BiodivConnect - Restoration of ecosystem functioning, integrity and connectivity - Biodiversa+ 2025-2026 Joint call

Biodiversa+ is launching its new transnational research call co-funded by the European Commission: “BiodivConnect”. This call will fund inter- and transdisciplinary research to restore ecosystem functioning, integrity, and connectivity across all types of ecosystems and habitats, worldwide.

The BiodivConnect Call is launched by the European Biodiversity Partnership under Horizon Europe – Biodiversa+. As part of the flagship programme “Supporting protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems across land and sea”, it will help to achieve one of the partnership’s strategic objectives: produce actionable (i.e., practically usable) knowledge for transformative change to halt and reverse biodiversity decline (Biodiversa+ Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda).

Scope and research priorities

BiodivConnect is focused on fostering innovative research to be integrated into nature restoration practices for interconnected and well-functioning ecosystems and habitats. Special consideration is given to long-term sustainability and future-proofing of restoration efforts, at scales from local to regional to cross-border and global, including their evaluation.

The call covers restoration efforts for biodiversity in all types of ecosystems and habitats, in all regions of the world, supporting high-quality research and innovation projects on biodiversity and ecosystem restoration with holistic, systemic, and integrated approaches. Projects that will be proposed under this call can focus on a wide range of aspects, e.g.: different categories of indicators, multiple scales for restoration upscaling; ecological, socio-economic, and socio-cultural dimensions; and/or varying levels of environmental regulations and policies needing alignment.

BiodivConnect is arranged into three main topics that partly overlap. Project proposals can address one or more of these main topics.

Topic 1: Setting restoration targets and measuring success

Topic 1 will address the need for coherent and operational restoration targets and measurements of success in terms of ecosystem functioning, integrity and connectivity. Projects are expected to consider shifting baselines and integration of ecological, cultural and social contexts, with objective-based or reference-based approaches.

Topic 2: Scaling and transferability of nature restoration efforts

Topic 2 will address the need for a better understanding of the possibilities and methods for meaningful and effective scaling and transferability of nature restoration efforts. There are many examples of successful local restoration efforts across the world, however the scale of the biodiversity crisis necessitates advancements in approaches and processes for reproducing successful efforts across different socio-economic and environmental contexts.  

Topic 3: Long-term sustainability of restoration efforts

Topic 3 will address the need for long-term sustainability of restored species, habitats and ecosystems, including resilience to climate change and other pressures. Given future environmental and societal changes, it will not be possible to rely solely on historical and current datasets and models to predict likely pathways to successful restoration. There is also a need for advanced predictive modelling and anticipatory strategic foresight based on policy learning, as well as the development of entirely novel approaches to restoration, experimental approaches with high risk tolerance, and/or open-ended restoration efforts such as rewilding.

Applicants must carefully read the announcement of opportunity (Call Document 1) that further details the scope of the call.