2023 is coming to an end, and with it the second anniversary of Biodiversa+ as co-funded European Partnership. Let's look back!
We are proud of what we have achieved so far and are grateful for the fantastic support of all Biodiversa+ Partners and collaborators. Before diving into 2024, let’s review some of the highlights of 2023!
- 2023 marked the roll out of our two latest flagship programmes (on nature-based solutions, and on societal transformation). These flagship programmes encompass a broad range of activities – including joint calls, dialogues, mapping activities, strategic workshops etc. – allowing Biodiversa+ to strengthen the knowledge base on these topics for improved decision making and implementation!
- Our 2nd joint research call on biodiversity monitoring was a great success with 33 transnational research projects recommended for funding for a total budget of over 46 M€. We also launched a joint research call on Nature-based Solutions (NBS). In September 2024, we’ll be opening a joint research call on societal transformation.
- 2023 marked the launch of three biodiversity monitoring pilots (on soil biodiversity, invasive alien species and biodiversity monitoring governance). Biodiversa+ has also identified 12 biodiversity monitoring priorities, guiding our activities related to the promotion and support of transnational biodiversity monitoring.
- This year, Biodiversa+ also finalised the European roadmap for research and innovation on NBS together with NetworkNature. It identifies core action areas for European research and innovation to achieve EU goals for NBS development and deployment. We have also drafted a guide on the business and biodiversity landscape for European research and innovation on which we are gathering feedback until 31 December 2023.
- In 2023, our 21 BiodivScen projects came to an end, producing new knowledge and biodiversity scenarios to be taken up by policy and practitioners. A first policy brief was produced, more will be released in 2024, stay tuned!
- We organised our first science-policy forum this year, on the topic of “Knowledge and capacity to facilitate the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework”. It gathered members of the UN CBD secretariat, the European Commission, as well as members from environmental protection agencies and researchers. Our next science-policy forum will be held in April next year.
- In 2023, we continued our collaboration with the IPBES, for example by organising dialogues with research programmers and funders on the knowledge gaps in recently published assessments. We have also reinforced our links with global research infrastructures, publishing a mapping of biodiversity research collaboration between the different world regions.
- This year, we embarked on a key collaboration with Alternet, joining forces to strengthen the European science-policy/science-society interface and to foster capacity building for researchers from the biodiversity field. In this context, we co-organised the 2023 Alternet Summer School and look forward to the 2024 edition!
- 2023 marked the launch of a knowledge hub on biodiversity and climate change. Building on this hub experience, we are examining how to best support Member States in the implementation of the Nature Restoration Law.
- Last but not least, we published 3 animated videos highlighting key results from our funded projects. Watch our videos on coronaviruses in the wild, scenarios on invasive alien species, and on movements of birds, insects and bats in global airspace!
Once again, thank you for your continued interest in our activities!
Enjoy the holiday seasons, and see you in 2024!
