörökInstitute of Ecology and Botany of the Hungarian Academy of SciencesAlkotmány u. 2-4., 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary

Email: kati@botanika.huTel: +36 28 360 122Fax: +36 28 360 110

Coordinator