INTEGRADIV
Effective conservation of Mediterranean forests
The INTEGRADIV project: “Effective conservation of Mediterranean forests: an integrated assessment of drivers and vulnerability of multi-taxon, multi-faceted and multi-scale biodiversity patterns”, is part of the BIODIVERSA+ programme. The project aims to achieve a better understanding of forest ecosystems in the Mediterranean biome in Europe and to propose effective protection actions, which represents an extremely important societal challenge in the face of global change in this area. The project is planned for 3 years, from March 2023 to March 2026.
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CONTEXT
While research and conservation actions have mainly focused on taxonomic diversity, INTEGRADIV wishes to highlight the importance of considering the functional and phylogenetic diversity of organisms. Indeed, this promising approach would allow for more effective conservation and the maintenance of resilient ecosystems. However, current knowledge on multifaceted biodiversity remains fragmentary, which significantly limits the ability to anticipate current and future conservation needs. This issue is of particular importance in the Euro-Mediterranean biome, which is home to a unique diversity of habitats, which are highly threatened.
By 2100, this biome is expected to face drastic changes in biodiversity due to its sensitivity to land use, linked to the continuous increase in population, as well as to climate change.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of INTEGRADIV is to develop an integrated approach to provide guidelines on how the taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic facets of biodiversity should be included in realistic conservation plans. Using existing and newly collected data, this project will develop a biodiversity assessment framework that will consider different spatial scales (regional and Euro-Mediterranean) and taxonomic groups.
In the context of the Euro-Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, characterised by a high diversity of trees, butterflies and birds, INTEGRADIV will address key questions:
- Where are the high-value biodiversity areas?
- What is the level of ecological integrity of Euro-Mediterranean forests?
- How have the spatial structures of biodiversity been shaped and how vulnerable are they to climate and land-use changes?
Using these questions as a guide, INTEGRADIV will provide a prioritization tool to guide future conservation strategies, integrating all facets of biodiversity while effectively managing public resources. To ensure that stakeholder needs are met, the project will engage in a joint learning process between science, practice and policy from the outset.
The results of INTEGRADIV will be communicated to the stakeholder community through briefing notes, popular publications and workshops throughout the project.
PARTNERSHIP
INTEGRADIV brings together a consortium of seven universities:
Aix Marseille University, Mediterranean Institute of Biodiversity and Ecology
University of Alicante, Department of Ecology
Aarhus University, Center of Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World
University of Genoa, Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences
Panepistimio Ioanninon, Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory
Free University Amsterdam, Department of Environmental Geography, Institute for Environmental Studies
Aarhus Natural History Museum, Research and Collections
And two subcontracting partners:
International Association of Mediterranean Forests, Marseille
PACA Bird Protection League
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