CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-04 - PARK ADAPT

Geocart S.p.A. is looking for partners to build a Horizon Europe consortium around PARK-ADAPT – Predictive Habitat Intelligence for Adaptive Management of Protected Areas.

The project aims to support the long-term conservation effectiveness of European protected areas facing increasing biodiversity-loss pressures, including climate change, land-use change, habitat fragmentation, invasive species, pollution and hydrological stress.

Protected areas are often managed through static planning tools, periodic surveys and fragmented datasets, while ecological pressures are accelerating and interacting cumulatively. PARK-ADAPT proposes an integrated approach combining Earth Observation, LiDAR, GIS, ecological monitoring, predictive modelling and decision-support tools to help park managers move from reactive conservation to adaptive and anticipatory management.

The project concept includes:

• creation of a high-resolution, multi-temporal Geospatial Layer Zero baseline of habitat condition, vegetation, morphology and anthropogenic pressures;

• long-term ecological monitoring protocols integrating EO, LiDAR, field surveys and permanent monitoring grids;

• spatial analysis of biodiversity-loss drivers, land-cover change, vegetation trends, fragmentation and cumulative pressures;

• predictive vulnerability and resilience modelling, including climate refugia and biodiversity bright spot mapping;

• PAME-based performance indicators and adaptive management guidelines;

• a research decision-support prototype for park authorities, including GIS dashboards, scenario maps, risk indicators and alerts.

Geocart’s proposed role
Geocart intends to act as the geospatial intelligence backbone of the consortium. The company can lead or co-lead technical activities related to EO/LiDAR/GIS baseline creation, habitat and vegetation mapping, geospatial monitoring protocols, spatial analysis of pressures, inputs for predictive models and the development of a decision-support research prototype.

Geocart is not seeking to coordinate the full proposal. We are looking for a strong scientific coordinator able to lead the ecological, conservation science, policy and Horizon Europe dimensions of the project.

Partners sought

1. Scientific Coordinator
   University, research centre or biodiversity institute with expertise in conservation science, protected areas, habitat/species monitoring, EU biodiversity policy and Horizon Europe coordination.

2. Ecological Modelling Partner
   Research organisation or modelling centre with expertise in habitat vulnerability, climate/ecological scenarios, species distribution modelling and cumulative impact assessment.

3. Protected Area Managers / Park Authorities
   National parks, regional parks, Natura 2000 site managers or protected area authorities interested in acting as pilot sites. Mediterranean, mountain and freshwater/wetland areas are particularly relevant.

4. Botanical / Ecological Monitoring Partner
   Universities, research centres or scientific societies with expertise in field surveys, vegetation monitoring, habitat assessment and species indicators.

5. SSH / Governance Partner
   Organisation with expertise in stakeholder engagement, environmental governance, co-design with park managers, societal impact and policy uptake.

6. NGO / European Conservation Network
   Conservation networks able to support dissemination, replication, stakeholder mobilisation and exploitation of results.

The project concept foresees three complementary pilot protected areas: a Mediterranean site, a mountain site and a freshwater/wetland site. Final pilot selection will depend on the consortium.

We are interested in connecting with partners already active on HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-04 or with organisations willing to join a focused consortium on protected areas, biodiversity resilience, ecological monitoring and geospatial intelligence.