CA25120 - Advancing DNA BARcoding in Europe for Efficient, Sustainable and Inclusive BioDIVersity Monitoring (DNABARDIV)

Biodiversity loss is accelerating across Europe, yet current monitoring systems are fragmented, slow, and reliant on declining taxonomic expertise. DNA barcoding—using short genetic sequences to accurately identify species—offers a scalable, high-resolution solution, but its uptake remains limited due to incomplete reference libraries, methodological inconsistencies, and unequal access to genomic infrastructure.

This COST Action will build a fully comprehensive pan-European network of researchers, institutions, and stakeholders to revolutionize DNA-based biodiversity monitoring. By uniting over 40 countries (≥60% from Inclusiveness Target Countries), the Action will integrate existing national efforts, fill critical gaps in barcode reference libraries, and build standardized protocols aligned with FAIR/CARE principles. It will enhance Europe’s capacity to detect species—including cryptic, invasive, and endangered taxa—across ecosystems using both traditional and environmental DNA (eDNA) samples.

The network will deliver open-access resources, including curated data platforms, sampling and sequencing protocols, training materials, and policy guidance. Dedicated activities—training schools, short-term scientific missions, and regional coordination nodes—will empower early-career researchers and strengthen capacity, particularly in underrepresented regions.

Stakeholders from government, NGOs, industry, and citizen science will co-develop use cases and help embed DNA tools into real-world biodiversity assessments. This inclusive, interdisciplinary initiative will mainstream genomics into European monitoring and policy, supporting the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and global targets.

By project’s end, the Action will leave a lasting legacy: a connected, competent European community equipped with robust tools, data, and partnerships to safeguard biodiversity through precise, efficient, and inclusive monitoring practices.