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GCBC Awards 12 New Research Projects Through Third Grant Competition

Published 13 Jul 2026

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The Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) is pleased to announce the award of 12 new research projects through its third Research Grant Competition (RGC3), with a total investment of just over £10 million.

Together, the 12 new projects will support researchers, communities, policymakers and practitioners across Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, to develop and test solutions that deliver benefits for people, nature and climate.

From strengthening sustainable cattle production in South Africa and restoring mangrove ecosystems in Malaysia, to advancing climate-resilient agroforestry in Timor-Leste and Montserrat and improving food security through sustainable aquaculture in São Tomé and Príncipe, the projects will generate critical evidence on how biodiversity can underpin resilient livelihoods, sustainable economic development and climate adaptation in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.

The new cohort represents the third round of funding under GCBC, a UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme funded by the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The programme, announced at COP26 in 2021, supports developing countries to generate the evidence needed to inform policies and decisions that better value, protect, restore and sustainably manage biodiversity, while strengthening climate resilience and contributing to poverty reduction.

Through these investments, GCBC continues to strengthen the global evidence base needed to support biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation and sustainable development. The new projects will contribute knowledge and practical solutions that can inform policy, guide investment and support communities most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss.

This announcement comes ahead of the next round of funding, Research Grant Competition 4 (RGC4), with a themes launch planned for the near future.

 

The Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate is an important international programme generating the evidence we need to understand how biodiversity can support climate resilience and sustainable development. The 12 projects announced in this latest funding round build on that strong foundation, deepening our understanding of how nature can underpin resilient livelihoods, healthy ecosystems and effective climate adaptation. Collectively, they will strengthen the evidence base and partnerships needed to inform policy and drive practical action globally

Professor Anjali Goswami, Defra, Chief Scientific Adviser and Director General for Science, Data and Analysis.

It is particularly exciting that we have several grants supporting Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The particular challenges these islands face under climate change threatens both livelihoods and unique biodiversity. We urgently need research to develop solutions to this huge challenge.

Dr Jamie Gordon, Biodiversity Lead, GCBC

 

Please see the full list of RGC3 projects below, with links to further details. To get in touch, contact GCBC at infogcbc@gcbc.org.uk

 

Newly Awarded Projects

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RG3-012637):

‘Thriving Ecosystems and Communities in Montserrat: Agroforestry and Sustainable Land Management Solutions’

An investigation into the challenges of restoring forests and integrating climate-smart agriculture in degraded tropical forest landscapes in this small island developing state. Read more

Coventry University (RG3-012624):

‘Enhancing biodiversity, climate resilience and livelihoods through more sustainable and equitable cattle value chains in communal rangelands of South Africa’

Generating research into how Nature-based Solutions can be optimised socially and ecologically in the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot. Read more

University of Greenwich (RG3-012644):

‘Scaling Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience, Biodiversity Conservation, and Sustainable Livelihoods in Ethiopia’s Drylands: A Participatory Systems Approach’

Generating robust evidence on dryland agriculture transformation through co-design of pathways to deliver enhanced biodiversity, to build climate resilience, and to reduce poverty. Read more

University of Leeds (RG3-012645):

‘AquaRoots: Rooting Shrimp Farming in Biodiversity for Climate Resilience and Food Security’

Piloting sustainable silvo-aquaculture system in northern Mexican mangroves, integrating microecosystem management and biodiversity-based solutions for eco-social and economic resilience. Read more

The University of Manchester (RG3-012619):

‘REVIVE – Just Restoration and Equitable Value Chains for Inclusive, Viable Mangrove Ecosystems: The case of Malaysia’

Development and testing of hybrid co-governance that couples community participation in decision making, monitoring and grievance redress with improved value chains for higher value products and services. Read more

Bioversity International (RG3-012643):

‘Regenerative Island Futures: Unlocking sustainable food-system opportunities for Ecotourism in Fiji’

An investigation into evidence-based approaches to leveraging the expanding ecotourism market to catalyse the restoration of native forest biodiversity and climate smart agriculture in this small island developing state. Read more

International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (RG3-012630):

‘Fallow Agroecology Biodiversity and Resilience through Integrating Knowledge Systems in the Peruvian Amazon (FABRIKs)’

The application of systems science to Amazonian landscape transformation by demonstrating how fallow management can drive climate resilience, biodiversity gains, and poverty reduction at system, ecosystem, and market levels. Read more

Sokoine University of Agriculture (RG3-012648):

‘Human-Wildlife Interactions: Building Climate Resilience in the Selous-Niassa Wildlife Corridor, Tanzania’

The trial of an innovative, off-grid, AI-powered early warning system integrating indigenous ecological knowledge to reduce conflict and enhance climate resilience in the diverse habitats of this key regional corridor. Read more

Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão (RG3-013874):

‘Sustainable Aquaponics for Food Security and Community Empowerment in São Tomé and Príncipe’

The identification and establishment of the technical, socio-economic and institutional enablers of freshwater aquaponics needed for long-term community ownership in the tropical landscapes of this small island developing state. Read more

International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (RG3-012646):

‘Timor-Leste’s Living Landscapes: Agroforestry for Biodiversity and Resilience (AFBIO)’

An investigation into a landscape-to-seascape approach for establishing a resilient ecological matrix of climate-smart agroforestry and silvofishery systems to support livelihoods and biodiversity in this small island developing state. Read more

National Audubon Society (RG3-012618):

‘Birds for Sustainable Agrifood Systems: strengthening biodiversity, climate resilience, and rural prosperity in Colombia’

Research to align farmer-led solutions with policies and incentives in mixed landscapes of cattle pasture, dryforest, montane forest and wetlands. Read more

 

University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES) Umuagwo (RG3-012620):

‘Enhancing Pollinator Biodiversity for Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Resilience’

An investigation into the restoration of agro-ecosystems for pollinator diversity in humid forest zone and in savannah areas of Imo, Ogun and Nasarawa States, Nigeria. Read more

The Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) is supporting a diverse portfolio of initiatives worldwide. Visit our Projects page to explore our research and see where we’re making an impact.

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Evaluating Blue Carbon Strategies for Protecting Wild Seaweeds

Published 17 Apr 2026

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New ways of financing international efforts to protect and restore threatened seaweeds could help safeguard the wider natural environment, according to an environmental economist at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).

Dr Niko Howai, has joined the GlobalSeaweed-SUPERSTAR team to evaluate how various mechanisms of so-called ‘blue finance’ can be applied to seaweed protection and restoration, particularly in tropical regions of the world.

Threats such as global climate change, overharvesting, pollution and an increase in invasive non-native species, could result in dramatic changes in distribution and diversity of seaweed species. These would not only negatively affect the natural environment and wild seaweed stocks but also threaten the livelihoods of millions of seaweed farmers that rely on a healthy environment to grow their crops and the wild cultivars for future climate-resilient varieties.

However, Dr Howai believes evaluating the blue finance options available to protect and restore seaweed across potentially conflicting and multi-faceted decisions, may help to safeguard their future.

There is currently a huge shortfall in the finance required to support seaweed protection and restoration initiatives, which are totally absent in many countries worldwide. If we are looking at the safeguarding the seaweed farming industry, we need a mechanism of financial incentive to help protect and restore wild seaweed populations. It is not enough to look only at things like a farmer’s access to credit; we must also consider the health of the environment in which they work and how this all fits in with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Dr Niko Howai, Scottish Association for Marine Sciences

 

Blue Finance Mechanisms

With an initial focus on South-east Asia, Dr Howai will investigate four possible blue finance mechanisms for the seaweed protection and restoration: blue bonds, blue carbon credits, debt for nature swaps and blended finance.

He will assess the effectiveness of each mechanism by applying five evaluation criteria: environmental and ocean protection, community benefits and social inclusion, financial strength and viability, governance and transparency, and policy alignment and innovation.

By interviewing experts in finance, he will score each mechanism and recommend them most effective method to help sustain seaweed protection and restoration and to protect the wider environment.

GlobalSeaweed-SUPERSTAR, which is funded by the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate and led by SAMS, recently published The State of the World’s Seaweeds report, which combines the most up-to-date scientific evidence on the threats facing global seaweed habitats.

The report emphasises that despite the importance of seaweeds, and the severity of the threats they face, they are afforded inadequate conservation measures. Authors of the report have called for these major gaps to be addressed.

 

If we can identify a mechanism of blue finance that is effective on environmental protection, societal inclusion, financial strength, governance and policy alignment, it could go some way to improving the protection and restoration of threatened seaweeds, whilst securing a sustainable future for the seaweed farming industry.

Prof. Elizabeth Cottier Cook, Principal Investigator, GlobalSeaweed-SUPERSTAR

 

For further details on the GlobalSeaweed‑SUPERSTAR project and its partners, please visit the project page.

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GlobalSeaweed SUPERSTAR: Developing new innovative cultivation methods for testing wild eucheumatoids for their climate resilience

Published 25 Mar 2025

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A research team from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, is developing climate-resilient seaweed strains in Semporna, Sabah under the GCBC-funded GlobalSeaweed SUPERSTAR project.

Eucheumatoids – a group of red seaweed species – account for over 90% of global production of carrageenan, a product widely used as a gelling, binding and thickening agent in various industries including food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Euchematoid output has declined in recent years due to the low genetic diversity of aging cultivars. This challenge is further intensified by climate change, which has led to a rise in pests and diseases.

The research aims to address this issue by developing new strains resistant to climate change, pests, and diseases. Wild eucheumatoids were collected from the Semporna waters (Sabah Province, north-east Borneo), under permission granted by the Sabah Biodiversity Centre. Specimens were hand-picked during snorkeling, selecting only large, healthy individuals.

As the size and morphology of the wild-collected eucheumatoids were smaller and less bushy compared to the commercial ones, the longline cultivation method, commonly used in commercial seaweed farming was not suitable for their on-growing. An innovative new net system therefore had to be developed as an alternative to the longline.

The new system was found to work most effectively based on a two-stage approach. Firstly, the newly collected eucheumatoids were on-grown in basket nets with a relatively small mesh size to prevent grazing by herbivorous fish and turtles. This was then followed after 40 days by a larger cage net system, which allowed greater water circulation, around the eucheumatoids once they had grown in size, but again deterred the grazers.

Transferring seedlings from basket net to cage net system (Pic: Nurulafifah Yahya)

The new two-stage netting system has successfully enabled not only the survival of wild-collected eucheumatoids, but their increase in size compared with the longline method. The growth rate of the wild-collected eucheumatoids is also comparable to commercially cultivated species, reaching a rate of 3.03 % day-1 when cultivated in the cage net over the typical 45-day cultivation period.

One downside of the system is that it does require frequent cleaning and maintenance, due to the netting becoming covered with biofouling which reduces the water flow. On the plus side, however, this new cultivation system has been so successful that the research team have now donated over 150 kg of wild-collected eucheumatoid seedlings to a local seaweed company for them to on-grow at their farm.

The farmers are also extremely interested in the larger cage design and the research team are working closely with the local stakeholders to further expand this innovative research in Malaysia.

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GCBC Private Sector Study Factsheet Now Available

Published 30 Jan 2025

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Financing Nature based solutions Partnership

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A recent study by Stantec, now available to download, explored the Biodiversity / Nature Based Solutions (NbS) private sector investment market and the technologies and data use. Its focus was on the GCBC priority countries covering knowledge for the ‘Global South’ NbS market through a range of stakeholders including Nature Tech Firms, Interest Groups, Investors and Academics.

Conclusions from the study suggest that the market is nascent and dynamic but expected to expand and mature in the future. There was consensus that the current NbS investment market is not meeting the demand but this could change as the market grows (and the pipeline of investable projects increases); project costs fall (due to economies of scale and technologies); and regulation evolves to support the market. The Nature Tech market is crowded and has challenges in balancing robustness with cost-effectiveness; but the Nature Tech could be simplified and made more usable without losing quality.

View the factsheet here

 

 

 

 

 

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Research Grant Competition 2 (RGC2): The GCBC awards £13.4 million in UK ODA grants for research to find nature-based solutions to climate change and poverty reduction   

Published 14 Jan 2025

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Agriculture Agroforestry Capacity Building Coastal Ecosystems Conservation and Restoration Food Systems Governance and Policy Improving livelihoods Indigenous Peoples Natural Resource Management Nature based solutions

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RGC2 awards 18 new project grants worth £13.4 million based on the theme: “Driving innovation in how biodiversity can support climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods through practice and governance”. 

Initial concept note applications for the second GCBC research grant competition (RGC2) numbered 507 from lead delivery partners in 60 UK-ODA eligible countries. This response more than trebled the 155 applications submitted for the first round of grants in 2023. From the initial concept notes, 56 applications were selected to submit full proposals.    

Grant awards were made using several criteria, including applications’ contribution to the context of the RGC2 theme. These involved assessing applicants’ understanding of how addressing evidence gaps in the potential of nature-based solutions using less utilised species (plants, animals, insects, fungi, trees etc.) can contribute to:   

  • improving poor livelihoods through more resilience to climate change;  
  • meeting resource or service demands; and  
  • protecting and conserving traditional knowledge and biodiversity.  

Filling these evidence gaps is critical to finding innovative approaches to guide practice and governance.  

Climate change, biodiversity loss and poverty are three of the most pressing challenges facing the world today and are fundamentally inter-linked. Climate change, driven by human activity, is increasingly and negatively affecting people and the natural environment. Biodiversity loss, which also results from human activity, is causing degraded landscapes and soil and increasing food insecurity. This exacerbates climate risk by reducing the resilience of natural and managed ecosystems. Unfortunately, those living in poverty are often the most vulnerable and the least able to respond to the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. 

By working in partnership with scientists, research institutions and practitioners around the world, the GCBC seeks to develop innovative research and scalable approaches to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This will have an impact on ecosystem resilience to climate change, halting and reversing biodiversity loss, contributing to poverty alleviation and helping countries to achieve a nature-positive future. The GCBC is funded by the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs working in partnership with DAI as the Fund Manager Lead and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew as the Strategic Science Lead.  

The 18 projects awarded under RGC2 will be implemented in 16 UK ODA-eligible countries in the Global South; seven countries from Latin America (including Central America) and the Caribbean (Brazil; Colombia; Ecuador; Dominican Republic; Guatemala; Panama; Peru); six from Sub-Saharan Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo; Ethiopia; Ghana; Kenya; Tanzania; Republic of Congo); and three from South East Asia and the Pacific (Cambodia; Indonesia; Vietnam).  

Eleven of the RGC2 projects cover broad thematic areas: Agroforestry; Community led approaches; Integrated land / water management; and Forest restoration. Seven of the projects cover more uniquely focused research areas: Seagrass restoration; Carbon markets; Biodiverse seed bank; Mangrove restoration; Peatlands; Land use (landscape level); and Underutilised species for soil restoration.  

“This new round of 18 diverse and innovative projects represents a consolidation of the ‘Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate’ as Defra’s flagship ODA R&D programme.  These new projects will continue GCBC’s growing reputation for delivery of high-quality evidence about the effective and sustainable use of biodiversity for climate resilience and to improve livelihoods.” said Professor Gideon Henderson, Chief Scientific Adviser, UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

“As fund management lead, DAI is delighted to continue our relationship with Defra and especially to welcome the successful applicants who are joining the GCBC’s project portfolio for the next phase of the programme’s development. Through this project round, we will continue to support scientists, academics and research institutions working to build stronger capacity, increase collaboration, deliver high-impact projects and share learning on the biodiversity-climate-livelihoods nexus that will have an impact on ecosystem resilience to climate change, halting and reversing biodiversity loss and contributing to poverty alleviation,” said Luqman Ahmad, Senior Vice President, DAI.  

“As strategic science lead, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew also welcomes the new projects to the growing portfolio. The new evidence, data and knowledge across pressures/drivers, solutions and enablers for the different themes of the grant competitions will support the adoption of systems approaches in tackling the nexus of climate, biodiversity and livelihoods. By understanding and managing the complex interactions between science, society and the multiple interacting systems through temporal and spatial scales it will be possible to recommend solutions – orientated approaches for transformative change across different sectors and regions,” said Professor Monique Simmonds, Deputy Director, Science (Partnerships), The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.    

The 18 Projects funded by RGC2:

Assessing Carbon Credits as a Sustainable Funding Mechanism for Participatory Forest Management in Tanzania – Lead Grantee: Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania (Country: Tanzania)

Biodiversity for climate and social resilience: Empowerment of coastal communities in sustainable production practices in Ecuador – Lead Grantee: Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral – ESPOL, Ecuador (Country: Ecuador)

Biodiversity science in support of community-led conservation of threatened local forests in Tompotika, Central Sulawesi: Protecting biodiversity, ecosystem services and climate resilient local livelihoods – Lead Grantee: Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG), USA (Country: Indonesia)

Biodiversity potential for resilient livelihoods in the Lower Omo, Ethiopia – Lead Grantee: University of Leeds, UK (Country: Ethiopia)

BREL-Borneo: Benefits of Biodiverse Restoration for Ecosystems and Livelihoods in Borneo – Lead Grantee: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK (Country: Indonesia)

Cataloguing and Rating of Opportunities for Side-lined Species in Restoration of Agriculturally Degraded Soils in Sub-Saharan Africa (CROSSROADS-SSA) – Lead Grantee: University of Aberdeen, UK (Country: Ethiopia)

Creation of an Intercultural biodiverse Seed Bank with the indigenous “Resguardo Puerto Naranjo” for enhancing restoration and conservation efforts in degraded areas in the Colombian Amazon – Lead Grantee: Fundación Tropenbos, Colombia (Country: Colombia)

EMBRACE: Engaging Local Communities in Minor Crop Utilisation for Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Enrichment – Lead Grantee: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), Ghana (Countries: Ghana and Kenya)

Enabling large-scale and climate-resilient forest restoration in the Eastern Amazon – Lead Grantee: Lancaster University, UK (Country: Brazil)

Exploring sustainable land use pathways for ecosystems, food security and poverty alleviation: opportunities for Indonesia’s food estate programme – Lead Grantee: University of Sussex, UK (Country: Indonesia)

Forest restoration on Indigenous lands: Restoring biodiversity for multiple ecosystem services, community resilience and financial sustainability through locally informed strategies and incentives – Lead Grantee: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama (Country: Panama)

Integrated Land and Water Management of the Greater Amanzule Wetland System – Lead Grantee: University of Education, Winneba, Ghana (Country: Ghana)

NATIVE: Sustainable Riverscape Management for Resilient Riverine Communities – Lead Grantee: University of Lincoln, UK (Countries: Colombia and Dominican Republic)

Nature based solutions for climate resilience of local and Indigenous communities in Guatemala – Lead Grantee: University of Greenwich, UK (Country: Guatemala)

Realising the potential of plant bioresources as new economic opportunities for the Ecuadorian Amazon: developing climate resilient sustainable bioindustry – Lead Grantee: Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja, Ecuador (Country: Ecuador)  

Recognising and rewarding the contribution of Indigenous knowledge for the sustainable management of biodiversity – Lead Grantee: Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), USA (Country: Cambodia)

TRIALS: Translating Research into Action for Livelihoods and Seagrass: Establishing scientific foundation for seagrass restoration and blue carbon potential, with sustainable livelihood development for coastal communities in Central Vietnam – Lead Grantee: WWF-UK, UK (Country: Vietnam)

Using biodiversity to support climate resilient livelihoods in intact tropical peatlands  – Lead Grantee: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK   (Countries: Peru, the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo)  

 

Photo Credit (Detail): Laitche

 

 

 

 

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Watch the second GCBC learning event: Spotlight on forest landscape restoration in Kenya

Published 21 Nov 2024

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The second Learning Event webinar featured engaging and insightful presentations from five organisations involved in delivering the GCBC funded project; Understanding Cherangany links to human wellbeing and was held on 12 November 2024.

This forest landscape and restoration project is an example of a Kenya led interdisciplinary partnership which has come together to understand how natural forest resources can be used and managed sustainably for human wellbeing. The aim is to promote positive long-term impacts for biodiversity, poverty alleviation and ecosystem resilience to climate change in Kenya’s Cherangany forest landscape.

The following speakers joined us to share a summary of the project, early results, and why work like this is essential:

  • James Mutunga Joshua, Nature Kenya
  • Dr Paul Muoria, Kenyatta University
  • Dr Ronald Mulwa, National Museums of Kenya,
  • Dr Musingo Mbuvi, Kenya Forestry Research Institute
  • Dr James Mwangombe, Kenya Forest Service
  • Mr Solomon Cherongos, a representative from the Cherangany community. 

The presentations were followed by a Q&A, providing speakers with opportunities to expand upon their themes.

The recording of the webinar is available here for those who were unable to attend the live event.

 

 

 

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GCBC Grantees engage at 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16)

Published 14 Nov 2024

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By GCBC Grantees

Several of the GCBC’s grantees took part in COP16 in Cali, Colombia between 21 October and 1 November, 2024. During this global gathering delegates discussed progress on the implementation of the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022) while negotiators discussed ways of preserving biodiversity and tackling the impact of climate change. 

The Nature Transition Support Programme (NTSP) – UNEP’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) hosted a side event ‘transforming economies for nature and people’ to shed light on the dependency of countries’ economies on nature, and the importance of re-thinking how they can change their development trajectories to achieve sustainable development. Featuring a panel comprising of representatives from the governments of Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana and Vietnam. The event showcased the results of the programme achieved to date and sparked a lively debate on how identified challenges can be addressed. Read more on this programme at: https://lnkd.in/dmpp2cdt 

Nature Transition Support Team
The Nature Transition Support Team at COP16

CIASE, the GCBC’s partner on the Gran Tescual Indigenous Reservation Climate Plan, hosted a side event with the Gran Tescual Indigenous Reservation, titled “Pan-Amazonian Dialogue: Intersectional Experiences on Biodiversity and Climate.” Genith Quitiaquez (former governor of the Reservation), Carola Mejía (Climate Justice Coordinator at the Latindadd Network), and Rosa Emilia Salamanca (CIASE Director) shared insights on the ways in which intersectionality, care, and transformative resilience can strengthen the bonds between biodiversity and climate action. 

CIASE also participated in the International Meeting on Women and Biodiversity in collaboration with the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Women’s Vice Ministry. This effort contributed to the Inírida Declaration, a set of recommendations aimed at including women and diverse populations in climate action and biodiversity conservation. 

In collaboration with the Government of Nariño, a department of Colombia, CIASE also presented a photographic exhibition showcasing the botanical richness of the Gran Tescual, inspired by the Illustrated Botanical Guide of the Gran Tescual Reservation. This initiative is part of the “Climate Plan of the Gran Tescual Reservation” project.  

 

CGIAR / CIP – International Potato Center, project team for ‘Harnessing Andean Crop Diversity to Weather Climate Change’ in collaboration with Agrosavia, organized an event on Integrated Conservation, which improves the linkages between in-situ and ex-situ agrobiodiversity conservation. Numerous “seed guardians” from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia attended. To find out more, the open access Spanish language factsheet, Characterizing agrobiodiversity is key to adapting Andean agricultural systems to drought and pests, is available to download here. 

Alliance of Bioversity International – ’Diversity for Resilience and Livelihood’ The project manager, Dr. Dejene K. Mengistu from the Alliance of Bioversity International and Dr. Basazen Fantahun, from Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) (a local implementation partner) presented a poster describing the drivers and lock-ins of green development pathways, a proposed research framework, project objectives, and planned activities with expected outputs to more than 250 attending participants in the blue zone of COP16. The poster presentation was well received, generating constructive comments and suggestions from experienced experts in the areas of forest restoration and management. 

 

 

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GCBC project leaders build connections and share learning at International Environment and Climate symposium

Published 22 Oct 2024

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By Samantha Morris, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) project leaders joined practitioners, researchers and representatives of Indigenous peoples’ organisations from other UK Government environment and climate research programmes in Nairobi for the first International Environment and Climate Research Symposium.

Nature and the environment are the bedrock of our planet, which is facing a triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Action is urgently needed to address these critical issues to secure sustainable livelihoods and human wellbeing.

In September, the International Environment and Climate Research Symposium brought together 84 practitioners, researchers and representatives of Indigenous peoples’ organisations from three of the United Kingdom’s largest environment and climate research programmes. Collectively these three programmes manage £50 million across Africa, Asia, and Latin America:

Establishing shot of attendees at the Kenya Symposium
Delegates at the International Environment and Climate Research Symposium in Nairobi, Kenya Picture: Kew Gardens

The Symposium was held in Nairobi, Kenya. It was planned and delivered in partnership, drawing on the unique skills and experience held by each of the three programmes. Sessions were split over several days, with each programme taking time to meet individually, ending with a joint programme day on 19 September.

Connection in action

For the GCBC, connecting and collaborating with other research programmes demonstrates the potential of working to coordinate research to find solutions to climate change that benefit both people and nature.

All 14 GCBC projects that received funding from the first competitive research grant competition attended the Symposium with 28 project leaders and partners in Nairobi.

During the individual day, the GCBC projects were given space to get into the detail, mapping the characteristics of each project with a focus on geography, themes, methods, and partners. This identified a wide range of synergies across a diverse group of research projects. These points of connection will support the GCBC programme to identify areas where we can develop tools, evidence, and resources to deliver greater impact.

The day also addressed Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), barriers and opportunities to research impact, and strategies for communicating and influencing to amplify research outcomes. Across these areas, projects shared their experiences as they move from existing practice to better practice, exchanging tools and ideas along the way.

During the joint day, participants from all three programmes enthusiastically exchanged practical ideas, concrete solutions and lived experiences to turn knowledge into impact.

Watch the video from the Symposium below:

The rich discussion highlighted several opportunities:

  • The value of building trust with communities to genuinely devolve decision making, power, and resources to local actors.
  • Sustaining effective stakeholder engagement from the start of interventions and building long term relationships beyond project cycles.
  • Constantly evaluating trade-offs and synergies that accompany a systems approach

To carry these ideas, forward participants from all three programmes discussed the potential for ongoing learning exchange, as well as opportunities and pathways for knowledge sharing.

From connection to collaboration

Overall, the Symposium was an energising and inspiring event, an opportunity to build connect and share both within the GCBC programme and with other UK Government programmes.

Work is underway to explore what future connection and collaboration between UK Government programmes could look like, building on the ideas shared by participants at the Symposium.

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GCBC Evidence Advisory Group recruiting new members

Published 14 Oct 2024

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What is the Evidence Advisory Group? 

The Evidence Advisory Group (EAG) comprises experts from a diverse range of backgrounds and geographies who provide an independent advice and assurance function to Defra for the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate programme. This includes impartial advice on research direction, quality assurance of research outputs, timely challenge to ongoing projects, and periodic review of the programme direction.

Role Description 

We are looking for individuals who, as leaders in their field, can contribute at the highest levels and work effectively as part of a group. Our aim is to ensure the EAG is inclusive, diverse, and global. We are looking for applicants with experience of working with or within countries in South-East Asia & Pacific and an understanding of the opportunities and challenges of working in this regional context.

All the information about the requirements and process can be found in the recruitment pack on the EAG page.

How to Apply 

The application deadline is 23:59 hrs on Sunday, 3rd November, 2024, with interviews taking place within the following two weeks and appointments will commence in late November 2024, with a three-year term, reviewed annually.

See the Recruitment Pack for guidance and information on this recruitment.

Applications are to be submitted via email to: eag-gcbc@defra.gov.uk

We look forward to receiving your applications.

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Watch the first GCBC Learning Event: Spotlight on Marine Habitats, Climate Change & Livelihoods

Published 27 Aug 2024

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The first Learning Event webinar on the Sustainable Use of Marine Resources, Conservation, Climate Mitigation and Adaptation took place in July 2024. The webinar featured fascinating presentations on three marine habitat projects funded by GCBC:

The presentations were followed by a Q&A, providing speakers with opportunities to expand upon their themes.

The recording of the webinar is available here for those who were unable to attend the live event.

Further Learning Events will take place in the coming months.
Check the GCBC website and newsletter for announcements.

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