Strengthening the capacity of citizen science in biodiversity observation
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-02
Funding Amount
Amount not specified
Deadline
17/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Strengthening the capacity of citizen science in biodiversity observation Call?
Grant Description
Coordinate and support European citizen science initiatives for biodiversity to harmonise data collection and quality, develop tools, strategies, roadmaps, guidelines and outreach materials, engage diverse stakeholder groups, and establish systematic biodiversity observation across terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments in support of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, EU Nature Restoration Regulation and European Green Deal objectives
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Project results are expected to deliver on improved knowledge, innovations, methods, pathways and tools to protect healthy ecosystems and restore degraded ones, ensuring the provision of ecosystem services and contributing to nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation objectives. Specifically, proposals should achieve:
• Enhanced capacity for citizen engagement in biodiversity observation, directly informing local climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
• Promotion and expert coordination (taxonomy, genomics, IT, education, communication) of citizen science initiatives, with harmonised and interoperable outputs.
• Deeper integration of citizen science approaches into taxonomic networks and research communities, supporting cutting-edge taxonomic work and addressing urgent ecological challenges.
• Establishment of systematic biodiversity observation frameworks—combining citizen science and professional environmental monitoring—that include under-recorded taxonomic groups and expand beyond current policy coverage.
• Improved use of citizen science data for tracking ecosystem dynamics over time and for modelling the effects of biodiversity-loss drivers (particularly climate change) on species distributions.
• Measurable contributions to the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, and the European Climate Law targets on nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation.
• Enhanced capacity for citizen engagement in biodiversity observation, directly informing local climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
• Promotion and expert coordination (taxonomy, genomics, IT, education, communication) of citizen science initiatives, with harmonised and interoperable outputs.
• Deeper integration of citizen science approaches into taxonomic networks and research communities, supporting cutting-edge taxonomic work and addressing urgent ecological challenges.
• Establishment of systematic biodiversity observation frameworks—combining citizen science and professional environmental monitoring—that include under-recorded taxonomic groups and expand beyond current policy coverage.
• Improved use of citizen science data for tracking ecosystem dynamics over time and for modelling the effects of biodiversity-loss drivers (particularly climate change) on species distributions.
• Measurable contributions to the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, and the European Climate Law targets on nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
Proposals must:
• Leverage citizen science to collect in situ biodiversity data that complement official and national monitoring programmes.
• Strengthen the role of European citizens, including young people, in generating knowledge on biodiversity, ecosystem condition and ecosystem services, based on documented best practices.
• Harmonise data collection and presentation across hundreds of existing citizen science initiatives to maximise usability and comparability, including coverage of under-recorded taxonomic groups and lesser-known species.
• Foster collaboration with key land- and water-based stakeholders (farmers, foresters, fishers, hunters, urban planners) to enrich data scope and utility.
• Adopt an EU-level coordinated approach to address challenges in nature management, plant health, invasive alien species spread, and shifts in species distribution or migration driven by climate change or human activity.
• Cover terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, and demonstrably contribute to the objectives of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and the European Climate Law’s nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation targets.
• Integrate citizen science methods into taxonomic networks and research communities to support modern taxonomy, resolve key ecological challenges and enable systematic biodiversity observation in neglected groups.
• Facilitate the use of citizen science data for dynamic monitoring of ecosystem changes over time and for modelling the impacts of biodiversity-loss drivers (notably climate change) on species distributions.
• Leverage citizen science to collect in situ biodiversity data that complement official and national monitoring programmes.
• Strengthen the role of European citizens, including young people, in generating knowledge on biodiversity, ecosystem condition and ecosystem services, based on documented best practices.
• Harmonise data collection and presentation across hundreds of existing citizen science initiatives to maximise usability and comparability, including coverage of under-recorded taxonomic groups and lesser-known species.
• Foster collaboration with key land- and water-based stakeholders (farmers, foresters, fishers, hunters, urban planners) to enrich data scope and utility.
• Adopt an EU-level coordinated approach to address challenges in nature management, plant health, invasive alien species spread, and shifts in species distribution or migration driven by climate change or human activity.
• Cover terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, and demonstrably contribute to the objectives of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and the European Climate Law’s nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation targets.
• Integrate citizen science methods into taxonomic networks and research communities to support modern taxonomy, resolve key ecological challenges and enable systematic biodiversity observation in neglected groups.
• Facilitate the use of citizen science data for dynamic monitoring of ecosystem changes over time and for modelling the impacts of biodiversity-loss drivers (notably climate change) on species distributions.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
- Type of Action: HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (CSA), funded via lump-sum grants (HORIZON-AG-LS) according to the Lump Sum Decision (7 July 2021).
• Single-stage submission. Opening: 6 May 2025. Deadline: 17 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Proposals must comply with Horizon Europe General Annexes (eligibility, admissibility, evaluation, financial and operational capacity requirements) and Application Form Part B page limits and layout.
• Lump sum funding: eligible costs defined per Horizon Europe Simplified Costs Decision; no traditional budget breakdown; outputs and deliverables drive payments.
• Mandatory cooperation and coordination with: Biodiversa+ Partnership; EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD) and Bio Agora Science Service; EASIN; EU Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre (EBOCC) pilot; national biodiversity monitoring hubs; national statistical offices; European Citizen Science platform; European Citizen Science Association (ECSA).
• Coordination with related Horizon Europe projects (BIODIV-03, BIODIV-04) and relevant EU Missions (“Soil Deal for Europe”, “Restoring our Ocean and Waters by 2030”, “Adaptation to Climate Change”, “Climate-neutral and Smart Cities”).
• Attention to metadata accessibility, transparency, and multilingual documentation; adherence to GDPR and cybersecurity best practices.
• Inclusive stakeholder engagement mandatory: proposals must demonstrate involvement of vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups (NEET youth, elderly, migrants, ethnic minorities, pregnant women, persons with disabilities).
• Use of advanced digital technologies (AI, high-performance computing) is encouraged where appropriate for analyses and tool development.
• Single-stage submission. Opening: 6 May 2025. Deadline: 17 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Proposals must comply with Horizon Europe General Annexes (eligibility, admissibility, evaluation, financial and operational capacity requirements) and Application Form Part B page limits and layout.
• Lump sum funding: eligible costs defined per Horizon Europe Simplified Costs Decision; no traditional budget breakdown; outputs and deliverables drive payments.
• Mandatory cooperation and coordination with: Biodiversa+ Partnership; EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD) and Bio Agora Science Service; EASIN; EU Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre (EBOCC) pilot; national biodiversity monitoring hubs; national statistical offices; European Citizen Science platform; European Citizen Science Association (ECSA).
• Coordination with related Horizon Europe projects (BIODIV-03, BIODIV-04) and relevant EU Missions (“Soil Deal for Europe”, “Restoring our Ocean and Waters by 2030”, “Adaptation to Climate Change”, “Climate-neutral and Smart Cities”).
• Attention to metadata accessibility, transparency, and multilingual documentation; adherence to GDPR and cybersecurity best practices.
• Inclusive stakeholder engagement mandatory: proposals must demonstrate involvement of vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups (NEET youth, elderly, migrants, ethnic minorities, pregnant women, persons with disabilities).
• Use of advanced digital technologies (AI, high-performance computing) is encouraged where appropriate for analyses and tool development.
Important dates
Open from: 06/05/2025
Deadline:17/09/2025
Application period has ended
Win your grant with Cogrant
How cogrant works
Smart Funding Fit Check
Instantly know if your project fits call criteria. Our system highlights strengths, gaps, and risks, so you only apply when your chances are real.
Intelligent Research Engine
Our research engine digs deeper than any founder could alone. It pulls data about your company, your market, and even your competitors - giving your proposal an edge backed by facts, not fluff.
Full Proposal Development
Our system builds your entire proposal from start to finish, ensuring every section is complete, coherent, and crafted to the highest quality. You focus on your vision — we deliver the winning document.
Expert Review
Our experts run a complete review before delivery, ensuring your draft proposal is accurate, well-structured, and polished. You’ll receive a high-quality draft that’s ready for your final touches before submission.
Our Numbers
Results that speak for themselves
70+
proposals prepared
€36.7M
total funding secured for clients
65%
win rate in highly competitive calls