BiodivERsA2 Final conference

The final conference was an excellent opportunity to present the wide variety of activities covered by the network (from research mapping and programming to research funding, stakeholder engagement, dissemination of projects’ outputs and knowledge brokerage (see the presentation “The BiodivERsA partnership: a look-back on a successful cooperation and future perspectives”)

This conference was also an opportunity to position BiodivERsA in the wider context of the European Research Area on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Interventions included keynote speeches by Kurt Vandenberghe, Director of the Directorate Climate action and resource efficiency in DG R&I who gave an overview of challenges and opportunities for biodiversity and ecosystem services research from the perspective of the European Commission. In this context, a bright future was foreseen for BiodivERsA! In addition, Simon Tillier from the French Ministry of Research presented the national perspectives, and also call for an enhanced support by Member States to the network.

From a scientific perspective, Dr. Bob Scholes from the CSIR in South Africa and Peter Bridgewater, ex-Chairman of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, presented the challenges for biodiversity and ecosystem services research, and for the involvement of stakeholders, respectively. Both highlighted the relevance and need for BiodivERsA’s activities. This vision was further supported by the discussions in the roundtable on “bridging the gaps between academic excellence and societal relevance” involving Joachim Claudet (CNRS) and Olivier Musard (French MPA agency) from the BUFFER project; Joachim Spangendberg (UFZ) from the APPEAL project (both funded by BiodivERsA); Peter Bridgewater (see above); and Emma Durham and Per Backe-Hansen (respectively from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee in UK and the Norwegian Research council, both BiodivERsA2 partners).

Roundtable with Henrik Lange, Hilde Eggermont, Xavier Le Roux, Simon Tillier and Kurt Vandenberghe (from left to right)

Bob Scholes, giving a speach on the challenges and opportunities for biodiversity and ecosystem services research

Roundtable “Bridging the gaps between the academic excellence and societal relevance and impact of research for the sake of humanity and nature” with Joachim Spangenberg, Per Backe-Hansen, Olivier Musard, Joachim Claudet, Peter Bridgewater, Emma Durham and Frédéric Lemaitre – moderator (from left to right)