Harmonizing data collection is a long-term project; and ENETWILD will be a first step. We will harmonise the European data framework for our species and topics (distribution and abundance), which opens the space to aggregate these data from the whole Europe. Our strategy requires solid foundations in order to be able to collect and validate data that will support science based modelling and risk assessment. ENETWILD will firstly develop standards for presence / abundance data (of the required species) under the criteria of being (i) effective for filtering high quality data needed to produce high quality maps and models, and (ii) compatible with existing biodiversity data collection systems in order to optimize inter-operability between them. It will take several years to set up the data (plus metadata) standards to record species occurrence and abundance. Aggregating data will be then the second step, as they have to be transformed into this standard, but it will be feasible directly by data providers through the coming platform. If crucial data are not recorded, it will be not possible to assess correctly the value and the differences among the studies/sources of data, for comparison purposes.