The National Biodiversity Future Center carries out research and promotes the development of solutions to monitor, preserve and restore functional biodiversity, in order to counteract the anthropogenic impact, the effects of climate change and to support ecosystem services. The Center supports research and innovation activities for the enhancement of biodiversity through circular economy and restoration economy processes capable of protecting environmental resources and ensuring the well-being of the person.
The main objective is the creation of an extensive network of universities and research centers in order to identify the major drivers of biodiversity loss and promote a more sustainable development.
Each Spoke explores specific issues:
Spoke 1 - Mapping and monitoring actions to preserve marine ecosystem biodiversity and functioning;
Spoke 2 – Solutions to reverse marine biodiversity loss and manage marine resources sustainably;
Spoke 3 – Assessing and monitoring terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity and its evolution: from taxonomy to genomics and citizen science;
Spoke 4 - Ecosystem functions, services and solutions;
Spoke 5 – Urban biodiversity;
Spoke 6 – Biodiversity and human wellbeing;
Spoke 7 – Biodiversity and society: communication, education and social impact;
Spoke 8 – Biodiversity Open Innovation & Development of KETs.
The University of Udine is involved in the following Spoke 4 activities:
Advanced systems for monitoring, studying and managing biodiversity, its organization, the related ecosystem functions and services in relation to natural and anthropic impacts;
Adaptation and mitigation of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change including ecological responses and future forecast scenarios;
3. Genetic-molecular and modelling toolkits for the conservation of high-relevance ecosystems.