Writing in ECNC Update recently, new ALTER-Net Management Board member Ben Delbaere of ECNC notes that ALTER-Net has a key role to play in relation to the new EU biodiversity targets. Delbaere says that "... the new EC Biodiversity Strategy ... forms a key reference for the support that the ALTER-Net biodiversity research and awareness network can provide". Delbaere continues: "The ALTER-Net community possesses the necessary knowledge to help implement the six targets of the Biodiversity Strategy." This point was made at the ALTER-Net Management Board meeting which took place in June this year.

ALTER-Net is currently in its second phase (i.e. post EU-funding as a Framework VI project). This phase will come to an end next year when generous financial support from the Norwegian government will end. As Delbaere states: "A number of changes will have to be made in order to ensure a smooth transition towards phase 3. Clearly, the strong anchoring with key policy developments, such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy and the development of the International Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, is a priority."

ALTER-Net's new chair of the Council, Eeva Furman (SYKE) and Management Board chair, Leon Braat (Alterra) are tasked with moving ALTER-Net into Phase III.

Other priorities include effectively communicating the knowledge and skills that ALTER-Net has to offer, and - crucially - developing a fundraising strategy to ensure ALTER-Net can continue. To achieve these tasks, ALTER-Net has assembled a new Management Board. 

More information

• The full ECNC Update article by Ben Delbaere, Head of Programme Development, ECNC, was originally published in the ECNC Update, 18(4) (August 2011)
• Learn more about the ALTER-Net activity areas
• EU 2020 biodiversity strategy & targets (Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020)