Abstract
The unprecedented loss of biodiversity and the imminent threats of climate and environmental changes are among the most important challenges faced by humanity. Biodiversity continues to decline worldwide, mainly in response to urban and agriculture expansion over natural areas. In addition, climate change is projected to commit over one-third of the Earth's animal and plant species to extinction by 2050. Silently, the deterioration of species' habitats also drives the cryptic extinction of biotic interactions, some of which are essential in sustaining nature's contribution to people (e.g. pollination services) essential for human well-being. Therefore, the erosion of biodiversity cascades into the crumbling of the web of life, threatening the ecological functions that support the very existence of mankind. That reality built the unalienated idea of halting biodiversity loss and preventing drastic changes on global and regional climates as convergent goals. The São Paulo State University-UNESP is well-positioned to play a leading role in the establishment of adaptation and mitigation strategies that address threats to tropical biodiversity in times of rapid environmental shifts. It has some of the most renowned and well-established research groups working on Biodiversity conservation and anthropogenic changes, largely supported by FAPESP in the last 20 years. We propose a CEPID on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change: a unique, innovative Center congregating experts on science, diffusion, and innovation to produce global class and cutting-edge research and solutions targeting the current loss of biodiversity, its synergism with climate change and its consequences to human well-being. These threats include climate and other anthropogenic changes (e.g., the frequency and intensity of droughts and fires, sea levels rise, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, defaunation, invasive species, and unplanned agricultural and urban occupation, leading to geographic expansion of degraded lands) and social (e.g., overpopulation, increasing poverty in urban areas, social and gender inequality). Framed by the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 15 - Life on land and 13 - Climate Action, the CEPID mission is the establishment of an observatory of biodiversity and climate change research, promoting innovation focused on nature-based solutions and accelerating diffusion, aligned with the SDGs 4 - Quality Education and 5 - Gender Equality. The CEPID will make the state of São Paulo well-poised to collaborate and exchange expertise with the most successful biodiversity and climate change centers around the world. Such missions and goals are not yet found in any of the actual CEPIDS or CEIs (Centers for Engineering and Innovation)funded by FAPESP (AU)
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