Project Overview

MARCO-BOLO will connect existing initiatives, optimising and improving methods, and further innovating technologies to structure and strengthen European marine, coastal and freshwater biodiversity observation capabilities, linking them to global efforts to understand and restore ocean health.

Project explainer infographic

The Challenge

Coastal and marine areas are incredibly dynamic and productive oceanic regions, providing significant resources and services for both wildlife and people. They are also subject to intense pressures from agricultural and industry pollution in waterways, dredging and building development. Many national and regional programmes assess environmental health and human impact on our coasts, but these programmes are often fragmented, short term and uncoordinated at larger scales.

MARCO-BOLO will address this problem by connecting existing initiatives, optimising and improving methods, and further innovating technologies for biodiversity observations. The project aims to deliver a transformative change in how marine biodiversity is monitored and managed. The research team will engage with diverse stakeholders to tailor their research and observation data for direct use, delivering practical tools that will allow politicians and companies to determine biodiversity health, predict and monitor changes from imposed policies, and proactively manage environments. 

MARCO-BOLO’s innovations will address the full pipeline of data collection and use: from testing new monitoring tools using eDNA, robotics, optical and acoustic techniques, to data integration methods for environmental modelling, and guidance on how data can be stored, shared and applied in policy contexts.

01
PROGRAMME:

HORIZON Europe (HORIZON-CL6-2022-BIODIV-01)

02
TYPE OF ACTION:

Research and Innovation
Action

03
DURATION:

December 2022 – November 2026 (48 months)

04
CONSORTIUM:

28 participants from
14 countries

05
COORDINATOR:

EMBRC-ERIC
(France)

06
TOTAL BUDGET:

€7.3 million

Objectives

01
01

Enable technologies for cost-effective, timely and accurate biodiversity observations.

02
02

Test new tools, technologies and models to better understand biodiversity decline.

03
03

Improve acquisition, coordination and delivery of marine, coastal and freshwater biodiversity observations to relevant users.

04
04

Empower European biodiversity observatory operators, data producers and users by creating and sharing best practice guidelines for gathering and using biodiversity data to contribute to biodiversity restoration efforts.

Expected Results

Provide new tools and
models

Essential Variables (EVs) based on Environmental DNA (eDNA), real time biodiversity monitoring methods, causal relationships and indicators between external forcings and biological responses

Test of co-designed data streams and workflows

Validate data exchange across EU and global biodiversity infrastructures, workflows for supporting Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) monitoring and map blue carbon benefits and risks of non-indigenous invasive species.

Create a Community of Practice

Agreed, scalable and transferable pilots and demonstrators producing high quality data streams and supporting a more coordinated approach for EU biodiversity observations aligned with international standards and best practices.