In a major step toward building a more coordinated and effective biodiversity monitoring system, the European Commission has launched a €7 million call for tenders to pilot the EU Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre (EBOCC). The initiative will test and implement key elements proposed by the  Horizon 2020 project EuropaBON, coordinated by Professor Henrique Pereira from iDiv and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU).

The pilot will contribute to improving the availability, accessibility, and coherence of biodiversity data at national, EU, and global levels. It aims to reduce the reporting burden on Member States by streamlining biodiversity data flows and integrating existing monitoring efforts into a structured, cost-effective European framework. Ultimately, the EBOCC will support the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the European Green Deal.

Building on the work of the EuropaBON consortium, the EBOCC is envisioned as a central coordination hub. It will address existing data gaps, harmonise biodiversity data collection, and foster collaboration among national and international monitoring initiatives. Its core objective is to deliver timely and policy-relevant biodiversity information especially Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) to support evidence-based decision-making.

The tender marks the beginning of a 36-month pilot phase, during which the EBOCC structure and monitoring framework will be further developed and tested.

For more information about the tender and its scope, visit the official EC funding portal.