EEA –State of informatics for biodiversity Content Vs Functionalities?

1. EEA –State of informatics for biodiversityContent Vs Functionalities? Rania Spyropoulou, EEA Biodiversity and Ecosystems group Cross Domain- Eco Informatics I , June 2007

2. 1. Who we are, what we do...(introduction)2. Getting data from Countries - the dataflow on designated areas- the dataflow on implementation of Habitats Directive3. Sharing data from NGO’s and other sources- the EUNIS data base4. Building regional cooperation in technology transfer- The biodiversity C HM tools Outline of presentation

3. The EEA mission The European Environment Agency is the EU body dedicated to providing sound, independent information on the environment We are a main information source for those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy, and also the general public

4. EEA member andcollaborating countries Member countries Collaborating countries

5. European environment information and observation network (Eionet) About 300 national institutions • National focal points • European topic centres • National reference centres • Other institutions

6. We (biodiversity) are here: • http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodiversity

7. 1. Who we are, what we do...(introduction)2. Getting data from Countries- the dataflow on designated areas- the dataflow on implementation of Habitats Directive3. Sharing data from NGO’s and other sources- the EUNIS data base4. Building regional cooperation in technology transfer- The biodiversity C HM tools Outline of presentation

8. We get data from EIONET Countries: data flows on protected areas, water quality, fisheries, land cover, nitrogen deposition national reports on implementation of European legislation and International conventions

9. the dataflow on designated areas • An annual exercise in REPORTNET • Including Access database and site boundaries • http://dataservice.eea.europa.eu/atlas/viewdata/viewpub.asp?id=2364 • http://www.eionet.europa.eu/

10. the dataflow on implementation of Habitats Directive • Conservation status of 216 habitat types and more than 865 species • Reporting deadline is TODAY • Next round will be in 2013 • A specific application was created to host this reporting process, the ARTICLE 17 REPORTING TOOL

11. Article 17 IT TOOL : • The purpose of the IT tool is to support national reporting of information that can be rapidly processed for compiling the European synthesis report by the Commission. • IT tool follows the Explanatory notes and guidelines adopted by the Habitats Committee.

12. General Concepts 2/4 • The reporting tool uses XML based ‘factsheets’ for habitat types and species, including GML geographical data. WHY? • Such a vast compilation of information needs to be comprehensive to humans but also to machines, in order to be rapidly processed.

13. Notification to other users Feedback report     Finish or go back to draft? Automatic QA Draft National Report Release (Submission) Complete (Final Submission) Create envelope  Notification to other users Workflow cycle in ARTICLE 17 Reporting tool for a National Report

14. What is to be reported? Assessment of range, distribution, area/population, structure and functions/habitat for the species and future prospects • Submit national data Exercise • (the miraculus xlm/ gml files = Formats are readable by machines) http://cdrtest.eionet.europa.eu/

15. 1. Who we are, what we do...(introduction)2. Getting data from Countries - the dataflow on designated areas- the dataflow on implementation of Habitats Directive3. Sharing data from NGO’s and other sources- the EUNIS data base4. Building regional cooperation in technology transfer- The biodiversity C HM tools Outline of presentation

16. Sharing data from NGO’s and other sources • Birdlife and European Butterflies, data to be used in indicators • Council of Europe, data on sites (Biogenetic reserves, European Diploma sites, etc) • Ramsar Convention, data on boundaries of sites • European Commission, data on Natura 2000 sites

17. The EUNIS database : Search for data The Basic Knowledge storage and retrieval site for species, habitat types, sites of National and European interest • Maintained by our European Topic Center on Biological Diversity/ updates twice a year • A major contributor to GBIF • LOOK FOR THE WOLF • http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/index.jsp

18. 1. Who we are, what we do...(introduction)2. Getting data from Countries - the dataflow on designated areas- the dataflow on implementation of Habitats Directive3. Sharing data from NGO’s and other sources- the EUNIS data base4. Building regional cooperation in technology transfer- The biodiversity C HM tools Outline of presentation

19. The Biodiversity Clearing House of the European Communities (EC CHM) • Software developed by EEA, shared freely with countries for developing their National CHMs • More than 15 countries are using it, EEA takes care of updates, helpdesk and migration to new versions. Some CHms are hosted on the EEA server • A tool for regional cooperation on biodiversity issues

20. Submit a story, news, events, + enter comments in public consultation • The biodiversity CHM tools • http://biodiversity-chm.eea.europa.eu/ • Allow syndication = information loaded on one web page is automatically harvested by another

21. Plans for the future • Organise the Web sites: EEA thematic Area on Biodiversity- Biodiversity Clearing House Mechanism- Enhance syndication at the regional level. • Maintain and further develop EUNIS as a Knowledge management tool- Harvest data from GBIF – Operationalise links to the updated World Database on Protected Areas • Develop the concept of the Biodiversity Data center and the Shared Environmental Information System

22. Content vs functionalities It is great to have the tools when you need to use them- How well can we plan for the future? Thank you for your attention!