LIFE EL-BIOS

hELlenic BIOodiversity Information System: an innovative tool for biodiversity conservation

Project summary

The LIFE EL-BIOS project is designing, developing and implementing a central biodiversity information system, “EL-BIOS”, operated by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA) in Greece to integrate existing biodiversity datasets and compile up-to-date information (spatial and non-spatial) on statuses and trends, threats and pressures, innovative techniques and other pertinent information. The system will function as the major national biodiversity tool in Greece.

The project also introduces Earth observation, remote sensing and wireless sensor techniques for monitoring habitats and ecosystems in Greece which will support the development/adaptation of future protocols for national biodiversity monitoring.

Our role

Researchers at ETC-UMA are part of the core team of a network of European Topic Centres that support the European Environmental Agency (EEA) in the implementation of various thematic components of its regional  strategy  and  multi-annual  workplans. Based on its experience, the team supports aspects related to data management, ecosystem assessments and new information and communication technologies.

Main outputs

Development and operation of the first national biodiversity information system in Greece, exploiting information and communication technology and Earth observation and including a comprehensive national biodiversity database.

Earth Observation Data Cubes & advanced network of remote ground sensors for enriched biodiversity information in 2 pilot areas: Northern Pindus National Park (11 Natura 2000 sites) and Kotychi Strofylia Wetlands National Park (5 Natura 2000 sites)

A Νational set of biodiversity indicators

Dissemination and awareness

Google Earth Engine code for the monitoring system and associated processing scripts

More about it

Christoph Schröder

Project coordination

christoph.schroder@uma.es

Based on my MSc in Geography (University of Bonn) I have developed expertise in Geographic Information Systems and land use/cover change analysis from local to global scale with particular interest in the Mediterranean...

Gabriel Martorell

Data and remote sensing

gabrielmg@uma.es

Gabriel graduated in Geography at the University of the Balearic Islands. He has joined ETC-UMA as part of his master's degree in GIS and Remote Sensing, where he supports the collection, development and analysis of digital thematic cartography...

Our partners

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - Special Account for Research Funds / Department of Rural and Surveying Engineering, Greece

ETC-UMA (European Topic Centre - University of Malaga), Spain

Green Fund, Greece

Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), Greece

Olympos Consulting P.C., Greece

The Goulandris Natural History Museum - Greek Biotope Wetland Centre (EKBY), Greece

University of Thessaly (UTH) - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (DECE), Greece

Project website

LIFE EL-BIOS (LIFE20 GIE/GR/001317) has received funding from the LIFE Programme of the European Union. EU funding contribution: 1.354.524 € (52.68% of total eligible budget).

LIFE EL-BIOS has received funding from the Green Fund

ETC-UMA launches new technologies applied to ecosystem knowledge

Built on the Google Earth Engine cloud computing platform, the new wetland monitoring system based on remote sensing data, developed by ETC-UMA and presented in April 2023 at the National Centre for Environmental Education (CENEAM by its acronym in Spanish) ...

Celebrating and calibrating Mediterranean forests

The Mediterranean basin is the third-richest hotspot in the world in terms of plant biodiversity and one of the greatest sources of endemic plants on Earth. Its plant diversity accounts for 25 000 plant species, 60 percent of which are ...