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

Andrey Krasovskiy profile picture

Andrey Krasovskiy

Senior Research Scholar (AFE)

Dylan Bos profile picture

Dylan Bos

Program and Project Officer (IBF, BNR)

Aline Soterroni profile picture

Aline Soterroni

Guest Research Scholar (IBF)

Paula Abarca del Rio profile picture

Paula Abarca del Rio

Project Officer (WAT)

News

Agriculture technology concept with green seedling

23 September 2024

Transforming agriculture from carbon source to sink

The food system is one of the most significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet, making the reduction of emissions in this sector a priority for policymakers around the world. IIASA researchers explored the potential of carbon sequestration on farmland to combat climate change, offering insights into economic effects as well as its climate change mitigation potential.
Forest policy modeling forum

18 September 2024

The first Forest Policy Modeling Forum convenes in Brussels

The Forest Policy Modeling Forum, taking place on 18-19 September, brings together policymakers and modelers at the EU and Member State level to discuss ex-ante modeling needs and support forest policy for a better climate, improved biodiversity, and a striving bioeconomy across the EU.
Route of the waterfalls with 14 waterfalls in corupa one of the last areas of the Atlantic forest in Brazil.

22 August 2024

Meeting ambitious restoration targets in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest

IIASA researchers contributed to a new study showing that efforts to meet restoration targets for the globally important, biodiversity rich forests found along Brazil’s Atlantic coast will only be effective with a sustainable intensification of cattle farming.

Focus

Butterfly on a pink flower

17 July 2024

Biodiversity lessons from nature

IIASA researchers Silvia Artuso and Juliette Martin reflect on a recent workshop presented at the Institute as part of the IIASA School Engagement Initiative, during which they introduced students to systems analysis and took them on an adventure to explore the amazing biodiversity of Laxenburg park.

Local people working in their field, near Lamin village, Gambia, West Africa

08 July 2024

Future food demand in The Gambia: can increased crop productivity and climate adaptation close the supply–demand gap?

The Gambia faces significant food availability issues due to low agricultural productivity. IIASA researchers and colleagues used the FABLE Calculator to explore actions to reduce the food supply-demand gap by 2050. The results, published in Food Security, reveal that current cropland will not meet food demand by 2050.

Publications