MARCO-BOLO 3rd Co-design/Co-creation Workshop Report

This report summarizes the 3rd mobilisation of MARCO-BOLO’s Community of Practice (CoP) representing generators and users of marine biodiversity data, products and services in the EU and internationally.

Building on the outcomes and lessons learned from the 1st and 2nd Co-Design/Co-Creation Workshops, three targeted online sessions were held between MARCO-BOLO technical colleagues and selected stakeholders for the following products:

• • T2.3 – Comparison of spatial and temporal eDNA-based vs traditional observations.
  • T5.2 – Application of integrative approaches to established biological indicators.
  • D2.4 – Report on the definition of eDNA-based EBVs with associated eDNA-based EBVs datasets and efficiency of eDNA for detecting/quantifying taxa/species of interest (due by the end of 2025).
  • T5.3 – Spatial mapping of Blue Carbon benefits.

The current progress of work for each product was presented, and targeted experts engaged participants as potential users in the discussions. 

The workshops brought together almost fifty external biodiversity and marine data experts and other stakeholders, including representatives from DG ENV, DG RTD, CINEA, Regional Sea Conventions, GOOS BioEco Panel, sister EU Horizon projects (Biodiversa+, EuropaBON, OBAMA-NEXT, BioEcoOcean), national institutions, academia and research, private sector, and other organisations responsible for marine biodiversity monitoring across the EU, UK and internationally. Among these, countries like Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, and other countries were represented. 

Aligned with the co-design concept, these sessions provided invaluable user feedback to guide further development of each product. The following section provides a general overview and summary of outcomes and commitments for each workshop.