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Advancing understanding of Cumulative Impacts on European marine biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services for human wellbeing

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

New tools for understanding marine biodiversity

Human activities are affecting marine ecosystems. Losses of biodiversity in the oceans reduce seafood resources, destroy valuable habitats and impact the functioning of global cycles. It is important to stop biodiversity loss and restore natural habitats and ecosystem services. In this context, the EU-funded ACTNOW project will advance the state-of-the-art in understanding and forecasting the cumulative impacts of climate change and interacting drivers on marine systems. Bringing together more than 30 researchers (from physiologists to food web ecologists and physical climate scientists to policy experts) from 16 countries, ACTNOW will provide solutions options. For example, it will develop monitoring methods based on new biologging technology and decision support tools for regulators.

Objective

ACTNOW advances the state-of-the-art in understanding and forecasting of the cumulative impacts of climate change and interacting drivers on marine systems. The program provides solutions options to halt the loss of biodiversity, to restore and protect habitats and ecosystem processes, and to safeguard the contributions of marine areas to human well-being. ACTNOW is co-developed with EU policy stakeholders to deliver:
1) Mechanistic (cause-and-effect) understanding of the impacts of multiple interacting drivers on organisms, communities, habitats and ecosystems from individual-level performance to ecosystem-level stability, resistance, resilience and tipping-points;
2) Improved monitoring and new indicators of marine biodiversity based on state-of-the-art biologging technology, molecular methods and advanced numerical modeling;
3) Enhanced forecasts of European marine biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and services using scenarios (co-created and regionalized with practitioners) of multiple drivers and management settings, as well as integrated impact assessment methods;
4) Fit-for-purpose decision-support tools enabling regulators to deliver regionally-appropriate assessments and actions to restore and maintain Good Environmental Status;
5) Next-generation training for early-career scientists working on solutions to the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change and capacity building to enhance public literacy on the One Health concept.

ACTNOW builds predictive capacity of multiple driver effects and performs integrated indicators assessments of biodiversity across 20 Case Studies capturing all European climate zones and regional seas, including pan-European research on key groups in marine food webs.
dies capturing all European climate zones and regional seas, including pan-European research on key groups in marine food webs.

Fields of science

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

HORIZON-CL6-2021-BIODIV-01

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Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

STICHTING NEDERLANDSE WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK INSTITUTEN
Net EU contribution
€ 1 531 372,50
Address
Winthontlaan 2
3526 KV Utrecht
Netherlands

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Region
West-Nederland Utrecht Utrecht
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (28)

Partners (6)

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EC signature date 2 December 2022
Last update: 19 January 2023

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101060072

European Union, 2023