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.
Projects
Designing a resilient and coherent Trans-European Network for Nature and People (NaturaConnect)
Staff
Sabine Fuß
Guest Research Scholar (IBF)
Jenan Irshaid
Researcher (WAT, EQU)
Michiel van Dijk
Guest Research Scholar (IBF)
Sten Nilsson
Guest Senior Research Scholar (AFE)
News
29 November 2023
Setting out priority areas of cooperation and concrete action for Ukraine’s forests
Modern, target-oriented research and quality education, more exchange with international peers and partners, better science-policy interaction, and improved coordination and communication with international and national actors are crucial for ensuring a sustainable future of Ukraine’s forests.
28 November 2023
How can we evaluate the quality of global water models?
IIASA researchers contributed to a new international study that tested the extent to which global water models agree with each other and with observational data. Using a new evaluation approach, the researchers can show in which climate regions the models agree and where they differ.
27 November 2023
A credible path for Brazil to reach net zero by 2050 depends on nature-based solutions
Without the implementation of nature-based solutions through actions such as halting deforestation and promoting large-scale native vegetation restoration, Brazil would jeopardize its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) pledges including achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2050, according to a new study. The researchers also emphasize that stopping deforestation is the most important mitigation measure Brazil can take towards net zero while preventing biodiversity loss.
Events
21 November 2023 IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria and online
Forum on Ukraine Forest Science and Education: Needs and Priorities for Collaboration
14 November 2023 Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice, Italy
IIASA at the Sixteenth IAMC Annual Meeting 2023
06 October 2023 MuTh, Am Augartenspitz, 1020 Vienna
Eco-theater: What we want - Breath and a Piece of Cake
Focus
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.
11 November 2023
Communicating research into climate mitigation policies
Options Magazine, Winter 2023: Zuelclady Araujo Gutierrez’s research supports governments to have better data and tools for their longterm climate change mitigation planning, tailored to the realities of their countries.
Publications
Wang, X., Wang, S., Folberth, C. , Skalský, R. , Li, H., Liu, Y., & Balkovič, J. (2024). Limiting global warming to 2 °C benefits building climate resilience in rice-wheat systems in India through crop calendar management. Agricultural Systems 213 e103806. 10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103806. Dou, Y., Zagaria, C., O'Connor, L., Thuiller, W., & Verburg, P.H. (2023). Using the Nature Futures Framework as a lens for developing plural land use scenarios for Europe for 2050. Global Environmental Change 83 e102766. 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2023.102766. Gvein, M.H., Hu, X., Næss, J.S., Watanabe, M.D.B., Cavalett, O., Malbranque, M., Kindermann, G. , & Cherubini, F. (2023). Potential of land-based climate change mitigation strategies on abandoned cropland. Communications Earth & Environment 4 (1) e39. 10.1038/s43247-023-00696-7. Jones, C.D., Ziehn, T., Anand, J., Bastos, A., Burke, E., Canadell, J.G., Cardoso, M., Ernst, Y., Jain, A.K., Jeong, S., Keller, E.D., Kondo, M., Lauerwald, R., Lin, T.‐S., Murray‐Tortarolo, G., Nabuurs, G.‐J., O’Sullivan, M., Poulter, B., Qin, X., von Randow, C., Sanches, M., Shchepashchenko, D. , Shvidenko, A., Smallman, T.L., Tian, H., Villalobos, Y., Wang, X., & Yun, J. (2023). RECCAP2 Future Component: Consistency and Potential for Regional Assessment to Constrain Global Projections. AGU Advances 4 (6) e2023AV001024. 10.1029/2023AV001024. Toraño Caicoya, A., Vergarechea, M., Blattert, C., Klein, J., Eyvindson, K., Burgas, D., Snäll, T., Mönkkönen, M., Astrup, R., Di Fulvio, F. , Forsell, N., Hartikainen, M., Uhl, E., Poschenrieder, W., & Antón-Fernández, C. (2023). What drives forest multifunctionality in central and northern Europe? Exploring the interplay of management, climate, and policies. Ecosystem Services 64 e101575. 10.1016/j.ecoser.2023.101575. (In Press) Yuwono, B., Yowargana, P., Fuss, S., Griscom, B.W., Smith, P., & Kraxner, F. (2023). Doing burden-sharing right to deliver natural climate solutions for carbon dioxide removal. Nature-Based Solutions 3 e100048. 10.1016/j.nbsj.2022.100048.