[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”1003,1002,1001,1000,999,998,997,996″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” border_width_all=”4px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_tabs _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_tab title=”Tools details” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Applied across all BBTs in MARBEFES (North & South Svalbard, Archipelago Sea, Curonian Lagoon, Gulf of Gdansk, Belgian Coast, Irish Sea, Southern Gulf of Biscay, Balearic Islands, Sardinia, Gulf of Heraklion)<\/p>\n
Category:<\/strong> Ecological<\/p>\n Subcategory:<\/strong> Ecological Value Assessment \u2013 Composite biodiversity valuation<\/p>\n Tool type:<\/strong> Multimetric composite index (grid-based)<\/p>\n Input data:<\/strong><\/p>\n Species and habitat distribution (from monitoring, models, expert judgement)<\/p>\n Output:<\/strong><\/p>\n Spatial maps<\/strong> of ecological value per grid cell<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Composite indices of biodiversity value (accounting for structure and function)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Target users:<\/strong> Location tested:<\/strong> Level of uncertainty<\/b><\/p>\n This tool implements the methodology outlined in the EVA guidance. The accuracy and reliability of the results depend primarily on the data selected by the user and the choices made during data preparation (e.g., aggregation, mapping, and selection of ecological features relevant to the study area). While the EVA methodology includes a confidence assessment to help account for some uncertainty, it remains the user’s responsibility to ensure that appropriate data and ecological evidence are used to support the assessment<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”Technical details” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Version:<\/strong><\/p>\n EVA Method guidance: Draft Version 3.0 (October 2025, with integrated FAQs) Publication:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n EVA Method guidance: MARBEFES EVA Guidance Document (included in internal draft deliverable D4.1, evolving) \u2013 currently not publicly available, to be published in valuation methods handbook in 2026<\/span> Rights:\u00a0<\/b>EU Horizon Europe GA no. 101060937 and UKRI GA no. 10048815<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Difficulty level of implementation: <\/b>Moderate<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Knowledge and understanding of the ecological data available (for consideration, selection and pre-processing)<\/p>\n Mapping skills (GIS)<\/p>\n Ecological modelling (optional; e.g., to integrate monitoring data with model predictions to increase spatial coverage)<\/p>\n R programming language (if using EVA-R)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”Developer information” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Authors: <\/b>(EVA method) <\/b>Anita Franco, Eva Amorim (with acknowledgement of all BBT partners who tested the method and provided feedback used for method refinement)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Tool contributors:<\/b> Project general coordinator: <\/b>Jan Marcin W\u0119s\u0142awski<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Project Scientific manager:\u00a0<\/b>Julie Bremner<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Project manager:\u00a0<\/b>Joanna Przedrzymirska-Zi\u00f3\u0142kowska<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n [\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”Citation” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”Contact” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n For EVA Method and EVA-Excel tool<\/p>\n Name:\u00a0<\/b>Anita Franco<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Organization: <\/b>International Estuarine & Coastal Specialists (IECS) Ltd<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Email: <\/b>Anita.Franco@iecs.ltd<\/a><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/a><\/u><\/span>For EVA-R tool<\/p>\n Name:\u00a0<\/b>Willem Boone<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Organization: <\/b> Flanders Marine Institutre (VLIZ)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Email: <\/b> willem.boone@vliz.be<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n [\/et_pb_tab][\/et_pb_tabs][et_pb_button button_text=”Download Tool Manual (WIP)” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”rgba(20,63,108,0.38)” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”30px” button_icon=”||divi||400″ button_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” button_on_hover=”off” background_layout=”dark” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_bg_enable_color=”on” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/marbefes.lifewatch.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/03_EVA-ExcelTool.xlsx” button_text=”EVA excel sheet” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#143F6C” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”30px” button_icon=”||divi||400″ button_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” button_on_hover=”off” background_layout=”dark” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Ecological Value Assessment (EVA) method to assess the ecological value of the qualities of the marine ecosystem qualities and their spatial distribution in an area. Starting from the original marine biological valuation approach (Derous et al., 2007), the EVA method has been further developed and tested in MARBEFES for wider applicability and flexibility. The method adopts an eco-centric perspective, whereby the ecological value (EV) is defined as the inherent (non-monetary) value of the qualities of an ecosystem, regardless of its anthropogenic use or social interests. EVA provides a harmonised, transparent, and flexible approach to combine multiple ecological metrics into a single, spatially explicit index of ecological value. Its purpose is to support decision-making in conservation, marine spatial planning, and ecosystem-based management by quantifying where biodiversity holds the highest ecological significance.<\/p>\n Aspects such as biodiversity, rarity and functions performed by multiple ecosystem components (EC) contribute to determine the ecological value of an area. EVA is essentially a multimetric index, where multiple metrics (AQs) are measured to account for these different values. The method is applied within a grid-based spatial framework, whereby each grid cell within an area is assigned scores derived from monitoring data or data-derived evidence of the distribution of the ecosystem components, although the methodology has sufficient flexibility to allow the use of expert-based proxies where data are scarce or not available. The scores are aggregated into a composite index (EV), which can be visualised as ecological value maps, which can be used to identify hotspots of biodiversity importance and priority areas for management.<\/p>\n A key phase of the EVA method is the confidence assessment. This accounts for the multiple sources of uncertainty associated with the evidence used (e.g., whether data or expert judgement, whether quantitative or qualitative data, data consistency\/coverage) and the assessment itself (e.g., number of AQ metrics measured). The output is a confidence map that is to be read alongside the EV map in order to inform on the confidence associated with the EVA results.<\/p>\n Limitations include dependency on available data and the challenge of weighting indicators across different ecological contexts. The EVA method is currently designed based on biodiversity at the community and ecosystem levels (e.g., ecosystem components defined as groups of species or habitat types) as this is the most common type of evidence available for the assessment (e.g. from ecological monitoring programmes). However, the method has the potential of being applied considering variable levels of biological organisation, e.g., accounting for the diversity of genes, biological traits (closely associated with functions) and habitat function metrics. This would require only minor adjustments (redefinition of the features of interest for the assessment) while the overall structure of the approach would remain the same.<\/p>\n EVA represents a robust, science-based tool to bring biodiversity value into policy and planning in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030.<\/p>\n The EVA tools<\/b><\/p>\n The implementation of EVA is divided into three phases (for details see guidance document):<\/p>\n Multiple tools are provided to help the user implementing EVA in full or in part:<\/p>\n The EVA-Excel tool<\/b><\/p>\n The EVA-Excel tool implements the EV calculations as per Phase 2(a) above in an Excel environment. The preparatory work (Phase 1), final mapping of the results (Phase 2(b)) and confidence assessment (Phase 3) are not implemented by this tool.<\/p>\n Input required<\/u>: \u2022 gridded dataset (table) on qualitative (presence \/absence) or quantitative evidence (e.g., species abundance, habitat extent), separately for each of the ecosystem component s to be assessed; \u2022 user\u2019s selection of the features of interest in the dataset.<\/p>\n Output<\/u>: \u2022 gridded datasets (tables) of resulting AQs and EV for each ecosystem component assessed, and total EV (across ecosystem components).<\/p>\n Skills required for the tool implementation<\/u>: \u2022 Ecological knowledge and understanding of the ecosystem components in the study area. \u2022 Knowledge and understanding of the ecological data available (for consideration, selection and pre-processing) \u2022 Basic knowledge of Excel. (Note that additional skills, e.g. GIS mapping, may be required to prepare the input data and map the outputs of the tool).<\/p>\n Tool instructions<\/u>: Instructions for the use of the tool are given in the sheet \u2018READ ME\u2019 in the EVA-Excel tool.<\/span><\/p>\n The EVA-R tool<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Input required<\/u>: \u2022 georeferenced dataset (table including latitude and longitude) on qualitative (presence \/absence) or quantitative evidence (e.g., species abundance, habitat extent), separately for each of the ecosystem components to be assessed; \u2022 user\u2019s selection of the features of interest in the dataset.\u2022 The region of interest outline (geo-file) and optionally the geo-spatial grid. If no grid is provided, a grid will be created by the script.<\/span><\/p>\n Output<\/u>: \u2022 gridded datasets (tables) of resulting AQs and EV for each ecosystem component assessed, and total EV (across ecosystem components).<\/span><\/p>\n Skills required for the tool implementation<\/u>: \u2022 Ecological knowledge and understanding of the ecosystem components in the study area. \u2022 Knowledge and understanding of the ecological data available (for consideration, selection and pre-processing) \u2022 Knowledge of Rmarkdown.<\/span><\/p>\n Tool instructions: Instructions are provided will be provided in the notebook. Currently working on a demo run: https:\/\/github.com\/lifewatch\/eva\/tree\/dev\/EVA_demo<\/span><\/p>\n Availability \/ URL:<\/strong><\/p>\n EVA is not a standalone public software tool.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Guidance and templates are available within MARBEFES documentation (e.g., WP4.1 deliverables, FAQs).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Project website: https:\/\/marbefes.eu\n
Researchers and technical advisors of marine managers and policymakers<\/p>\n
Applied across all BBTs<\/strong> in MARBEFES (North & South Svalbard, Archipelago Sea, Curonian Lagoon, Gulf of Gdansk, Belgian Coast, Irish Sea, Southern Gulf of Biscay, Balearic Islands, Sardinia, Gulf of Heraklion).<\/p>\n\n
EVA-Excel: Final Version (October 2025)
<\/b>EVA-R: to be delivered, at the moment under construction in dev branch: https:\/\/github.com\/lifewatch\/eva\/tree\/dev\/EVA_demo<\/li>\n
EVA-Excel: currently not publicly available, but I could publish the Excel in Zenodo if it helps (provided it does not affect method publication above)
<\/b><\/span>EVA-R: V1: https:\/\/zenodo.org\/records\/13934886<\/a> a v2.0 will be released including the latest updates and demo part.<\/p>\n\n
<\/b>Ecological knowledge and understanding of the ecosystem components in the study area<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
Tool EVA-Excel: Anita Franco
Tool EVA-R: Willem Boone<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n
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Ecological Value Assessment (EVA)<\/strong>
Multimetric Index<\/span><\/h3>\n\n
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