LifeWatch ERIC Thematic Service Working Group “Modelling and Workflows” meets in Seville

Modelling and Workflows Workshop (3)

Modelling & Workflows is one of LifeWatch ERIC’s Thematic Services Working Groups, that is, groups dedicated to the implementation of activities, developments, and physical outcomes of main priority areas of e-Service construction in LifeWatch ERIC (https://www.lifewatch.eu/thematic-services-working-groups).

This Working Group is coordinated by Maria Paniw (Estación Biológica de Doñana – EBD) and Agustín Riscos Núñez (University of Seville), and has the objective to turn models into open, automated, interoperable, and scalable workflows for ecological predictions.

In fact, the group addresses the challenge posed by the huge amount of data that ecologists produce, and that comes from different sources (European RIs, national and regional monitoring schemes, and research projects).

The group works as a community that consists of computer analysts, statisticians, ecologists, economists, social scientists, and resource managers. In May, members of this community will meet in Seville to advance the development of outputs that integrate methods and strengths from each of their fields.

The event will be a chance to work hands-on to achieve the goals discussed in the preliminary WG meetings. The first day will be focused on the WG, and day 2 will be fully dedicated to the Distributed Centres.

For more information, visit: https://www.lifewatch.eu/thematic-services-working-groups/working-group-on-modelling-and-workflows

Moreover, a session on Modelling and Workflows is being organised at BEeS 2026. You are welcome to submit your abstract by 15 May! Info: https://www.lifewatch.eu/bees-2026-abstract-submission.

Guiding national coastal wetland restoration efforts: the RESTORE4Cs Implementation Roadmap

RESTORE4Cs-Implementation-Roadmap

RESTORE4Cs is the EU-funded project that supports the implementation of Climate and Biodiversity policies in the context of the European Green Deal, by assessing the effectiveness of restoration actions through models and integrative tools.

The project has recently reached the end of its mandate, and has published an Implementation Roadmap as one of its final results. This roadmap guides the design and planning of national coastal wetland restoration efforts to help countries meet the obligations of EU environmental and climate policy processes. These include the development of National Restoration Plans under the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, national commitments under the Ramsar Convention, and reporting obligations on wetland emissions and removals under the EU LULUCF Regulation.

The plan relies on the latest scientific knowledge, integrating RESTORE4Cs tools and methodologies into a decision-support framework. It also has the advantage of following a very practical, step-by-step approach, that takes users from a guided baseline assessment, through to the planning and implementation of restoration actions.

You can download the full document here: https://www.restore4cs.eu/restore4cs-implementation-roadmap-to-guide-national-action

#NameItToSaveIt: join taxonomy recognition initiatives in Europe and the taxonomy session at BEeS

name it to save it

Taxonomy – the science behind the discovery, naming, and classification of species on Earth – lies at the very heart of our knowledge of biodiversity. It connects different biological disciplines, allowing scientists to access and exchange a wealth of information on species and their significance to humanity. It is also the foundation for understanding how to protect these species from extinction, and plan future conservation actions.

With taxonomists providing such a fundamental service, it is not surprising that various organisations seek to recognise their work. As the Taxonomy Recognition Day approaches, we would like to highlight three initiatives:

  • Taxonomy Recognition Day, May 23rd | #NameItToSaveIt:

This annual initiative is organised by the TETTRIs project, and marks the birthday of Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern taxonomy. TETTRIs is the acronym for “Transforming European Taxonomy through Training, Research and Innovation“, an EU-funded project bringing together 17 of Europe’s leading natural history museum and botanical gardens.

With this initiative, TETTRIs launches a simple but urgent message: over one million species are currently threatened with extinction, many of which still unknown to science. #NameItToSaveIt reminds us that we cannot protect what we can not name.

Last year, the initiative was joined by more than 30 institutions, reaching over 700,000 people worldwide. TETTRIs is inviting the community to join by sharing fascinating species on social media, using the #NameItToSaveIt hashtag, joining relevant events, and connecting with the project’s community: find out how to participate and read the full press release here: https://tettris.eu/2026/04/23/name-it-to-save-it.

  • WoRMS Ten Remarkable New Marine Species on World Taxonomist Appreciation Day (March 19th):

Hosted by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), within LifeWatch Belgium (the Distributed Centre of LifeWatch ERIC), WoRMS is the World Register of Marine Species.

Every year, WoRMS honours the World Taxonomist Appreciation Day by releasing its annual list of the top-ten marine species described by researchers in the previous year.

The top-ten list is just a small highlight of an average of 2,000 new marine species discovered every year by 350 taxonomists contributing WoRMS globally. In 2025 this number even reached 2,600, including over 600 fossil species.

The final decisions reflect the immense diversity of taxonomic groups in the marine environment (including nematodes, isopods, tunicates and polychaetes) and highlight some of the challenges facing the marine environment today. If you are curious about the final candidates, read the full press release here: https://www.marinespecies.org/worms-top-ten/2025/press-release

  • Join the BEeS 2026 contributed session on Taxonomy!

BEeS 2026 (Biodiversity and Ecosystem eScience Conference), is LifeWatch ERIC’s flagship event, bringing together scientists and experts in biodiversity and ecosystem science. This year’s programme is complemented by contributed sessions aligned with LifeWatch ERIC’s Thematic Services Working Groups, focusing on practical methods, workflows, and service-enabled science.

The session on Taxonomy is based on the activities of the corresponding Working Group, addressing reliable naming, linking, and integration of observations and datasets. It focuses on assessing the state of taxonomy-related services, how well they align with community needs, and what priorities should guide further integration and improvement within LifeWatch ERIC. We welcome abstracts submissions by the 15th of May!

To read more about the session and submit your abstract, visit this page: https://www.lifewatch.eu/bees-2026-abstract-submission

Image source: TETTRIs

Marine SABRES in Fairs in Gran Canaria at FIMAR 2026

Marine SABRES Fairs - FIMAR 2026

Marine SABRES in Fairs will make its next stop in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on May 22-24, 2026, where LifeWatch ERIC and ULPGC-ECOAQUA will co-organise a series event at FIMAR 2026 – Feria Internacional del Mar, showcasing the project’s results and resources.

Now in its 15th edition, FIMAR is a well-established regional reference event for professionals in the nautical and marine-maritime sector and a key driver of the Blue Economy in the Canary Islands. This year’s theme, “Outermost Regions and the Sea”, highlights the strategic role of these territories in marine innovation, sustainable development, and Atlantic cooperation. The event is promoted by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and the Port Authority of Las Palmas, and organised by Infecar Feria de Gran Canaria and Ciudad de Mar.

FIMAR offers a rich and diverse programme combining commercial exhibitions, technical sessions, scientific outreach, and educational and recreational activities for all audiences, including families. It provides an important platform for companies and professionals to exchange knowledge and explore new opportunities, while also enabling marine and coastal researchers to raise public awareness about marine ecosystems and environmental protection.

Within this dynamic context, LifeWatch ERIC and ULPGC-ECOAQUA will welcome visitors at their exhibition booth, where participants will be able to discover the Marine SABRES project through posters, brochures, thematic videos, and documentary materials.

Building on its continued success, the latest edition attracted more than 18,000 visitors, including local residents of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, tourists, and participants from across Spain and Europe. This will be an opportunity to interact with experts, explore innovative approaches to marine sustainability, and discover how Marine SABRES contributes to turning knowledge into action.

For more information about the project, please visit Marine SABRES official website: www.marinesabres.eu

Watch our documentary trailers on LifeWatching.tv: https://www.lifewatching.tv/tv-show/marine-sabres/