Building on the research previously undertaken in the Ecosystems Services and Management and Water programs, the BNR Program fully exploits the potential for biodiversity research within integrated system analysis. 

The program brings together different elements of land and aquatic ecosystems including agriculture, forests, and fisheries with water and the marine environment to inform global and regional policy assessments and provide robust science-based knowledge and foresight. The program aims to establish IIASA as an international community hub for biosphere research through innovative tool development; to lead the integration of biophysical-economic modeling with governance; to engage with stakeholders; and to facilitate community driven efforts. It provides policymaking support through core program and group research undertaken in the four BNR research groups.

BNR further engages in bilateral collaborations with other research programs and groups at the institute on key cross-cutting themes such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, the green economy, resilient food systems, transboundary governance, resource depletion and migration, and digital transformation. 

Models, tools, datasets

Forestry and logging

Global Forest Model (G4M)

Projects

Chamois picture taken near the Rax

Designing a resilient and coherent Trans-European Network for Nature and People (NaturaConnect)

Staff

Louise OConnor profile picture

Louise OConnor

Research Scholar (BEC)

No image available

Hyungwoo Lim

Guest Research Scholar (AFE)

Martin Jung profile picture

Martin Jung

Senior Research Scholar (BEC)

Amela Ploskic profile picture

Amela Ploskic

Program Assistant (BEC, IBF)

News

Forestry activity. Trucks transporting tree trunks.

14 March 2024

European forests: How climate change, land ownership, and forest-related policies influence future wood supply

IIASA researchers contributed to a new study analyzing factors affecting future wood supply in Europe such as climate change, land use, and policy developments. The authors propose practical response measures for different stakeholder groups, including the wood-based industry, forest management, and policymakers.
Participants at the meeting gatherd around a laptop

01 March 2024

Tackling climate change risk across Europe

IIASA hosted the second annual project meeting for the Horizon Europe project Assessing Climate Change Risk in Europe (ACCREU), bringing together research partners to discuss the way forward in tackling climate change risks across Europe.
Dreamstime_Co2

08 February 2024

IIASA research informs the European Commission's recommendation for 90% greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2040

The European Commission set an ambitious mid-term target, supported by an extensive Impact Assessment, paving the way to climate neutrality by 2050.

Events

Focus

Costa Rica

07 February 2024

Rainforest gets digital twin

One of the most species-rich rainforests in southern Costa Rica is being digitally recreated. IIASA researcher Florian Hofhansl explains how the project intends to map the biodiversity and health status of the rainforest and attract sponsors.

11 November 2023

IIASA trailblazers: Celebrating excellence in 2023

Options Magazine, Winter 2023: IIASA has a long history of being home to some of the most exceptional systems thinkers of our time. In the last year, several IIASA researchers were again honored with various awards and appointments.
IIASA

Publications