Managing Aquatic Biodiversity

from local to global – an EU perspective

Publication: Policy Brief
Citation: AQUACROSS consortium 2016: Managing aquatic biodiversity: from local to global – an EU perspective. Introducing the EU research project AQUACROSS.

This brief highlights the links between EU policy objectives and global targets for sustainable development, centring on aquatic ecosystems. It describes current research within the EU Horizon 2020 project AQUACROSS (Knowledge, Assessment and Management for AQUAtic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services aCROSS policies), focusing on an integrative approach – ecosystem-based management (EBM) of aquatic ecosystems – to understand and balance common social, economic, and environmental objectives towards a more sustainable future. The brief is available for download.

Ecosystem-Based Management, Ecosystem Services and Aquatic Biodiversity

Theory, Tools and Applications

Year 2020

Publication:Book Section

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are increasingly employed as a tool to protect Europe's swiftly declining marine biodiversity. However, despite increasing coverage, MPA effectiveness and equity is considered highly variable. Concurrently, Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) – that is, management that aims to protect, restore, or enhance the resilience and sustainability of an ecosystem to ensure sustainable flows of ecosystem services and conserve its biodiversity – is growing in prominence.

Ecosystem-Based Management for More Effective and Equitable Marine Protected Areas

A Case Study on the Faial-Pico Channel Marine Protected Area, Azores

Year 2020

Publication:Document

AQUACROSS Plan for Exploitation and Dissemination of Project Results

Deliverable D1.5

Year 2018

Publication:Document

Boteler, Benjamin et. al. 2015: Dissemination Plan – Strategy for disseminating AQUACROSS results and findings. Deliverable D1.1. Berlin, unpublished.

Dissemination Plan – Strategy for disseminating AQUACROSS results and findings

Deliverable D1.1

Year 2015

Publication:Article

Lago, M., Boteler, B., Rouillard, J., Abhold, K., Jähnig, S., Iglesias-Campos, A., Delacámara, G., Piet, G., Hein, T., Nogueira, A., Lillebø, A., Strosser, P., Robinson, L., De Wever, A., O'Higgins, T., Schlüter, M., Török, L., Reichert, P., van Ham, C., Villa, F. and Hugh, M. (2019). Introducing the H2020 AQUACROSS project: Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for AQUAtic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services aCROSS EU policies. Science of The Total Environment, 652, pp.320-329.

Introducing the H2020 AQUACROSS Project

Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for AQUAtic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services aCROSS EU policies

Year 2019

Publication:Case Study

Lough Erne sustains multiple competing activities, each with different demands from the system in terms of ecosystem services and physical resources. It is a heavily modified water body, containing a range of non-native Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are considered a threat to Lough Erne biodiversity and also negatively affect the society that surrounds it. In this report, we apply the AQUACROSS Assessment Framework to understand this challenge and identify and assess ecosystem-based management solutions to the challenge of the IAS Nutall’s pond weed. The case study is available for download.

Management and Impact of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Lough Erne in Ireland

AQUACROSS Case Study 4 Report

Year 2018

Publication:Case Study

Freshwater ecosystems in the Swiss plateau are threatened by multiple stressors that deteriorate water quality and hydromorphology. To restore these ecosystems and stop the biodiversity decline, multiple management measures will be implemented over the next decades. We propose methods for a spatial and temporal prioritisation to coordinate measures from different sectors and maximise their effectiveness while considering other societal needs. The case study is available for download.

Biodiversity Management for Rivers of the Swiss Plateau

AQUACROSS Case Study 7 Report

Year 2018

Publication:Case Study

Over the past three years, the AQUACROSS Assessment Framework was developed, tested, and applied in eight case studies across Europe to solve local biodiversity challenges. Finally, results from each Case Study were published in a 30-page case study report and 3-page executive summary report. The case study is available for download.

Trade-Offs in Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management in the North Sea Aimed at Achieving Biodiversity Strategy Targets

AQUACROSS Case Study 1 Report

Year 2018

Event:Conference

On 10 and 11 October 2018, the AQUACROSS Final Conference on "Ecosystem-Based Management for the Protection of Aquatic Biodiversity – Practice and Lessons Learnt" took place in Brussels. AQUACROSS project team members presented different tools and results regarding aquatic biodiversity protection developed during the project. Conference participants from 21 countries received the eight AQUACROSS Case Studies and the Case Study Gallery with posters, photos and information material with particular interest. The presentations held during the conference are now available on the AQUACROSS project conference website.

Ecosystem-Based Management for the Protection of Aquatic Biodiversity – AQUACROSS Final Conference

10 - 11 October 2018
Brussels, Belgium

Language: English
Credits: Layout: Beáta Vargová
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International
Year: 2016
Dimension: 6 pp.
Project: Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Across EU Policies (AQUACROSS)
Project ID: 2803
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

KEY MESSAGES
GROWING PRESSURES ON AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY
LINKING EU POLICY TO GLOBAL GOALS
ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT (EBM)
AQUACROSS: EU AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH
AQUACROSS - EU BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY LINKS
REFERENCES
Keywords: Biodiversity

EU

Evaluation

freshwater, coastal, marine, ecosystems, resilience, EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy, nature conservation aquatic biodiversity, ecosystem-based management, Europe, H2020, assessment framework, policy targets, sustainability

Europe

ecosystem services assessment, forecasting, economic valuation, participatory scenarios, risk assessment

Further Links

PublicationReportThe AQUACROSS Innovative Concept

Gómez et al. (2016) The AQUACROSS Innovative Concept. Deliverable 3.1, European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation grant agreement No. 642317. ... Read more

Gómez et al. (2016) The AQUACROSS Innovative Concept. Deliverable 3.1, European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation grant agreement No. 642317.

PublicationReportDeveloping the AQUACROSS Assessment Framework

Aquatic biodiversity is declining worldwide and faster than in terrestrial systems. To better protect these vulnerable species and safeguard the valuable services they provide and from which humans depend, is a key goal of the AQUACROSS project. To do this, it is... Read more

Gómez et al. (2016) Developing the AQUACROSS Assessment Framework. Deliverable 3.2, AQUACROSS, European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Grant Agreement No. 642317.