Biodiversa+: 4.2 million for eight Swiss projects
As part of Biodiversa+, the SNSF is funding eight projects with Swiss participation with around 4 million francs. The research teams are investigating how biodiversity can be strengthened. A total of 35 projects are being supported.
How can institutions and social norms promote sustainability and biodiversity? Raushan Bokusheva from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and Peter Finke from the University of Zurich aim to find out in their research project. In another, Martin Gossner from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) is investigating the importance of reforesting forests and orchards for biodiversity.
33 participating countries
These are two of eight projects with Swiss participation that the SNSF is supporting as part of the EU Biodiversity Partnership's "BiodivTransform" call. The SNSF is attributing 4.2 million Swiss francs to Biodiversa+ over the next three years. For this call, 106 projects were submitted, 20 of which included Swiss participants. A total of 35 projects are being funded.
All of the supported projects will investigate ways to identify, analyse and understand transformation processes that could halt and reverse biodiversity decline.
The aim is to find practicable solutions to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems along with associated benefits for humans (see box). All regions and habitats worldwide were taken into account. Thirty-three countries are contributing to funding this joint call.
Sustainable rice fields, fair measures
In another Swiss project, Gurbir Bhullar from the Bern University of Applied Sciences is developing a new type of production system. The aim is to transform monocultural rice fields into multifunctional, sustainable ecosystems. Paula Novo and Astrid Zabel from the University of Bern are investigating measures relating to environmental pollution, biodiversity and climate change. Their aim is to harmonise them in such a way that they become more effective and fairer (see box for further research projects).
Four of the supported Swiss projects
Large carnivores such as European brown bears are ecologically important. They are, however, often in conflict with human interests, which makes their protection both a priority and a challenge. Nicolas Salliou from ETH Zurich is analysing three different brown bear populations in Europe. He aims to identify and enhance the transformative capabilities that can facilitate sustainable coexistence between humans and bears in different biophysical, socio-economic and institutional contexts.
Matthias Bürgi from the Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research is looking to investigate the changes to the European rural landscape caused by ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) projects. The energy sector has been identified as the most important lever for mitigating climate change. At the same time, it contributes significantly to the global loss of biodiversity. The project will contribute to a policy design that takes into account the wide-ranging relevant concerns and aspects in the construction of ground-mounted PV systems. The aim is to ensure that the European energy transition does not come at the expense of biodiversity, biocultural diversity, the values of local communities, justice and well-being.
Many nature conservation measures are designed outside affected areas and often overlook socio-economic dependencies and behavioural responses. Such measures often lack local legitimacy. This leads to resistance, low acceptance and reduced conservation results. Daniele Silvestro from ETH Zurich wants to tackle the problem of the increasing conflicts between humans and wildlife caused by the recovery of wildlife populations in sub-Saharan Africa. To this end, he is developing approaches that harmonise conservation strategies with the realities of community life and traditional knowledge. The aim is to strengthen local support and legitimacy for nature conservation measures.
Patrice Prunier and his team from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland are analysing the global decline in pollinator populations. They are investigating the potential of creative and resilient flowerbeds for the future. These would take into account drought resistance, attractiveness for pollinators, social perception and sustainable management, thereby enabling effective protection of urban biodiversity. The project aims to bring about a paradigm shift in urban planning. The central idea is to move away from the traditional focus on perceived decorative beauty towards a functional approach that promotes biodiversity and that is orientated towards future climatic conditions.
Transnational research
Biodiversa+ is the European Biodiversity Partnership that supports excellent research on biodiversity with an impact on policy and society. It was launched in 2021 as part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Eighty-one partners from 40 different countries are taking part in this partnership.