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From Forests to Fields to Sustainable Rural Landscapes: A Multiscale Framework for Quantifying Biodiversity and Climate Interrelationships (TIF-CER)

Objective

TIF-CER aims to fundamentally transform our understanding of how tree-based agricultural systems shape biodiversity, farm productivity, and climate and ecosystem resilience (CER) across spatial, ecological, and temporal scales. This groundbreaking project will deliver the world’s first comprehensive, multi-scalar mechanistic assessment of the sustainability of Trees in Farm systems (TIFs), spanning tropical to temperate agroclimatic zones.

At its core, TIF-CER will generate definitive, mechanistic evidence on how the structure, age, density, and species composition of TIFs shape microclimate and climate services, carbon dynamics, biodiversity, water balance, and farm productivity - from individual trees to entire catchments. By innovatively capturing the spatial and functional dimensions of TIFs, with tasks delivered in six interconnected work packages, the project will unlock critical new insights into tree–microclimate–biodiversity–productivity interactions and emergent socio-ecological behaviors across large-scale climates. This is essential for reassessing earth’s planetary boundaries and informing scalable, climate-smart land-use strategies.

The project is inherently interdisciplinary, integrating ecological science with agronomy, hydrology, remote sensing, geomorphology, and policy analysis. TIF-CER leverages cutting-edge technologies — including terrestrial laser scanning, ground radar, UAV-LiDAR, advanced ecosystem and crop models, and AI-driven data analysis — alongside rigorous field experimentation and socio-ecological systems integration. Producing predictive, multi-scale models and a robust spatial multi-criteria optimization framework that integrates model outputs to generate spatially explicit “restoration benefit surfaces” will guide national and global land use policies and practice, enabling science-based investments in rural tree restoration that reverse biodiversity loss, enhance climate resilience, and promote sustainable, equitable land use.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2025-ADG

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Host institution

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 400 181,00
Address
KINGS GATE
NE1 7RU Newcastle Upon Tyne
United Kingdom

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Region
North East (England) Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Tyneside
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Beneficiaries (1)