Why the EU supports biodiversity research and innovation
Biodiversity - the variety of life in the world - is essential for us, but also vital on a genetic and ecosystems level. Nature provides us with food, health and medicines, materials, recreation and wellbeing. A healthy ecosystem filters our air and water, helps keep the climate in balance, converts waste back into resources, pollinates crops and much more.
Yet we are losing nature like never before because of unsustainable human activities.
The global population of wild species has fallen by 60% over the last 40 years. One million species are at risk of extinction.
The European Green Deal, and its EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, require intensifying research and innovation activities and investments to help put Europe’s biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030. Advances in research and innovation will support achieving policy targets, developing nature-based solutions and holistic approaches to address the main direct and indirect causes of biodiversity loss.
This knowledge will enable us to design the best ways to protect and sustainably restore ecosystems - currently under pressure on several fronts. It will also preserve their capacity to deliver a wide range of essential services on land, inland water and at sea, including solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the changing climate.
The EU takes a leading role in research related to international negotiations on a global framework to halt biodiversity loss and supports IPBES, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
Read about the EU's biodiversity research policy
Funding opportunities
ERA-net cofund bringing together 31 partners from 18 countries to promote pan-European research on biodiversity
The Partnership for rescuing biodiversity to safeguard life on Earth will connect national/local and European research and innovation programmes, combining in-cash and in-kind resources
Financial instrument that supports projects delivering on biodiversity and climate adaptation through tailored loans and investments, backed by an EU guarantee
The EU's funding instrument for environmental and nature conservation projects
Biodiversity-related funding is available under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)
Support for international cooperation and development projects on sustainable development and climate change
Projects and results
Stories of particularly successful EU-funded biodiversity research projects
Thematic collection of innovative EU-funded biodiversity research results (CORDIS)
The Commission's primary portal for the results of EU-funded research projects
Latest news, interviews and features about thought-provoking biodiversity research projects funded by the EU.
Article about EU support for biodiversity research focusing on 7 EU-funded projects
Independent expert report on a workshop that brought together scientists and policymakers in a transparent dialogue on transformative change
Independent expert report of EU-funded projects
Information on previously funded research projects and joint calls
Collaboration and jobs
Find partners for open EU calls for proposal
Researcher jobs in the field of biodiversity
Scientific publications, tools and databases
Commission initiative on better knowledge management for evidence-based biodiversity policymaking
Detailed information on every biodiversity-related LIFE project
Data and information on biodiversity supporting the EU biodiversity strategy
A dedicated Science Service will provide decision makers with timely research-based options for policymaking on biodiversit
Open platform repository of natural capital, ecosystem services and nature-based solutions case studies
Online library of EU research publications on biodiversity
Research on biodiversity and ecosystem services innovation for sustainable development
Scientific research publications on biodiversity published by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre(JRC)
You can access all scientific publications from Horizon 2020 via OpenAIRE
Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions - all data free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes
Latest
The European Biodiversity Partnership Biodiversa+ has launched a call for research proposals on “Improved transnational monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem change for science and society”
The new European Biodiversity Partnership Biodiversa+ brings together 74 research programmes and funders and environmental policy actors
Did you miss the Horizon Magazine monthly focus on climate change and biodiversity loss? Check out the articles.