AG Biodiversity Sciences (Adam Clark)

Brief description:

Our research centres on changes in biodiversity over space and time. In particular, responses to anthropogenic threats such as large-scale changes in land use and climate change are still poorly understood. A particular focus for us is on "cultural landscapes" and their traditional management, e.g. dry grasslands, wetlands and alpine ecosystems in temperate and Mediterranean Europe. Endangered and introduced plants are of particular interest to us, as well as how biodiversity is influenced by interactions between species, and between species and their environment.

Integration of biodiversity protection into bioenergy production for a low-carbon energy mix in the Alpine region (DIVERSE)

DIVERSE is an Interreg project focussing on the interactions and trade-offs between bioenergy production and biodiversity conservation in the wider Alpine region. This project is co-financed by the European Union as part of the https://www.alpine-space.eu/ programme. The University of Graz is one of 12 project partners in the DIVERSE programme(https://www.alpine-space.eu/project/diverse/).

The project leaders A. Clark and C. Berg from the University of Graz are analysing how different forms of forest management have affected biodiversity and productivity on the basis of forest surveys in the Graz area. The university is also advising on the impact of bioenergy production strategies on local biodiversity, with the aim of developing sustainable management approaches. The opinions expressed reflect the views of the authors only and not those of the EU. Neither the EU nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Link to the project page of the University of Graz: https://www.adamclarktheecologist.com/research/diverse

Project goals: The DIVERSE project aims to strengthen the energy diversification approach by integrating biomass with sustainability and biodiversity criteria. To achieve this, the project partners (PPs) will rely on an open dialogue approach to support a holistic perspective, ranging from local energy resource availability and end-use to sustainable value creation. An open dialogue toolkit will guide the establishment of a transnational pilot project focused on two key Alpine value chains in bioenergy and residues by activating Focus Labs in the PPs' regions. The joint work will provide Alpine projection sites for sustainable and biodiversity-enhancing bioenergy routes. As a result, the PPs will pool their efforts to update energy plans or strategies, management practices, and bioenergy business models through the bottom-up integration of nature conservation concepts. During the three-year collaboration, DIVERSE will contribute to accelerating the transition to a low-carbon energy mix in the Austrian Alps and strengthening the role that sustainable bioenergy can play in energy supply and net-zero emissions.

Co-financing from Alpine Space:
Funding from INTERREG Alpine Space: €164,167.50
Uni Graz Contribution: €54,722.50
Total: €218,890.00