Suggestions for operational structure of the Nordic Assessment and also rules of procedures are explained below. The MAES initiative will be directly supported by ESMERALDA, a coordination support action funded under Horizon 2020, and indirectly by the knowledge generated in several European Union projects (such as OPERA and OpenNESS), funded under the seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7), and by knowledge generated by European Union Horizon 2020 projects, including the European Research Area on biodiversity and ecosystem services (BiodivERsA 2 and 3), co-funded by the European Union and its Member States. The organisational structure will also need to help facilitate learning and cooperation.