Mediterranean Biodiversity Protection Knowledge Platform

The objective of the Mediterranean Biodiversity Protection Knowledge Platform is to give visibility to effective methodologies, key project results, and actions towards biodiversity protection performed in the context of the Interreg MED funded Biodiversity Protection Community of projects, as well as to Interreg MED projects and partners. This platform provides a gateway to the spatial data generated by the Interreg MED Biodiversity Protection Community, and a knowledge library of documentary resources produced by MBPC partners and projects and relevant references (enriched with relevant external sources) on protected areas, ecoregions, and pressures to support regional environmental policy on biodiversity protection, natural resource management, and sustainable growth in Mediterranean protected areas and beyond.

Aim of Tool

The Charter of Commitment is a mobilisation platform dedicated to all beach stakeholders. Citizens, NGO’s, scientific, education and economic actors are invited to sign the charter and act according to their own level to show change is possible and that decision makers can implement new management methods and lead this change. The Charter of Commitment aims to create a Posidonia friendly beach community of actors and to highlight actions undertaken to preserve the banquettes on Mediterranean beaches. The implementation of the tool will continue beyond the project’s lifetime.

Technological infrastructure

A PC/tablet, an Internet browser (Firefox and Google Chrome recommended) and an internet connection are required to access the Mediterranean Biodiversity Protection Knowledge Platform.

Training

No particular training is necessary to access and use the Platform, only basic knowledge as an Internet user. Video tutorials and a guidance document for users are included in the platform. Advanced GIS users can also extract tabular data and metadata linked to spatial viewer information.

Investment

No costs are associated with accessing and using the Platform.

The Mediterranean Biodiversity Protection Knowledge Platform has a visual interface giving access to project information, data per topic, guidance to users and a data policy. The knowledge contained can be accessed via two main components:

• A Library, providing access to relevant project results, products, and available documentation; and
• The geoportal (or map viewer), which can be used to display biodiversity spatial data, and which consists of two main elements:

1. A map viewer, where geospatial data can be displayed and individual queries can be performed; and
2. A Catalogue viewer, allowing the user to navigate and discover available geospatial data, through a search engine and filtering tools.

The geoportal allows users to select and combine various data layers, to display and export ad hoc maps, and generate additional knowledge and policy-support. The infrastructure supports the principles of INSPIRE, SEIS, and GEOSS. The Platform uses Metadata standards (such as ISO 19119/115), existing thesauri to choose descriptive keywords (GEMET / INSPIRE / KEEP), and a clear and sound data policy to ensure data ownership and observe OGC web standards (WMS, WFS, WMTS, etc.).

Pilot areas

Interreg MED Biodiversity Protection Horizonal projects partner institutions 2016-2022

Recommended implementation frequency

The Mediterranean Biodiversity Protection Knowledge Platform is already online at biodiversity.uma.es and can be consulted at any time. Periodic updates are implemented to integrate relevant external spatial data on biodiversity, update the MedBioLitter database on interactions between biodiversity and litter, and add new materials to the library of resources on project results.

The complexity and diversity of data inputs may require additional effort to find a dedicated solution to better represent specific results. The quality and accuracy of the results and messages output, extracted through the viewer interface, are strictly related to the quality and standardisation of the data input. New technologies are being integrated gradually through interactive dashboards and story maps to reach a wider audience.

Quantitative results

The Platform’s map viewer is developed to spatially represent data and information generated by the projects of the Community. The Platform will work in synergy with MED’s website, with a strong focus on spatial data and on ensuring service interoperability and integration. Relevant, external data sources include T-MEDNET, Med-IAMER, AWI, and VLIZ, among others.

Transfer potential

The Mediterranean Biodiversity Protection Knowledge Platform can be easily accessed by anyone interested in the themes of biodiversity protection and the implementation of an ecosystem approach to the Mediterranean. Further connections may be developed to ensure a wider spatial, temporal, and thematic coverage of the data.