The RESIST project has made significant progress through active collaboration with IIASA's National Member Organizations (NMO). Key recent achievements include setting up collaborations with national researcher partners and consulting with local experts and stakeholders in respective case study regions (listed below).

For the Indian case study, we have identified specific research objectives focused on conservation and restoration of biodiversity. To this end, we have conducted local field campaigns in collaboration with local stakeholders and set up a network of data collection sites for which data on vegetation structure and forest dynamics have been elaborated in collaboration with local research partners.

For the Israel case study, despite of delays due to regional instability, an agreement on data sharing for PlantFATE model calibration has been established and will be finalized post-2024.

For the Brazil/UK case study, first measurement data available from the Amazon FACE site have been used for model calibration and preliminary results have been published in the Ecological Modelling journal.

For China, a call by the national natural science foundation of China (NSFC) has led to the elaboration of several research proposals, of which one led by IBF researcher Jinfeng Chang on ecosystem stability and resilience has been selected for funding.

These developments highlight recent advances in research on ecological modeling and conservation and further underscore the project's ongoing success in establishing collaborations with international research partners. For further details on specific research conducted in respective work package please also see the associated articles published on the IIASA NEXUS blog:

News

Misty rainforest

05 May 2026

Amazon understory forests show short-term boost in CO₂ uptake – but this comes at a cost

Tropical forests are one of the planet's most important carbon sinks – often also called "the lungs of the Earth". But their future in a high-CO₂ world remains uncertain. IIASA researchers contributed to a new study, which suggests even small understory trees in the Amazon may initially buffer climate change more strongly. Their long-term capacity to store carbon could, however, be restricted by nutrient availability, highlighting the vulnerability of these ecosystems under future climate conditions.
Map of Brazil

18 March 2026

IIASA leadership strengthens partnerships during mission to Brazil

During a recent visit to Brazil, IIASA Director General, Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, and Deputy Director General, Karen Lips, met with representatives from government agencies, research institutes, universities, and NGOs to explore opportunities for collaboration on some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges.
Photo of H.E. Ambassador Eduardo Paes Saboia, Ambassador of Brazil to Austria, Fabio Alves Schmidt da Silva, Head of the Trade Promotion and Science Technology Section at the Embassy of Brazil in Vienna with John Schellnhuber and Karen Lips

28 January 2026

Science without borders: Brazilian Ambassador visits IIASA

IIASA recently welcomed H.E. Ambassador Eduardo Paes Saboia, Ambassador of Brazil to Austria, for a high-level visit to the Institute’s headquarters in Laxenburg. The visit provided an opportunity for an in-depth exchange on IIASA’s research portfolio and on future avenues for strengthening cooperation between IIASA and Brazilian institutions.