Discover the first participating sites of eDNA Expeditions 2026-2028. Explore their unique marine biodiversity, learn about the environmental challenges they face, and see how they will use environmental DNA insights to support conservation, monitoring, and marine management.
Students from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu with volunteers from the National University of Singapore and the Sarawak Forestry Corporation deploying Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) in Pulau Bidong, Malaysia, in April 2026. Photo: Sabrina Hilmy
We aim to establish a global biomolecular observatory for marine life, helping to better understand our Ocean.
A woman sampling for eDNA at the Mukkawar Island Marine National Park in Sudan, during the first phase of the eDNA Expeditions. Photo: UNESCO / Musaab Hassouna
Powered by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO's Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) and supported by Minderoo Foundation in collaboration with Wilderlab, eDNA Expeditions 2026-2028 is a three-year initiative supporting 25 marine sites worldwide in using environmental DNA (eDNA) to better observe, understand, and protect ocean biodiversity.
Every three months, local teams collect seawater samples using a simple but scientifically robust protocol capable of revealing traces of marine life ranging from microbes to megafauna. Those samples are transformed into biodiversity insights that flow back to participating sites through dashboards and visualization tools co-designed with local teams.
The project is local by impact and global by design : each site uses eDNA Expeditions to address its own priorities, from detecting invasive species and monitoring ecosystem changes to supporting conservation and marine management decisions.
All resulting biodiversity information is openly shared through IOC's Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), helping strengthen global ocean knowledge and marine biodiversity observation worldwide.
eDNA Expeditions follows a circular workflow designed to transform seawater samples into decision-ready biodiversity insights.
1. Local teams collect samples: Scientists, rangers, technicians, students, and community members collect seawater samples at participating marine sites using a standardized environmental DNA protocol.
2. Samples are processed into biodiversity information: Specialized biomolecular analyses detect traces of marine life contained in the samples, generating biodiversity information across the tree of life.
3. Results return to the sites: The information is transformed into accessible dashboards and visualization tools co-developed with participating sites to support local interpretation, monitoring, and conservation priorities.
4. Data contributes to global ocean knowledge: All biodiversity data generated through the project is openly shared through OBIS, contributing to a better collective understanding of ocean life worldwide.
A sampling event at Shark Bay, Western Australia, during the first phase of the eDNA Expeditions. Photo: UNESCO
Participating sites access the high-resolution eDNA results generated from their local sampling campaigns. The project delivers high-quality, ready-to-use biodiversity data and insights through co-designed dashboards.
The eDNA results add a powerful biomolecular layer to monitoring activities at participating sites. The data reveal biodiversity patterns, flag unusual detections, and complement existing surveys—helping sites refine management plans and contribute more confidently to local, national, and global biodiversity reporting.
The project's eDNA sampling process is simple, hands-on, and scientifically robust. It creates opportunities for participating sites to involve schools, visitors, and local communities in concrete science-based actions that protect and advance knowledge of their marine environment.
eDNA Expeditions 2026-2028 officially begins with the selection and onboarding of 25 marine sites worldwide. Initial training programs and equipment distribution to participating sites.
Marine sites begin their first eDNA sampling campaigns. Data collection protocols are established and initial biodiversity assessments are conducted across all participating locations.
Comprehensive data analysis begins with the integration of eDNA samples into the global OBIS database. Advanced bioinformatics pipelines process samples and generate actionable insights for marine conservation.
Results from eDNA Expeditions 2026-2028 are published and shared globally. The project demonstrates the power of standardized marine biodiversity monitoring and sets the foundation for future ocean observation initiatives.
eDNA provides a powerful and scalable way to capture the tree of life from just a few litres of seawater. This wheel maps eDNA samples taken from various sites around the port of Nice, France, in 2025.
Click here to view the wheel in high definition >
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