First Joint International Synthesis Call

“Interactions between Biodiversity and Climate Change”

This call is a joint effort by multiple synthesis centres worldwide, aiming to fund working group projects — some including postdocs — while fostering cross-working-group interactions to create meta-synthesis outcomes.

⚠️ CALL CLOSED

This call is no longer accepting applications.

Project title	Funding Centre	First PI	Second PI	Summary
Integrating ecosystems in carbon markets (sEcoCarbonMarkets)	sDiv	Martin Quaas – iDiv, Leipzig University, Germany		View full summary Carbon dynamics are at the heart of the connection between biodiversity and climate change. Economists almost uniformly agree that pricing carbon is key for achieving the transition to low-carbon economy, and in line with this, emission trading systems and other carbon pricing approaches are gaining traction. In parallel, nature-based solutions, i.e., using the capacity of ecosystems to sequester CO2 and thus contribute to mitigating climate change, are being required to achieve net-zero and even net-negative emissions targets. Integrating ecosystems into carbon markets may help implement nature-based solutions at a large scale. Given the high and increasing carbon prices, this will drastically alter the economic incentives for ecosystem use and management, especially in forests and open land, because the economic value of carbon stored in biomass and soils is of similar or higher magnitude as current net revenues from biomass yield. In three workshops, we will bring together economists and ecologists to (1) synthesize the potential and limitations of applying current ecosystem carbon budgeting approaches for carbon pricing, and propose ways forward; (2) synthesize knowledge from ecological-economic models and econometric analysis on how the integration of forest- and open land-ecosystems into carbon markets would change the economic incentives for managing these ecosystems, and explore potential repercussions on biodiversity; (3) derive insights and recommendations how to design carbon markets – with respect to the integration of ecosystems – in order to maximize nature-based climate change mitigation potential and economic benefits from ecosystem use while safeguarding biodiversity.
Modelling the way forward for protecting biodiversity during climate change (sModelProBio)	sDiv	Greta Bocedi – University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom	Damaris Zurell – University of Potsdam, Germany	View full summary Time is running out to prevent devastating biodiversity losses from climate change and safeguard human wellbeing. Addressing this crisis requires accurate projections about which species and ecosystems are most at risk to ensure efficient use of limited management resources. We cannot efficiently protect what we cannot predict. Unlike climate scientists, biologists have not yet built a solid mechanistic basis for projecting future biodiversity change. Most biodiversity projection models ignore underlying biological processes, while extrapolating correlations between current species’ ranges and climate. However, as correlations between current species distributions and climate become uncoupled, we cannot rely solely on tools based on statistical descriptions of the past. Model intercomparison projects (MIPs) have been pivotal in climate science, but are only just emerging in biodiversity science. Currently, no biodiversity MIP exists that considers process-based models at the regional scale and population level, the relevant scales for conservation and national action planning under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The sModelProBio synthesis group will address these gaps by performing the first rigorous and reproducible regional biodiversity MIP and impact attribution using models, ranging from correlative to mechanistic. We will validate models on historical data, project future biodiversity under climate and land use change scenarios, and develop a conceptual framework to scale between existing global biodiversity projections and regional species-specific projections. The framework and results will create a step change in predictive biodiversity science under climate change, and support decision makers and the community of practice through robust tools and scientific evidence.
Guidance for Conserving African Biodiversity in a Changing Climate	ASCEND	Wendy Foden – South African National Parks, South Africa	Gregor Schuurman – US National Parks, USA	View full summary This synthesis team examines how climate change is shaping biodiversity conservation in Africa and identifies which conservation actions are most effective for reducing climate-related risks. By integrating scientific evidence, indigenous knowledge, and on-the-ground experience, the team focuses on producing guidance that supports decision-makers in strengthening the resilience of African ecosystems under accelerating climate pressures.
Establishing core data standards for climate-resilient inland fisheries (GO FISH)	NCEAS	Gretchen Stokes – University of Florida, USA	Abigail Lynch – USGS, USA	View full summary Inland fisheries are important contributors of nutrition, livelihoods, and well-being for millions of people worldwide, yet they face increasing threats from habitat degradation, hydrological alterations, and climate variability. Sustaining and effectively managing inland fisheries amidst these changes requires an understanding of the threats to, and status of, fisheries, and ideally having reliable, consistent, and accessible data across spatiotemporal scales—something that is currently lacking in many regions. To address this need, the U.S. Geological Survey National Climate Adaptation Science Center and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations developed a proxy index (‘Findex’), which leverages remotely sensed data, literature synthesis, and expert opinion to estimate potential threats to inland fisheries. The next critical step is to link ‘Findex’ to in-situ data and identify which in-situ data are irreplaceable from earth observation data and thus a priority for fishery managers to collect and report. Ultimately, this collaborative effort aims to develop core (minimum) data standards for inland fisheries reporting. Using five case studies (Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, Paraná River, Amazon River, Mekong River), representing the world’s most data-rich, productive, and biologically diverse inland fisheries, we will collate field-based data with satellite-based data, run validation and integration algorithms, then conduct a degradation analysis to determine the essential in-situ data required for robust basin-level assessments. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches, this effort will streamline data collection, reduce redundancy, and ultimately improve the capacity of fishery managers to safeguard climate-resilient fisheries.
Impacts of climate change on fish functional and phylogenetic diversity and the consequences for human populations	CIEE-ICEE	Romullo Guimarães de Sá Ferreira Lima – University of Regina, Canada	Bruno Eleres Soares, Jessica Elizabeth Reemeyer – University of Regina, Canada	View full summary Inland fisheries are important contributors of nutrition, livelihoods, and well-being for millions of people worldwide, yet they face increasing threats from habitat degradation, hydrological alterations, and climate variability. Sustaining and effectively managing inland fisheries amidst these changes requires an understanding of the threats to, and status of, fisheries, and ideally having reliable, consistent, and accessible data across spatiotemporal scales—something that is currently lacking in many regions. To address this need, the U.S. Geological Survey National Climate Adaptation Science Center and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations developed a proxy index (‘Findex’), which leverages remotely sensed data, literature synthesis, and expert opinion to estimate potential threats to inland fisheries. The next critical step is to link ‘Findex’ to in-situ data and identify which in-situ data are irreplaceable from earth observation data and thus a priority for fishery managers to collect and report. Ultimately, this collaborative effort aims to develop core (minimum) data standards for inland fisheries reporting. Using five case studies (Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, Paraná River, Amazon River, Mekong River), representing the world’s most data-rich, productive, and biologically diverse inland fisheries, we will collate field-based data with satellite-based data, run validation and integration algorithms, then conduct a degradation analysis to determine the essential in-situ data required for robust basin-level assessments. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches, this effort will streamline data collection, reduce redundancy, and ultimately improve the capacity of fishery managers to safeguard climate-resilient fisheries.
Fire dynamics in South American ecosystems in the Anthropocene (sFUEGO)	SinBiose	Alessandra Fidelis – Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) , Brasil		View full summary sFuego aims to integrate and analyze data on fire dynamics in South American ecosystems, considering ecological, climatic, social, and cultural factors. Existing data on fire regimes and behavior, vegetation, climate, and fire use by various actors will be compiled from long-term experiments conducted by the project’s researchers, as well as from literature and external collaborators. Based on this synthesis, a data paper will be produced, along with the development of conceptual models focused on scenarios of climate change and land-use transitions. The proposal also includes the creation of two novel databases: one on fire parameters and another mapping women who work with fire in South America (“Mujeres del Fuego”). Standardized data collection protocols will be developed, and policy briefs will be prepared to support evidence-based public policies and nature-based solutions related to fire use. To achieve these goals, the project brings together a multidisciplinary and international team of researchers at different career stages and with diverse expertise in fire ecology and management. The project will be implemented through in-person and online workshops, fostering collaboration among national and international researchers from institutions across different Brazilian states and South American countries. Key outputs include scientific articles, open-access databases, conceptual models, field protocols, and policy guidance documents. This proposal aligns with the theme “Interactions between biodiversity and climate change,” contributing both to understanding climate impacts on fire regimes and to developing adaptive, nature-based management strategies. By strengthening South American research networks, this project aims to expand knowledge and governance of fire in the region, promoting more resilient ecosystems and effective policies.
Synergies between Climate and Biodiversity for Resilient Cities (SinBioCidades)	SinBiose	Gabriela Marques Di Giulio – Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brasil		View full summary Climate change, biodiversity, and urbanization are deeply interconnected, yet they are still addressed in a sectoral manner, particularly in public policies. International literature — especially from the Global North — has highlighted important linkages: changes in biodiversity can affect climate regulation; climate change can accelerate biodiversity loss; certain urbanization patterns increase climate-related risks and create unequal conditions for resilience; and both climate change and urbanization pose critical threats to biodiversity and contribute to the rise of human diseases. However, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding these interconnections and their potential in fostering more resilient cities — particularly concerning social dimensions and the Global South. This synthesis science–oriented project is proposed as a response to this identified gap. Grounded in transdisciplinary synthesis science and integrating multiple datasets (climatic, socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental), this project aims to evaluate the synergies between climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation in the urban context of Brazilian cities. More specifically, it seeks to examine how the promotion of urban biodiversity can enhance cities’ adaptive capacity to climate change, and how adaptation strategies—particularly ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA)—can, in turn, reinforce biodiversity, contributing to increased urban resilience and the provision of ecosystem services, environmental justice, human health, and well-being. Through data synthesis and a multiscale approach, the project is structured around four specific objectives: O1) Analysis of climate risks and socio-climatic vulnerabilities; O2) Analysis of public policies focused on urbanization, climate, and the environment; O3) Assessment of the impacts of green/blue infrastructure and nature-based solutions (NbS) on the promotion of urban biodiversity and climate adaptation; O4) Development and application of a conceptual model to evaluate the interactions among climate change, biodiversity, urbanization, and social challenges. This research aims to achieve a systemic, integrated, and critical understanding of the synergies between climate adaptation and biodiversity, and how different urbanization patterns can either foster or hinder this process. The knowledge generated is expected to inform public policies at the federal, state, and municipal levels. Moreover, by making the synthesized information publicly available in various formats, the project seeks to enhance engagement among public administrators, NGOs, and private sector actors in initiatives for climate adaptation and the promotion of urban and peri-urban biodiversity
Rivers rule life: a synthesis of knowledge about Amazonian floodplains for estimating and monitoring impacts (PULSAmazônia)	SinBiose	Camila Cherem Ribas – Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Brasil	Florian Wittmann – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany	View full summary Floodplains are complex and sensitive ecosystems, essential to the functioning and integrity of the Amazon biome. Although still poorly understood, these ecosystems are subject to a combination of current and future climatic and anthropogenic impacts. Understanding the history, dynamics, and current organization of floodplains is essential to better estimate these impacts and protect these areas and the indigenous and riverine populations that use them. However, in addition to the lack of data for floodplains in various regions of the Amazon, available knowledge is generally fragmented across different disciplines, hindering a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary processes that gave rise to and the ecological processes that maintain these ecosystems. This proposal aims to aggregate knowledge about the physical environment, climate, hydrology, and nutrient cycles of Amazonian floodplains, as well as the biodiversity associated with these environments. This is essential to advance knowledge and support decision-making aimed at conserving these ecosystems. To this end, a multi- and transdisciplinary team is proposed, including representatives from non-academic institutions and traditional communities. Team members have assembled and/or manage databases on various aspects of wetlands, which will be integrated with spatially oriented analyses across multiple time scales to produce standardized and shareable databases that can contribute to other existing databases, providing information to inform public policies related to wetlands and the populations that inhabit and/or use them. Data integration will also enable the production of multidisciplinary syntheses and analyses that have the potential to significantly advance our understanding of the evolution, ecology, and functioning of these ecosystems.
Quilombola Synthesis between Biodiversity, Climate, and Health for Good Living (KISANGA-Q)	SinBiose	James Ferreira Moura Junior – Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira – UNILAB, Brasil	Gabriela Arrifano – Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Brasil	View full summary The KISANGA-Q project – Quilombola Synthesis between Biodiversity, Climate, and Health for Good Living proposes to integrate and analyze environmental, climatic, social, and health data to support public policies aimed at quilombola communities located in the Amazon, Cerrado, and Caatinga regions. The word “Kisanga,” of Kikongo origin, means network or web, symbolizing the interconnections between human beings, nature, and spirituality, and reflecting the proposal to build a network of knowledge and evidence synthesis between biodiversity, climate, and health. The research will gather and harmonize microdata on biodiversity, land use and land cover (PPBio, MapBiomas, INPE), climate indicators (ERA5, CHIRPS, INMET), social and demographic data (IBGE, CadÚnico), land information (INCRA), and health data (DATASUS, SINAN, SIM), as well as records of violence and territorial conflicts from the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety. The goal is to identify KISANGA-Q – Síntese Quilombola entre Biodiversidade, Clima e Saúde para o Bem Viver relationships between ecological integrity, climate change, social vulnerability, and indicators of physical and mental health among quilombola populations. Three five-day in-person workshops will be held, one in each biome, bringing together researchers, quilombola leaders, public managers, and representatives from partner ministries (Health, Racial Equality, Agrarian Development, Environment, and INCRA). These meetings will serve as spaces for co-producing knowledge and building integrated indicators, guiding intersectoral strategies for conservation, health promotion, and territorial strengthening. KISANGA-Q thus conveys the idea that life is sustained by networks—ecological, social, and spiritual—and that understanding their connections is fundamental to the well-being of quilombolas and the planet.
Socioecology and Health in the Amazon (SESAM )	SinBiose	Claudia Torres Codeço – Fundação Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) – RJ, Brasil		View full summary This project proposes the development of an inter- and transdisciplinary socioecological synthesis to inform One Health policies in the Amazon, integrating scientific knowledge and local expertise. Building on evidence from previous SinBiose projects (Trajetórias and Redes Socioecológicas) and on advances in ecological modelling, epidemiology, and data science, we will gather and harmonise data on environmental, socio-economic, epidemiological, host–parasite interactions and disease vectors, integrating quantitative and qualitative analyses with participatory workshops in collective territories and Protected Areas. The socioecological complexity of the Amazon hampers efforts to predict and prevent risks to health and food security, limiting the effectiveness of public policies. We hypothesise that patterns of biodiversity, land use, and community practices measurably influence disease occurrence, as previous studies indicate that forest cover and species diversity reduce parasite prevalence, whereas degradation and anthropogenic pressures increase infection risks. Our methodological strategy combines synthesis of existing data, socioecological network modelling, multiscale statistical analyses and participatory workshops to integrate local and disciplinary knowledge. The SESAM project directly addresses the issue of climate change by integrating indicators of climate anomalies, environmental degradation, and land use with outcomes related to biodiversity, human health, and food security in the Amazon. By analyzing different socio-environmental and economic trajectories, the project investigates how climate change—in interaction with deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the intensification of production systems—modulates risks of zoonoses, food insecurity, and socio-environmental vulnerability. Using scientific synthesis methodologies and multisectoral data harmonization, SESAM contributes to understanding the mechanisms by which climate change affects biodiversity and, through it, impacts the health and well-being of Amazonian populations, providing input for adaptation strategies and strengthening socio-ecological resilience.
Connecting sociobiodiversity, biodiversity, and blue carbon	SinBiose	Pablo Riul – Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Brasil		View full summary Vegetated coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass beds, are crucial for maintaining biodiversity, providing fishery resources, protecting coastlines and balancing the climate, and are recognised as blue carbon ecosystems. The objective of this proposal is to create a research network to compile, integrate, and produce syntheses on the relationships between socio-biodiversity, biodiversity, and blue carbon. The network will qualify and quantify available information, identify patterns and knowledge gaps, and develop scenarios and strategies to support Nationally Determined Contributions, spatial prioritisation and decision-making in public policy and coastal conservation, strengthening the interface between science and policy and promoting national and international networking. Specifically, the proposal aims to: i) Gather and systematise available information on socio-biodiversity, biodiversity and blue carbon in mangrove, salt marsh and seagrass ecosystems on the Brazilian coast – creating a standardised database with integrated information; ii) Produce a synthesis on the relationship between socio-biodiversity, biodiversity and blue carbon and iii) Produce a synthesis report – This report will be written in language that is accessible to decision-makers and other members of society. The approach involves constructing the first inventory of emissions from vegetated coastal ecosystems, based on information on degradation and land use changes, with a proposal for its inclusion in the calculations of Nationally Determined Contributions
Climatic effects on ecological synchrony and stability in Arctic and sub-Arctic freshwater systems (SWG008)	AquaSYNC	Francesca Pilotto – Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Norway	Stefano Larsen – FMACH, Ilaly	View full summary Ecological synchrony, the simultaneous fluctuations of species or populations over time, influences community stability and population persistence. Climate change is likely to alter synchrony, especially in freshwater systems at high latitudes, which are warming faster than other regions. Changes in temperature, hydrology, and ice cover can disrupt the cues that organisms use to time life history events, altering the degree of synchrony. Predicting these effects is challenging due to limited availability of long-term ecological data, but cyclic climate patterns like North Atlantic and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (NAO, PDO) provide proxies for understanding how ecosystems respond to climate variability over shorter timescales. Responses to such oscillations can reveal how synchrony and stability may evolve under climate change. This working group will quantify the impact of climatic oscillations (NAO, PDO) on the synchrony and stability of Arctic and sub-Arctic freshwater macroinvertebrate and zooplankton communities. We will compile time series of freshwater biodiversity data from those regions and associated climatic and environmental data. We will use moving windows to capture temporal dynamics and wavelet analysis to detect scale-dependent patterns in extensive time series.
Ecophysiological responses	IGCB+JTS	Jason Rohr – University of Notre Dame, USA
Climate change and community based resource governance	IGCB+JTS	Daniel Miller – University of Notre Dame, USA	Pam Jagger – , USA

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Centre	Person responsible	Email
sDiv – Synthesis Centre for Biodiversity of iDiv	Head of sDiv Marten Winter	Marten.Winter@idiv.de
The John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis	Director Jill Baron	Jill.Baron@colostate.edu
National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis (NCEAS)	Director Ben Halpern	halpern@nceas.ucsb.edu
AquaSYNC	Leader of AquaSYNC Jesper H. Andersen	jha@niva-dk.dk
ASCEND	Head of Team Science Farai Kapfudzaruwa	farai.kapfudzaruwa@uct.ac.za
Institute for Global Change Biology (IGCB)	Director Peter Reich	preich@umich.edu
Sinbiose/CNPq the Brazilian Synthesis centre on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services	Executive Secretariat Marisa de Araujo Mamede	mmamede@cnpq.br
Just Transformations for Sustainability	Director Arun Agrawal	aagrawa3@nd.edu
Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (CESAB)	Scientific director Nicolas Mouquet	nicolas.mouquet@fondationbiodiversite.fr
Canadian Institute for Ecology and Evolution (CIEE-ICEE)	Director Diane Srivastava	ciee-icee@biodiversity.ubc.ca

First Joint International Synthesis Call

“Interactions between Biodiversity and Climate Change”

⚠️ CALL CLOSED

Funded projects

Information material

Participating centres