New BioAgora Call for Knowledge and Experts: Ecological characterization of selected EU wetland habitats

BioAgora is inviting experts (scientists, practitioners, NGOs and other societal actors with expertise in the field) to share their knowledge (Call for Knowledge) and/or to join an Expert Group (Call for Experts) on the ecological characterisation of selected EU wetland habitats. This Call for Knowledge and Experts is organised to support answering a knowledge need addressed to BioAgora by the Directorate-General for Environment through the European Commission's Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity. 

Aim 

The aim of the request is to develop a comprehensive ecological characterisatio of selected wetland habitats listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive. Such characterisation is critical to develop evidence-based monitoring of their conservation status. 

The report developed through this request will guide the selection of appropriate monitoring indicators and Earth Observation products for assessing conservation status. For each habitat type, detailed information will be sought on:

• Good Ecological Functioning: characterising a healthy habitat through multiple dimensions, including proper hydrological regimes, expected seasonal/cyclical patterns, typical vegetation structure and dynamic resilience to natural disturbances and ecological connectivity requirements
• Pressure: monitoring signs of environmental factors that gradually degrade wetland ecosystems and that can compromise their ecological integrity. These pressures can be natural or human-induced
• Threats: identifying more acute and immediate dangers to wetland ecosystems

Call for Knowledge - an invitation to share your knowledge 

The aim of this Call for Knowledge is to foster an inclusive process for addressing the request. The Call for Knowledge supports the process by collecting existing knowledge to avoid duplication of ongoing efforts and ensure the development of joint and timely outputs. The Call for Knowledge is therefore a unique opportunity to provide impact of your actionable knowledge to policies for the conservation and restoration of wetlands. 

The call focuses on knowledge resources (e.g., published studies, grey literature, datasets, protocols, modelling approaches and on-the-ground case studies) that describe, analyse or monitor good ecological functioning, pressures and threats (the pathways of degradation and restoration, effects and possible indicators) for peat-forming bog habitats (Habitat Directive Annex I group 7100; codes 7110 – 7150, hereafter “peat-forming bogs”, including raised bogs, blanket bogs, as well as Atlantic heathlands and transitional mires associated with bogs, and the boreal - Arctic systems of appa and palsa mires (not clearly bogs)), as well as for coastal lagoons (Habitat Directive Annex I, habitat type 1150) throughout Europe. These resources can support the forthcoming BioAgora synthesis - from defining good-functioning ecological conditions to identifying pressures and threats as well as proposing indicators. 

Have you produced, used, or are you aware of any resources that inform future EU monitoring and assessment of habitats? Please share any information that addresses at least one of the topics below for peat-forming bogs or coastal lagoons anywhere in Europe: 

(1) Good-functioning ecological conditions (hydrology, vegetation, soils, connectivity)

(2) Pressures and threats, their severity/frequency and typical degradation or recovery pathways

(3) Candidate indicators (early-warning, urgent-degradation, long-term decline) – even if qualitative or site-specific – and any existing thresholds/ranges

(4) Regional or biogeographic differences in functioning or response

(5) Restoration or management case studies with measurable ecological change

(6) Documented knowledge gaps or future research priorities

Call for Experts - an invitation to join an Expert Working Group 

This Call for Knowledge also includes a Call for Experts to identify experts who will contribute to answering the request. The current Expert Panel has determined that additional expertise is essential to deliver the work. We are therefore seeking experts with knowledge in hydrological regimes, vegetation composition and structure, soil characteristics and ecosystem functions - including carbon storage, water purification, and biodiversity support - specifically related to peat-forming bogs, particularly Atlantic bogs, blanket bogs, semi-arctic mires and coastal lagoons. 

New experts will be invited to an initial meeting with the BioAgora team and the current Expert Panel. Following this, experts will be included in the group based on the relevance of their expertise, availability and alignment with the specific tasks to be carried out under the request. The final scope and depth of the request will depend on the number and expertise of the final expert group. 

Participation in this process is voluntary, and contributions are considered in-kind support from experts. While there is no financial compensation, experts will be acknowledged by name in the final report, which will directly inform EU policy needs, thereby offering high visibility and impact for contributors.

Support provided by BioAgora 

On the technical side, BioAgora will support the process by facilitating meetings, assisting with organisation and coordination and taking care of the editing, layout and printing of the report.

Important information to contribute to the integrated Call for Knowledge and Experts:

How to apply: Please fill out this form 

Deadline to apply for Call for Experts: 16 August 2025

Contribute to the Call for Knowledge till 15 September 2025

Meeting with the new experts: between 20 and 28 August 2025

Expected duration of the process: 5-6 months, depending on the selected method(s). End of November 2025.

Participation in this Expert Group will require approximately 5-10% FTE (1-2 days/month), depending on the role selected (drafting / contributing / reviewing).