Hacia un sistema de información geográfica integrado para las costas y los mares de Europa

La Agencia Europea de Medio Ambiente (AEMA), en colaboración con la Comisión Europea y los Estados miembros de la Unión Europea se encuentra involucrada en un ambicioso proceso de integración de las diferentes bases de datos e información ambienta, con el fin de crear una herramienta capaz de gestionar la puesta en marcha y la aplicación de las diferentes políticas europeas que afectan a los medios costero y marino en Europa. El desarrollo de todas aquellas políticas que afectan a este ámbito, entre otras la Directiva INSPIRE, la implantación de SEIS y las Recomendaciones para la Gestión Integrada de las Zonas Costeras (GIZC), requieren un mayor conocimiento y seguimiento de la información ambiental y de aspectos socio-económicos para la creación de análisis integrados que aporten respuestas integradas y sostenibles a las necesidades que se planteen. El seguimiento de la información ambiental precisa dotarse de desarrollos tecnológicos y sistemas de información eficaces, algunos buenos ejemplos ya están en funcionamiento a nivel europeo, como la Red Europea de Datos de Observación Marina en Europa (EMODNET) o el Sistema de Información de las Aguas Europeas (WISE).The European Environment Agency (EEA) in collaboration with the European Commission and the Member States of the European Union is involved in an ambitious process of integrating the existing databases on environmental information, in order to create a tool capable to manage the different European policies implementation and application affecting the coastal and marine environment in Europe. The policy development affecting this environmental context, amongst other initiatives the Directive INSPIRE, the implementation of SEIS and the Recommendations on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), require a higher knowledge and monitoring initiatives for the environmental information, as well as the socio-economic aspects which support the integrated analysis for integrated and sustainable responses to concrete needs. The environmental information monitoring requires efficient technological solutions and information systems, some of them are already operative at European level, such as the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODNET) and the Water Information System for Europe (WISE)

Landscapes in transition : An account of 25 years of land cover change in Europe

Land is the foundation of our society and a source of economic growth. On land we build our homes, transport goods, grow our food and produce our energy. We expect land to filter our water and host the biodiversity that provides essential aspects of our livelihood. Landscape is one of the most precious assets contributing to Europe's cultural identity. As landscape is determined to a large extent by land use, the study of land use changes, especially through changes in the land cover, provides clues to the drivers of the transitions that landscape is currently going through. New data on land cover change in Europe up to 2012 show that total land cover change increased from the 2000‑2006 period to the 2006‑2012 period. There are indications that land use is changing even faster, e.g. through changes in agricultural practices, with a time lag of several years before the change is reflected and discernible in the land cover and landscape. Almost all trends in land cover change in Europe have been consistent throughout the 1990‑2012 period and show persistent conversion of agricultural land into man‑made surfaces, such as urban areas and infrastructure facilities. Land cover changes related to forest management remain largest in terms of total turnover

An indicator framework for assessing ecosystem services in support of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

In the EU, the mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services, abbreviated to MAES, is seen as a key action for the advancement of biodiversity objectives, and also to inform the development and implementation of related policies on water, climate, agriculture, forest, marine and regional planning. In this study, we present the development of an analytical framework which ensures that consistent approaches are used throughout the EU. It is framed by a broad set of key policy questions and structured around a conceptual framework that links human societies and their well-being with the environment. Next, this framework is tested through four thematic pilot studies, including stakeholders and experts working at different scales and governance levels, which contributed indicators to assess the state of ecosystem services. Indicators were scored according to different criteria and assorted per ecosystem type and ecosystem services using the common international classification of ecosystem services (CICES) as typology. We concluded that there is potential to develop a first EU wide ecosystem assessment on the basis of existing data if they are combined in a creative way. However, substantial data gaps remain to be filled before a fully integrated and complete ecosystem assessment can be carried out.ISSN:2212-041

An indicator framework for assessing ecosystem services in support of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

In the EU, the mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services, abbreviated to MAES, is seen as a key action for the advancement of biodiversity objectives, and also to inform the development and implementation of related policies on water, climate, agriculture, forest, marine and regional planning. In this study, we present the development of an analytical framework which ensures that consistent approaches are used throughout the EU. It is framed by a broad set of key policy questions and structured around a conceptual framework that links human societies and their well-being with the environment. Next, this framework is tested through four thematic pilot studies, including stakeholders and experts working at different scales and governance levels, which contributed indicators to assess the state of ecosystem services. Indicators were scored according to different criteria and assorted per ecosystem type and ecosystem services using the common international classification of ecosystem services (CICES) as typology. We concluded that there is potential to develop a first EU wide ecosystem assessment on the basis of existing data if they are combined in a creative way. However, substantial data gaps remain to be filled before a fully integrated and complete ecosystem assessment can be carried out

An indicator framework for assessing ecosystem services in support of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

In the EU, the mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services, abbreviated to MAES, is seen as a key action for the advancement of biodiversity objectives, and also to inform the development and implementation of related policies on water, climate, agriculture, forest, marine and regional planning. In this study, we present the development of an analytical framework which ensures that consistent approaches are used throughout the EU. It is framed by a broad set of key policy questions and structured around a conceptual framework that links human societies and their well-being with the environment. Next, this framework is tested through four thematic pilot studies, including stakeholders and experts working at different scales and governance levels, which contributed indicators to assess the state of ecosystem services. Indicators were scored according to different criteria and assorted per ecosystem type and ecosystem services using the common international classification of ecosystem services (CICES) as typology. We concluded that there is potential to develop a first EU wide ecosystem assessment on the basis of existing data if they are combined in a creative way. However, substantial data gaps remain to be filled before a fully integrated and complete ecosystem assessment can be carried out.JRC.H.8-Sustainability Assessmen

Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services: Indicators for ecosystem assessments under Action 5 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

The second MAES report presents indicators that can be used at European and Member State's level to map and assess biodiversity, ecosystem condition and ecosystem services according to the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES v4.3). This work is based on a review of data and indicators available at national and European level and is applying the MAES analytical framework adopted in 2013.JRC.H.8-Sustainability Assessmen