Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems (RUBICODE) Background & Project Structure Funded under the European Commission Sixth Framework Programme Contract Number: For further information contact Paula Harrison (

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems Partners Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, UK ALTERRA Wageningen UR, The Netherlands Median SCP, Spain Prospex bvba, Belgium University of Lund, Sweden University of Aegean, Greece University of Edinburgh, UK Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute for Forecasting, Slovakia University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal Rothamsted Research, UK Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France University of Salzburg, Austria University of Tartu, Estonia St. Istvan University, Hungary NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Germany Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden University of Stellenbosch, South Africa IMBIV, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina Charles Sturt University, Australia Lincoln University, New Zealand

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems Background Over the past 50 years virtually all of Earths ecosystems have been significantly transformed through human actions resulting in a substantial and largely irreversible loss in biodiversity. Drivers of biodiversity change are likely to exert increasing pressure on ecosystems in the future. There is a need to translate threats to biodiversity into tangible and quantifiable factors for use by policy-makers in decision-making processes. RUBICODE will contribute to solving this by examining what biodiversity does for us – focus on ecosystem services.

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems Background

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) 60% of the ecosystem services evaluated are being degraded or used unsustainably. The degradation of ecosystem services often causes significant harm to human well-being and represents a loss of a natural asset or wealth of a country. The degradation of ecosystem services could grow significantly worse during the first half of this century.

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems MA ecosystem service categories Provisioning services Regulatory services Pest control Food production Water purification

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems MA ecosystem service categories Cultural services Supporting services Pest control

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems RUBICODE and the MA Scale – MA focus was predominantly global – RUBICODE focus is local, national to European Both - Synthesis of information currently available. Both - Identification of major gaps in knowledge. Research needs identified by the MA which are being addressed in RUBICODE: – a robust theoretical framework to link ecological diversity with ecosystem service provision; – direct and indirect drivers of change in ecosystem service provision; – indicators of ecosystem services; and – valuation of ecosystem services.

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems RUBICODE research themes 1.Frameworks and concepts for the assessment of ecosystem services in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. 2.Approaches for linking ecosystem service provision to functional traits. 3.Indicators for monitoring ecosystem services. 4.Socio-economic and environmental drivers of biodiversity change. 5.Strategies for conserving and managing biodiversity and the services it provides that take account of drivers of biodiversity change. 6.Identification of current gaps in knowledge and future research needs.

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems RUBICODE structure

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems RUBICODE: Coordination Action RUBICODE activities: 1.To review relevant concepts, methods and results from previous and ongoing projects, the literature, databases, experts and policy documents. 2.To organize workshops to evaluate the concepts and methods, raise awareness and identify gaps in knowledge. 3.To synthesize knowledge from (1) and (2), and further develop various concepts, frameworks or strategies to address gaps in knowledge and inform future research needs. Coordination Actions aim to achieve improved integration of European research through the coordination of existing research initiatives or projects for a specific purpose.

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems RUBICODE Workshops Workshop 1: Assessing and monitoring ecosystems – concepts, policies and indicators; 27 February to 1 March 2007; Germany. Workshop 2: Linking threats to biodiversity with action in the policy-making process; May 2007; Belgium. Workshop 3: Ecosystem services and drivers of biodiversity change; February 2008; Sweden. Workshop 4: Habitat management and conservation policy - strategies for a new dynamic approach focussed on ecosystem service provision; April 2008, Slovenia. Workshop 5: The way ahead in ecosystem service and biodiversity research. Workshop on ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation: knowledge gaps and roadmap for future research; January 2009, Germany.

Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems RUBICODE outputs (i) A series of review papers (drivers, frameworks and concepts for ecosystem service assessment, valuation, indicators, traits and conservation strategies). (ii) Workshops to evaluate the concepts and methods and identify gaps in knowledge. (iii) A series of concept papers that synthesize knowledge from (i) and (ii), and further develop various concepts, frameworks or strategies to address gaps in knowledge. (iv) Roadmap of future research needs. All outputs available from the project website: