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  • Projects and activities | Last updated: 02 Apr 2025

Second European Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (MAES2IPBES)

The 2nd European Ecosystem Assessment aims to deliver a comprehensive evaluation of the state and trends in ecosystems and their services throughout Europe.

Brief me

The 2nd European Ecosystem Assessment, spearheaded by Directorate D of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, aims to deliver a comprehensive evaluation of the state and trends in ecosystems and their services throughout Europe.

This initiative builds upon the first EU Ecosystem Assessment published in 2020 and integrates the newest data and methodologies, such as the 2022 EU-wide methodology to map and assess ecosystem condition, while adhering to the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounting - Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA). It will align with and contribute to international frameworks like the Second IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, planned for 2028, as well as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and contribute to the evaluation of the EU Strategy of Biodiversity for 2030.

Forest
Fish
Deer

The Second European Assessment will include analysis of eight ecosystems (Forest, Urban, Agroecosystems, Heathland and Shrubs, Wetlands, Rivers & Lakes, Soil, and Marine Ecosystem) and their services. A number of so-called "focus assessment" will be dedicated to the contribution of ecosystems to the socio-economic system  (e.g. Agriculture and Ecosystem Services, Bioeconomy, Invasive Alien Species, Climate and Biodiversity, Economic and Financial Interdependencies).

The ecosystem assessment will be published by the end of 2026, the focus assessment by March 2027, and the summary for policy-makers by October 2027.

Dunes
Invasive species
Soil

Project description

The project is divided into six interconnected work packages, each targeting specific facets of the ecosystem assessment process:

(1) Coordination, Project Management, and Networking: This work package focuses on streamlining administrative processes, ensuring precise budget execution, and facilitating effective communication and timely submission of deliverables. The project management team is composed by members of the Joint Research Centre, DG Environment, DG Research & Innovation, the European Environment Agency and Eurostat. It is crucial to maintaining seamless collaboration with other EU entities and external contributors.

(2) Scoping and Literature Review: Comprising two tasks, this work package involves a scoping exercise to clarify methodological options, update core indicators, and revise ecosystem typology in alignment with recent legislation and scientific advancements. The literature review will support the drafting of specific chapters and methodologies. Key activities include screening indicators, confirming ecosystem typology and geographical limits, aligning methodologies for continental assessments, and evaluating data availability across EU and non-EU countries.

(3) Analyses of State, Trends, Pressures, and Scenarios by Ecosystem: This work package emphasizes detailed analyses of each ecosystem and ecosystem service, identifying stressors and projecting future scenarios when possible. It involves drafting individual chapters per ecosystem, integrating up-to-date indicators and datasets, and aligning with EU and international policy frameworks, including SEEA-EA and IPBES. The work includes current scientific developments and policy needs.

(4) Focus Assessments: Dedicated to exploring specific thematic areas of high policy interest such as climate, health, and economic vulnerabilities related to ecosystem degradation. This package identifies current trends in the interaction between the environment and the socio-economic system, and explore potential models for comprehensive ecosystem dynamics understanding.

(5) Integrated Assessments Supported by an IT Platform: This package supports integrated assessments through an IT platform essential for data consolidation, access, and analysis. The IT infrastructure will be tested to ensure it meets standards for data accessibility, usability, and analytical accuracy, facilitating efficient data management for ecosystem assessment.

(6) Drafting and Consultations: This phase involves drafting and consultations for the complete ecosystems’ assessment report and its policy-maker’s summary. It includes harmonizing contributions from previous packages, extensive stakeholder consultations, and iterating drafts to reach consensus and accurately depict Europe's ecosystem states and trends.

MAES2IPBES

Throughout the project, efforts are made to leverage synergies with existing EU legislation and policies, such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Collaboration with international frameworks ensures that findings are both relevant and actionable globally, fostering improved management of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

The final deliverables, including the full assessment and a concise policy/stakeholder summary, are poised to significantly contribute to sustainable policy-making and the global biodiversity agenda.

For further information on MAES2IPBES project, please contact us at JRC-MAES2IPBES@ec.europa.eu

Related reading

Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services: An EU ecosystem assessment, EUR 30161 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Ispra, 2020, ISBN 978-92-76-17833-0, doi:10.2760/757183, JRC120383

EU Ecosystem Assessment, Summary for policymakers, EUR 30599 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2021, ISBN 978-92-76-30614-6, doi:10.2760/846428, JRC123783

EU-wide methodology to map and assess ecosystem condition: Towards a common approach consistent with a global statistical standard. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2022, doi:10.2760/13048, JRC130782

IPBES Second Global Assessment

Latest knowledge from this Project