GENOA STATEMENT

Our mission and long-term vision

Global ecosystems face increasing pressures from climate change and anthropogenic activities.

Understanding and protecting genetic diversity is paramount to providing species with the ability to adapt to change.

The main aim and objective of the Action is to implement genetic diversity indicators to broaden the uptake and use of genetic diversity for species assessments to protect biodiversity.

Objectives

Research Coordination Objectives

  • Evaluate the correlation and complementarity among various approaches to genetic diversity and genetic indicator monitoring to improve their integration – approaches which differ in scale, technological and capacity needs.

  • Collaboratively assess how genetic and genomic data in focal species can inform management to support associated biodiversity and healthy ecosystems/ecosystem function.

  • Use coordinated efforts to improve and facilitate the adoption of methods, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and approaches for fast and easy calculation, use and reporting of the genetic diversity indicators.

  • Determine, through a co-creation process and engagement, the extent to which diverse stakeholder groups (conservation practitioners, policymakers and indigenous people and local communities (IPLCs)) as well as the wider public understand genetic diversity concepts and identify potential barriers for their uptake.

  • Systematically identify and coordinate multidisciplinary avenues by which genetic diversity indicators and other metrics can be integrated into national, regional, and international policy (e.g., input to stakeholders at 3 national and EU scale).

  • Provide knowledge exchange and capacity building efforts for supporting genetic diversity assessments for conservation problems using genetic and genomic technologies (e.g., not indicators) tailored to various stakeholders needs.

  • Provide knowledge share – including the necessary advice, support, and collaboration among countries – to successfully deploy genetic diversity indicators nationally, transboundary and for, EU, and international reporting.

  • Provide innovative opportunities for knowledge sharing to raise awareness about the value and importance of genetic diversity in key stakeholder groups (policymakers/governmental bodies at different levels, conservation practitioners, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the public, including IPLCs).

  • Foster regional genetic knowledge hubs/networks that will persist beyond this Action and serve as stakeholder platforms for transnational mutual experience exchange, including by promoting active participation of ITCs.

  • Develop a well-rounded, transdisciplinary future scientific workforce that is trained in both policy and science, and able to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholder groups.