Task Force 1: Data and Knowledge Sharing

Task Force 1 (TF1) is a collaborative community dedicated to advancing data and knowledge sharing in support of nature-based solutions (NbS).

Our primary mission is to help implement the European Research and Innovation Roadmap for Nature-based Solutions, with a particular focus on its first strategic action area for transdisciplinary research: "Advancing knowledge and data on NbS."

While TF1 is centred on data, we welcome anyone with an interest in knowledge sharing. No technical background or IT expertise is required to join and contribute.

You must work in an EU funded research project related to nature-based solutions (NBS).

Objectives

Develop metadata standards for key NbS indicators to improve the measurement and understanding of NbS effectiveness.
Promote knowledge exchange by sharing lessons learned and best practices across EU-funded projects.
Support Oppla, the EU Repository for NbS, in cataloguing and disseminating project outputs and case studies for greater impact.
Collaborate with the EU Science Service and related initiatives to meet policy needs for high-quality NbS and biodiversity data.
Explore emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, and help projects anticipate and benefit from future innovations.

Workstreams

Metadata templates for NbS indicators: Developing standardised templates to guide the collection and reporting of NbS monitoring data.
TF1 Hackathon: An annual collaborative event where members co-create solutions to real-world data and knowledge-sharing challenges.
Learning events: Webinars and workshops led by TF1 members and guest experts, sharing insights on data and knowledge management.
Horizon scanning: Monitoring new projects, tools and technologies to keep the community informed and future-ready.
Resources and case studies: Supporting projects in sharing their outputs with the Oppla and NetworkNature repositories.
PERENNIAL: a PERsistent, Evolving, REpository for Network Nature’s Impact-modelling, Analytics and machine-Learning.

Task Force Contact

Facilitator: Paul Mahony, Oppla

Email: paul@oppla.eu

Resources

NbS Task Force 1: Shared Data Management Plan

Shared Data Management Plan guiding collaboration between EU-funded projects in support of FAIR data principles. Produced by Nature-based Solutions Task Force 1 as part of the NetworkNature project.

Handbook: Evaluating the impact of nature-based solutions

The Handbook aims to provide decision-makers with a comprehensive NbS impact assessment framework, and a robust set of indicators and methodologies...

The NetworkNature Semester on Nature-based solutions and Standards

News & Articles

TF1 | Workstream 3: learning events

Workstream 3 is hosting webinars on data and knowledge-sharing topics, commencing autumn 2025.

TF1 | Workstream 4: horizon scanning

Workstream 4 helps to scan the horizon for relevant projects, resources, technologies and innovations that our community can learn from.

TF1 | Workstream 5: project resources and case studies

Workstream 5 ensures the long-term storage and dissemination of project outputs via Oppla, the EU Repository of Nature-based Solutions.

TF1 | Workstream 6: impact modelling, analytics and machine-learning

Workstream 6 is nicknamed PERENNIAL: a PERsistent, Evolving, REpository for Network Nature’s Impact-modelling, Analytics and machine-Learning.

Large language models overcome the challenges of unstructured text data in ecology

A paper by Andry Castro et al (2024), exploring the potential for large language models (LLMs) in overcoming the challenges of unstructured text data in ecology.

Events

Task Force 1 Team Meetings

Monthly meetings for Task Force 1 members and guests. Every second Wednesday at 12pm European time.

Wed, Sep 10 2025

"Spring 2012 Student Hackathon Coding" by hackNY is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

NbS Task Force 1 Hackathon 2025

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Task Force 1 is hosting a hackathon as part of the Task Forces Clustering Meeting on 17 September in Brussels.

Wed, Sep 17 2025

Brussels Environment Building, Brussels, Belgium.

NetworkNature Annual Event

The 2025 edition of the NetworkNature Annual Event, titled “Choose Nature,” will focus on bridging biodiversity and the economy in a time of pressing global challenges, with Nature-based Solutions at the core.

Tue, Sep 16 2025

Brussels, Belgium

Nature-based Solutions Task Forces Cluster Meeting

Taking stock of NbS Task Forces achievements, exchanging and strengthening synergies, further developing joint ideas and building capacities. Open to TF members, NetworkNature partners and stakeholders.

Wed, Sep 17 2025

Brussels Environment Building, Brussels, Belgium.