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

The European Biodiversity Partnership under Horizon Europe – Biodiversa+ – is pleased to announce that its upcoming transnational joint research call co-funded by the European Commission will be on Novel ecosystems: biodiversity, socio-ecological consequences and future trajectories (referred to as BiodivFuture).

This call, together with a series of actions embedded in the Biodiversa+ Flagship Programmes, will help to achieve one of the strategic objectives of Biodiversa+: to 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

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 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.

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.

Knowledge generated should ultimately lead to actions to achieve impacts that sustain resilient, interconnected, diverse and ecologically functioning ecosystems.

Research priorities 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.

Building transnational research consortia

Research consortia will have to include teams from a minimum of 3 countries financially participating in the Call, including at least 2 from EU Member States or EU Associated Countries. 

Ca. EUR 40 million euros has been provisionally reserved by the European Commission together with 28 countries which expressed a preliminary interest. The preliminary list of participating countries (pending confirmation) is available on the Biodiversa+ website.