Information and database (WP-1)

· A first version of the database of funding programmes was shown at the workshop in Vienna. A full demonstration will be made at the management meeting in June. A group is being formed to contribute data to test the feasibility of a database of projects. It will most likely include NERC (UK), SPO (Belgium), and IFB (as a coordinator of the French agencies) and possibly NWO (Netherlands), MEW (Hungary) and FWF (Austria) in a second stage. A meeting will be organised with UniCRIS, the consultant, in June.

· The final report of the Florence workshop has been issued, and a progress report on classifications is in preparation.

Best practice, barriers to cooperation and priority thematic areas (WP-2)

A workshop on “Best practice in managing biodiversity research and overcoming barriers to transnational cooperation” took place in Peterborough, UK, on 22 & 23 February 2006.

Organised by Defra/JNCC, UK, with support from ESF.

The draft report has been sent out for reviewing…

A workshop on “Priority thematic areas for collaboration” was held in Porto, Portugal on 4 & 5 May 2006.

Organised by FCT, Portugal

A document on priority thematic areas was drafted by the participants and will be approved in the coming days. Participants agreed that the chosen themes should not be restricted to any particular ecosystem and that it should provide clear added value at the European scale. A balance had to be found between the agencies who fund mostly basic research and those who fund more policy oriented research. Possible thematic overlaps with other environmental ERA-Nets were also discussed.

Mutual training and staff exchange scheme (WP-3)

A workshop on mutual training and sharing of experience is scheduled on 31st May – pm - and 1st June – am-, in Paris, coupled with the management meeting.

Organised by MEDD, with support from IFB (France)

This workshop will also allow participants to prepare the staff exchange programme. All the partners have been asked to state their preferences for potential dates, as well as points of interest in their research management procedures that they could share with other partners.

Research in cooperation with developing countries (WP-4)

A workshop on “Linkage and information exchange on EU member states support for research on biodiversity in developing countries” took place in Vienna, Austria, on 8 & 9 March 2006

Organised by PT-DLR, Germany, with support from FWF, Austria

The draft report has been released to participants for comments… The information collected within WP4 will be integrated in the database of projects, and WP4 leader (NERC) is heavily involved in developing this database, in collaboration with SPO (WP1).

Management, communication and information dissemination (WP-5)

The dissemination strategy for BiodivERsA is being finalised. The annual management meeting will be held on 1 & 2 June, to make a general assessment of project progress, discuss future activities and prepare the first periodic report to the Commission.

Linkage with other ERA-Nets and other programmes:

· Three ERA-Nets with potential topical overlap with BiodivERsA (MarinERA, Circle and SKEP) were represented at the workshop on priority thematic areas in Porto (4 & 5 May). Participants discussed possible collaborations to avoid duplication, in particular by sharing information on the topics and calendar of their planned joint calls.

· In order to consult widely on thematic priorities, the EPBRS and Diversitas were also represented, as well as three networks of excellence of FP6: Alter-Net, Marbef and EDIT.