Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change

• Grant number: 24/07208-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Journalism
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Mauro Galetti Rodrigues
• Grantee: Michelle Moreira Braz dos Santos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Instituto De Biociências De Rio Claro, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10639-5 - Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change, AP.CEPID

Abstract

The unprecedented loss of biodiversity and the imminent threats of climate and environmental change are among the most important challenges facing humanity. Biodiversity continues to decline around the world, mainly in response to urban and agricultural expansion into natural areas. Furthermore, climate change is predicted to commit more than a third of Earth's animal and plant species to extinction by 2050. Silently, the deterioration of species' habitats is also leading to the enigmatic extinction of biotic interactions, some of which are essential to sustain nature's contribution to people (e.g. pollination services). Therefore, the erosion of biodiversity causes the web of life to collapse, threatening the ecological functions that sustain the very existence of humanity. This reality constructed the inalienable idea of halting biodiversity loss and preventing drastic changes in global and regional climates as converging objectives. Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP is well positioned to play a leading role in establishing adaptation and mitigation strategies that address threats to tropical biodiversity in times of rapid environmental change. It has some of the most renowned and consolidated research groups working on biodiversity conservation and anthropogenic changes, widely supported by FAPESP over the last 20 years. We propose a Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center (Cepid) on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change (CBioClima): a unique and innovative Research Center that brings together experts in science, diffusion and innovation to produce world-class, cutting-edge research and solutions focused on the current loss of biodiversity, its synergism with climate change and the consequences for human well-being. These threats include climate and other anthropogenic changes (e.g., the frequency and intensity of droughts and fires, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, defaunation, invasive species, and unplanned agricultural and urban settlement, leading to the geographic expansion of degraded lands) and social changes (e.g., overpopulation, increasing poverty in urban areas, social and gender inequality), as well as ways to reverse these trends to restore ecosystems. Framed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), mainly 15 - Life on Earth and 13 - Climate Action, the mission of the CBioClima Research Center is to establish a research observatory on biodiversity and climate change and promote innovation focused on sustainable projects based on science. solutions and acceleration of the dissemination of knowledge, aligned with SDGs 4 - Quality Education and 5 - Gender Equality. The Research Center will leave the state of São Paulo well prepared to collaborate and exchange knowledge with the most successful biodiversity and climate change centers around the world. Such missions and objectives are not yet present in any of the current CEPIDs (CEPIDs) or CEIs (Engineering and Innovation Centers) supported by FAPESP.