There is scope to use public procurement for government agencies, hospitals, schools and the military as a vehicle for biodiversity conservation by introducing criteria, in tenders, concerning the degree to which the goods procured are consistent with biodiversity conservation objectives (e.g. biodiversity-friendly paper or food). It has set up more narrowly focused monitoring systems and developed more integrated and overarching biodiversity monitoring mechanisms. The purpose of this consortium is to co-ordinate and promote long-term monitoring of the state of ecosystems and their biodiversity, and to link scientific knowledge and ecosystem management.