HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-04 Looking for consortium – Expertise in marine turtle conservation and protected area management

BETA Technological Center (https://betatechcenter.com/) is seeking to join a consortium preparing a proposal for HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-04: Ensuring continuous effectiveness of protected areas in conserving habitats and species while facing intensifying drivers of biodiversity loss – Research field B: marine biodiversity and ecosystems. BETA’s Applied Ecology & Global Change Unit has demonstrated expertise in marine biodiversity conservation, particularly through long-term monitoring and management of loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting events along the Catalan coast. The unit has coordinated with public authorities, local NGOs, and marine protected area networks to ensure the effective detection, assessment, and protection of nests. Activities include monitoring incubation conditions, evaluating nest viability, tracking hatchling emergence, collecting ecological data, and designing conservation interventions. The unit has also led collaborative project, coordinating monitoring and management across multiple Marine Protected Areas in the western Mediterranean. This involved scientific assessments, stakeholder engagement, and applied measures to improve the protection and resilience of marine species in the face of changing environmental pressures. By participating in a consortium, BETA can contribute unique, species-focused marine expertise, including: (i) longitudinal datasets on loggerhead turtle nesting and population trends, providing empirical foundations for conservation planning; (ii) field-based monitoring protocols and conservation workflows, from nest detection to hatchling release and ecological assessments; (iii) applied management solutions to improve the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas for threatened species; (iv) multi-stakeholder coordination, linking authorities, NGOs, scientists, and citizen scientists for evidence-based conservation; and (v) adaptive strategies for shifting distributions and climate-driven changes, ensuring protected areas remain effective under emerging pressures. Projects related to this area of expertise include: InGeni-CARETTA and LIFE TURTLENEST. For more detailed information, take a look at the following webpage: Applied Ecology & Global Change