MOD ALLIANCE SISTER PROJECTS

The MOD Alliance is a collaborative platform comprising the communication efforts of three of Horizon Europe’s sister projects.

The projects in the MOD Alliance are funded under the same call topic (HORIZON-CL6-2022-BIODIV-01-01) with a shared focus on “Observing and mapping biodiversity and ecosystems, with a particular focus on coastal and marine ecosystems“.

The alliance aims to unite our efforts and amplify the impact of each project. By coming together, the MOD Alliance seeks to share progress, promote collaboration, and advocate for the preservation of coastal and marine environments. The three projects will work to complement each other, towards common goals through joint initiatives such as a webinar series and dedicated communication webpages, driving positive change for better waters, better oceans, and a better planet.

Webinar Series

Mapping Blue Forests and Coastal Habitats: A Drone’s Eye Perspective

Date & time: 8th May 2025, at 11 AM CET

Speaker: Dr. Hege Gundersen and Dr. Kasper Hancke

Abstract: Flying drones offer a novel and cost-efficient technology for coastal habitat mapping. In the SeaBee infrastructure, we demonstrate that drones, when combined with sophisticated sensors and machine learning, can produce predictive maps of coastal vegetation, such as seagrass and macroalgae at centimeter-scale spatial resolution.

In the OBAMA-NEXT project, we are building on the SeaBee mapping procedures to adapt them to several learning sites across Europe and to upscale the drone-based products to regional scales using satellite data. We are also developing methods to quantify the volume of blue carbon habitats using LiDAR technology from drones.

In this presentation, we will show some of the results obtained in OBAMA-NEXT and related studies, and how these methods can benefit mapping and monitoring efforts in Europe.

Past Webinars

Improving biodiversity (meta)data flow: Standards and Strategies

Date & time: 19th February 2025, at 5 PM CET

Speaker: Dan Lear and Dr. Pier Luigi Buttigieg

Abstract: The need for open, transparent and trusted data, products, and tools has never been greater. To support policy development and ocean governance at national, regional and global levels, we need foundational data and their descriptions to be standardised, accessible and actionable by various actors, frameworks and partnerships.

In the MARCO-BOLO project, we are developing and implementing global FAIR (Findable Accessible Interoperable and Reusable) data pipelines based on technical standards and protocols that extend beyond the marine domain.

In this presentation, we explored the technology, the challenges of implementation, the broader landscape, and the goal of creating a globally interoperable ocean data ecosystem.

The OceanOmics Program: Monitoring & Protecting Ocean Life

Date & time: 15 October 2024 – 11am CET

Speaker: Dr Eric Raes is a marine ecologist who works on showcasing how environmental DNA (eDNA) and genomic tools can be scaled and integrated into the day-to-day operations of conservation and fisheries managers to enable rapid and robust monitoring of ocean health. Utilizing a multidisciplinary research approach, he synthesizes data into practical information, bridging the fields of microbiology, biogeochemistry and marine ecology in coastal and open oceanic environments ranging from tropical to temperate and polar environments. Eric is passionate about operationalizing field work, democratizing science and capacity building in and around the Indian Ocean rim.

Platform: Zoom link given after registration

Abstract: Many countries have committed to the 30 by 30 initiative: the goal of conserving 30 per cent of the world’s ocean by 2030. However, assuming these goals are met, the challenge remains: How do we define the dynamic baseline of biodiversity change required to measure effectiveness in the 30 by 30 initiative?

Effective monitoring is a significant challenge across large spatial and temporal scales. For example, Australian marine parks currently span over 3.8 million km2 (42 per cent) of Australia’s waters. The extensive and isolated characteristics of numerous Marine Protected Areas and Australia’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone pose significant challenges for conducting sustained research and monitoring.

The OceanOmics program, a Minderoo Foundation initiative, is leading the charge in revolutionizing ocean conservation. Our primary goal is to safeguard marine biodiversity by developing and scaling genomics techniques for monitoring marine wildlife. This mission is anchored in the OceanOmics program‘s participation in the Ocean Decade Program of the Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network.

Our strategy centres on harnessing cutting-edge genomic technologies and multidisciplinary expertise to generate high-quality, ocean-scale data. These data not only help us understand marine species distribution and range shifts but also serve as a critical resource for informing effective policies and management strategies. The latter aligns with Minderoo’ partnership with Parks Australia under the Ocean Discovery and Restoration Program is accelerating the use of genomic science and providing a ‘proof of concept’ that environmental DNA (eDNA) can be a cost-effective way to monitor biodiversity in Australia’s large and remote marine parks.

This presentation will provide an overview of the OceanOmics program, highlighting key findings from multiple sampling campaigns conducted across a range of environments, from tropical to temperate waters in the eastern Indian Ocean and along the Western Australian coastline. Utilizing eDNA data obtained from mitochondrial metabarcoding markers, I will demonstrate our findings at various spatial scales, ranging from 1000km down to 50m resolution. These analyses allow us to discern subtle biodiversity movements, crucial for identifying ecologically significant areas, monitoring range shifts of keystone species, and safeguarding genetic diversity within vulnerable ecosystems.

Grant Agreement 101081642 – OBAMA-NEXT

OBAMA-NEXT project has been approved under HORIZON-CL6-2022-BIODIV-01-01: Observing and mapping biodiversity and ecosystems, with particular focus on coastal and marine ecosystems.Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or UK Research and Innovation. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.