To develop the usefulness of environmental information, we study the current needs and gaps as well as the diversity and accessibility of information. For example, EU directive reporting, and the assessment of threatened habitat types and species have been identified as resource-heavy tasks by the environmental administration. Strengthening science-policy boundary is a way to ease the workload and to achieve better knowledge exchange practices. Both the knowledge production and utilisation practices are co-developed and simultaneously implemented with stakeholders.

FEO aims to learn from international ecosystem observatories and networks such as Australia’s land ecosystem observatory (TERN) The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)in the USA or the South African environmental observatory network (SAEON) and The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) where multiple local networks and active citizens participate. Through international cooperation, we can develop the information needs of international biodiversity policy, e.g., UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) reports, Sustainable Development Goals -indicators or variety of ecosystem assessments (for example, IPBES).