From frontier research to biodiversity conservation and restoration policies

The European Research Council (ERC) is the premier European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. Since 2007, it provides researchers with the autonomy to pursue ambitious research projects, fostering advances at the forefront of knowledge, without any expectations beyond excellent science. However, many ERC research projects do have an impact beyond science, address societal and policy-relevant questions, and provide knowledge to solve related challenges. With this poster, we will showcase how ERC grantees work at the interface of science and policy in the field of biodiversity. A recent report presents the contribution of curiosity-driven research funded by the ERC to EU policies that aim to protect and restore biodiversity and ecosystems. More than 230 research projects from a wide range of scientific disciplines - from the life sciences to physical sciences and social sciences and the humanities - were identified as producing knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystems relevant to policymaking. A subset contributed to shape the scientific evidence cited in policy documents, such as reports of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). We will present examples of research working on e.g., reconstructing the baselines of ecosystems and estimating the impact of human activities; land use planning and resource allocation in conservation biology; land-climate dynamics in the context of climate change; or on the social impact of greening cities. The Feedback to Policy team at the ERC Executive Agency (ERCEA) aims to identify, analyse, and communicate research results with policy relevance to European Commission services. This communication is presented by ERCEA scientific officers and policy advisers working on themes related to earth science, green transition, and sustainability.