iDiv Biodiversity Research

iDiv staff temporarily unreachable by email – contact us by phone Please note that iDiv staff are currently unavailable via email. This is due to an attack on Leipzig University’s IT systems, which have now been taken offline. For urgent enquiries, please reach out by telephone. Note that emails sent to idiv.de addresses since Wednesday, 28th at 10:40 have not reached and will not reach the addressees. Latest information on the iDiv website: idiv.de

🌍🌿 The European Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre (EBOCC) was presented at the #CBD #COP17 side event “Monitoring Biodiversity Across Scales: From Local to Global” last week. The discussion highlighted a key challenge for biodiversity policy: ensuring that monitoring data are comparable, reliable, and useful for tracking progress towards global biodiversity targets. 📊 Building on scientific work under EuropaBON, EBOCC aims to improve the coordination of biodiversity monitoring and reporting across Europe. Through six pilot Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs), the initiative is developing more harmonised and operable data workflows across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, helping facilitate data mobilisation and reduce reporting burdens for EU Member States. By demonstrating how regional cooperation can improve biodiversity monitoring and reporting, EBOCC could offer a model for other regions and contribute to efforts to coordinate biodiversity monitoring across multiple countries. Monitoring is essential for ensuring action for nature. 🔬 iDiv and the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg lead EBOCC’s Scientific Quality Assurance team, bringing together expertise in biodiversity monitoring to strengthen the scientific foundations for coordinated monitoring and reporting. The team comprises Prof. Dr Henrique Pereira, Dr Néstor Fernández, Prof. Dr Helge Bruelheide, Dr Lina M. Estupiñán Suárez, and Christian Langer. 🌱 By fostering collaboration, promoting #FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable), and supporting the future development of policy-relevant indicators, EBOCC helps translate biodiversity observations into evidence that can inform decision-making. 🤝 EBOCC partners: @adelphi_berlin @idiv @UniHalle @Umwelt_AT @SYKEint @inbovlaanderen @Le_Museum VLIZ, @OFBiodiversite @VITObelgium Data Cove, adelphi global 🇪🇺 Funded by the European Union Photo: This photo is of EuropaBON experts at an #EBOCC workshop held at iDiv in early October.

🌍 A new study in @ConLetters maps climatic stability and wildlife connectivity across Europe, analysing 78,793 protected areas and connections between 10,908 sites for 10 large mammals. 🐻🦌 The findings show where to protect connections, restore habitats, and address movement barriers. 🏔️ 📄 @UniHalle, @UniJena, @NaturaConnect, WildE idiv.de/climate-change-expos…

In the latest #InsideBiodiversity episode, host Volker Hahn speaks with Louise McRae (@OfficialZSL) about the Living Planet Index as a global biodiversity indicator. 💡 While no single metric can capture the full complexity of biodiversity, aggregated indicators can help policymakers and the public understand broad trends and serve as a starting point for deeper discussion and analysis. 📊🌍 🎧 Listen to the episode now and don't forget to subscribe: insidebiodiversity.podigee.i…

iDiv mourns the unexpected passing of Professor Dr Josef Settele, an internationally renowned biodiversity researcher, respected colleague, and cherished friend. We have lost an exceptional scientist and a wonderful human being. His contributions have left a lasting mark on iDiv and on biodiversity research worldwide. We owe him a great deal, and his legacy will continue to inspire our work for many years to come. @IPBES @UFZ_de idiv.de/remembering-prof-dr-…

If you missed this week's episode of #InsideBiodiversity, now is a good time to catch up. iDiv host Volker Hahn speaks with Louise McRae (@OfficialZSL) about the newly released Living Planet Index 2026 and what its latest findings mean for biodiversity research and conservation. 🌍🎧📈 🎧 Listen here: insidebiodiversity.podigee.i…

The new Living Planet Index reports an overall decline of 73.2% in monitored vertebrate wildlife populations since 1970. But what exactly does that figure mean, and what are the strengths and limitations of this indicator? 📉🔍🌿 In the latest #InsideBiodiversity episode, host Volker Hahn discusses these questions with guest Louise McRae (@OfficialZSL), one of the scientists behind the index. 🎧 Listen now: insidebiodiversity.podigee.i…

How do we measure biodiversity change on a global scale? In the latest #InsideBiodiversity episode, Volker Hahn speaks with Louise McRae (@OfficialZSL) about the Living Planet Index, the science behind it, and what decades of wildlife monitoring reveal about trends in vertebrate populations worldwide. 🔬🌍🎙️ The 2026 index draws on more data than ever before, expanding both its taxonomic and geographic coverage. 🎧 Listen here: insidebiodiversity.podigee.i…

A new episode of #InsideBiodiversity is out now. Host Volker Hahn speaks with Louise McRae of the @OfficialZSL, one of the scientists behind the new Living Planet Index (LPI), featured in @WWF's Living Planet Report 2026. Drawing on data from 35,803 monitored populations across 5,790 vertebrate species, the latest LPI provides one of the world's most comprehensive indicators of biodiversity trends. 🌍📊🎙️ What does the new index tell us about the state of nature, and how should we interpret its findings? 🎧 Listen now: insidebiodiversity.podigee.i…

🌱 iDiv's Dr Monica Farfan contributed to the @FAO's Status of the World's Soil Resources report. For iDiv, she reflects on science-based policy, soil biodiversity monitoring, and collaboration to protect soils. #iDivImpact 🌍🔬 idiv.de/idiv-expert-shares-i…

🎉 Herzlichen Glückwunsch an die @UniJena zur Auszeichnung als Exzellenzuniversität! Als Gründungsmitglied und Trägerinstitution von iDiv ist die Universität ein starker Partner in der Biodiversitätsforschung. Große Freude über diesen verdienten Erfolg. 🌿👏

🌍 Today and tomorrow, experts from across Europe are gathering at iDiv for the European Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre (#EBOCC) Workshop. Building on @EuropaBon_H2020, participants will work to strengthen the connection between science and policy, refine monitoring approaches, and support the implementation of a coordinated European biodiversity observation framework. 🌱📊🇪🇺 This meeting was organised by Dr Lina Maria Estupinan Suarez and Prof @hmlfpereira from iDiv and @UniHalle. europabon.org