Description
The IBBIS project is in accordance with the goals of Programme BG03 Biodiversity and Ecosystem services and the requirements of the Biodiversity Act and the Biodiversity strategy 2020. It is a sequel and an upgrade of the project BG0052 “Development of the IS of the NBMS in Bulgaria” financed by EEA grants 2004-2009. The main objective of the project is to improve the management and analysis of incoming information for biological groups, ecosystems and the impact of invasive species on the natural scenery in Bulgaria. The main outcome from the project will be an improved information system, capable of correct analysis of the biodiversity monitoring data. The ecosystem state and ecosystem services will be mapped at national, regional and local level. Specialized software will be created for data entry for invasive species and methods for assessing the risk of invasive species. Furthermore, a Bulgarian natural index will be created for analysis and assessment of the biodiversity by indicators.
Summary of project results
IBBIS project is in accordance with the goals of Programme BG03 and the requirements of the Biodiversity Act and the Biodiversity strategy 2020. The project aims to upgrade additional functionalities in the information system for biodiversity, soils and forest. The main outcome from the project is an improved information system, capable of correct analysis of the biodiversity monitoring data and data for ecosystems, which fulfils the requirements of Bulgarian legislation. The specific results of project implementation: Improved available national information system on collection data for biological groups, ecosystems and ecosystems invasive alien species; Integrated approach of collection of data for the the environment, ecosystems and ecosystem services was ensured; Assessment of biodiversity through implementation of specialized software for calculating Bulgarian natural index (BNI); Better awareness of the importance of the ecosystem approach and the complexity of the biodiversity among interest group; Established and improved Information system for collection, analysis of biodiversity monitoring data. Mobile applications for field data input which may be used by scientists, specialists, MoEW’s staff and the general public were developed. Module for describing the status of 9 types of ecosystems, their distribution and conditions of ecosystem services was created. An information system for data collection and risk assessment of foreign invasive species was developed and data exchange capabilities were created with the ESENIAS database. The necessary software and hardware equipment was provided for operation of the new Biodiversity Information Systems. More than 100 employees of the EEA, the EAF, the IBES at the BAS and the NINA had been involved in the implementation of the project. The target groups benefited from the project are: all experts from MoEW, RIEW, Directorates of National and Natural Parks as well as scientists and specialists working in the field of biodiversity and ecosystems. The bilateral relations were strengthened through workshops held in Norway organized together with NINA. Based on the exchanged experience a comprehensive methodology for the creation of the Bulgarian Natural Index was developed. NINA trained experts from the EEA and Bulgarian scientists to apply the methodology for assessing the natural index. NINA developed and implemented a software package written in the programming language R.
Summary of bilateral results
In implementation of activity № 4 "Development of Indicators for Assessment of Biodiversity - Bulgarian Natural Index" a framework of the Bulgarian Natural Index was created. The work was carried out in close collaboration with the project partner, the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA). The Bulgarian Natural Index is a communication tool through which numerical values represent the state of biodiversity, biological groups and ecosystems at national and regional level, and also allow accurate and easy tracking of change and trends. Through the organization of a number of workshops, trainings and seminars the capacity of the experts from the EEA area, Bulgarian scientists and specialists working in the field of biological diversity in the application of the methodology for the Bulgarian natural index was increased. Experts from NINA developed software product for the introduction and assessment of biodiversity indicators.