Novel ecosystems: biodiversity, socio-ecological consequences and future trajectories (BiodivFuture)

Co-funded by the European Commission, this call, alongside a range of actions under the Biodiversa+ Flagship Programmes, will contribute to achieving one of Biodiversa+’s strategic objective: producing actionable knowledge to drive transformative change and halt and reverse biodiversity decline.

Scope and research priorities

Novel ecosystems - a conceptual framework to set the scene

Novel ecosystems have been defined by Hobbs et al. in 2013 as “a system of abiotic, biotic and social components (and their interactions) that, by virtue of human influence, differ from those that prevailed historically, having a tendency to self-organise, and manifest novel qualities without intensive human management”. Since the publication of this paper, the limits of this definition have been challenged by different disciplines and other definitions have emerged. Overall, the conceptual framework of novel ecosystems usually comprises of (1) new ecological communities (including species living outside their historical native ranges), (2) which present a suite of interactions and processes consistent with a self-organised, functioning ecosystem, and (3) are unlikely to revert to conditions preceding their emergence, with or without human intervention, due to significant biotic and abiotic changes. Building on this framework and acknowledging the plurality of views and definitions, proposals submitted to this call must demonstrate how they are addressing novel ecosystems.

BiodivFuture focuses on supporting future-looking research and innovation that will address biodiversity and novel ecosystems, as well as their socio-ecological dynamics and consequences relating to the sustainability goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and associated future pathways and trajectories of change. The call covers investigating the causes (drivers), effects (biological responses), and outcomes (including opportunities, risks and trade-offs) of current and future trajectories of change in all relevant realms (terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal areas), in all regions of the world. It aims at funding novel, high-quality transnational research with potential for societal and political impact that will significantly improve our understanding of novel ecosystems with holistic, systemic, and integrated approaches.

In the face of inevitable and potentially irreversible change, knowledge generated under this call should ultimately lead to actions to achieve impacts that sustain resilient, interconnected, diverse and ecologically functioning ecosystems. This could include critical reflection on what constitutes ecosystem states that best preserve or restore natural resources by taking multiple costs and benefits (trade-offs) into account and the diversity of contexts, scales, perspectives and world views. Well-functioning ecosystems should benefit people and protect nature at scales from local to global and emphasise biodiversity, trophic complexity, economic vitality, and societal well-being.

Research priorities covered by BiodivFuture are structured into three non-mutually exclusive themes. Projects are welcome to address one or several of these themes.

THEME A – NOVEL ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING: Understanding the functioning of novel ecosystems and their links to socio-cultural and socio-economic dynamics, identifying mechanisms and developing approaches that can facilitate biodiversity gains.

THEME B – PATHWAYS TO NOVEL ECOSYSTEMS: Studying robust, plausible, and concrete pathways to novel ecosystems and associated socio-ecological dynamics to prosper under temporal asynchronies and uncertainties.

THEME C – BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS AND EQUITY IN THE CONTEXT OF NOVEL ECOSYSTEM: Studying fair and equitable sharing of biodiversity benefits in the context of novel ecosystems, supported by inclusive, collaborative, and investment-oriented pathways for nature-positive socio-ecological transformation.

Applicants must carefully read the announcement of opportunity (Call Document 1) that further details the scope of the call and which is available from the Biodiversa+ website.

Main steps of the call and evaluation process

A two-step application procedure will apply, with a mandatory submission of pre-proposals at the first step and submission of full proposals at the second step, via the Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS). They will be evaluated by independent experts against the following criteria:

• At step 1 (pre-proposals – submission before 10 November 2026 at noon CET): Fit to the scope of the call, novelty of the research, and impact at step 1 (pre-proposal step); 
• At step 2 (full proposals – submission before 16 April 2027 at noon CEST): [Scientific] Excellence, quality and efficiency of the implementation (of the project plan) and impact (including expected societal/policy impact, and approach to stakeholder engagement)

Research proposals shall demonstrate significant transnational added value of the project, and are strongly encouraged to pursue inter- and transdisciplinary approaches. They should span a wide range of relevant academic disciplines and include non-academic stakeholders to co-produce actionable impactful knowledge while adhering to the ethics and principles of responsible research.

Applicants must carefully read the assessment criteria detailed in the call document 6 available from the Biodiversa+ website.

Transnational research consortia

To be eligible, research consortia must include teams from a minimum of 3 countries financially participating in the Call, including at least two different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

Not all EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries financially participate in this call. Only the countries listed on the Participating countries webpage are eligible for funding. On the date of the launch of the call, 35 funding organisations from 30 countries have confirmed their participation and reserved, together with the European Commission, a total amount of approximately 45 million EUR.

Please note that each funding organisation has its own eligibility rules and participation modalities. Each research partner in a consortium who is requesting funding under this call  must consult and comply with the eligibility criteria and rules of its national / regional funding organisation and with the Horizon Europe Annotated Grant Agreement. For specific questions related to the budget, eligibility criteria and rules of your funding organisation, please contact your Funding Organisation Contact Point (FCP). All national / regional eligibility & funding rules and associated information including the Funding Organisation Contact Point are available here.

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