What is BioScore?

BioScore is a biodiversity impact assessment tool that was released in 2009 as part of a research project funded by EC DG Research and Technological Development FP6. The project was coordinated by European Centre for Nature Conservation (ECNC) and implemented by a consortium of nine partners. The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), together with Alterra, was in charge of the technical development of the BioScore database and web tool. At the time of delivery it was recognized that BioScore was a first version and that there was room for improvement. Since then PBL has been actively using the BioScore tool for a number of Europe-wide scenario studies. PBL has further developed BioScore 1.0 into BioScore 2.0 for use in the Nature Outlook 2016.

BioScore 1 already offers a  tool to assess possible impacts of changing environmental variables on European biodiversity. BioScore shows what proportion of species are likely to benefit and what species might be negatively affected by certain policy measures. It allows to distinguish impacts by taxonomic group, by geographic region or by country. It also shows what proportion of protected species (red lists or annexes of the EC Habitats and Birds Directives) might be affected.
The tool contains indicator values on the ecological preferences of more than 1000 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, butterflies, dragonflies, aquatic macro-invertebrates and vascular plants. These values are linked to policy-related pressures and environmental variables.

BioScore 1 and 2 are primarily meant for EU and national policymakers but it is equally useful for NGOs, research institutes and many others. If you open the BioScore 1 tool you can have a look at Predefined assessments that showcase what is possible with more in-depth analyses, or you can Create your own assessment.