Building on the research previously undertaken in the Ecosystems Services and Management and Water programs, the BNR Program fully exploits the potential for biodiversity research within integrated system analysis.
The program brings together different elements of land and aquatic ecosystems including agriculture, forests, and fisheries with water and the marine environment to inform global and regional policy assessments and provide robust science-based knowledge and foresight. The program aims to establish IIASA as an international community hub for biosphere research through innovative tool development; to lead the integration of biophysical-economic modeling with governance; to engage with stakeholders; and to facilitate community driven efforts. It provides policymaking support through core program and group research undertaken in the four BNR research groups.
BNR further engages in bilateral collaborations with other research programs and groups at the institute on key cross-cutting themes such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, the green economy, resilient food systems, transboundary governance, resource depletion and migration, and digital transformation.
Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP)
The Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) at IIASA offers an exceptional opportunity for PhD students to engage in collaborative research with IIASA’s interdisciplinary teams.
Each summer, participants work on projects closely related to their doctoral research under the guidance of experienced IIASA scientists, contributing to IIASA’s mission of addressing complex global challenges.
YSSP opportunities in BNR Program YSSP - Young Scientists Summer Program
Models, tools, datasets
Global Forest Model (G4M)
Global Biosphere Management Model (GLOBIOM)
Community Water Model (CWatM)
Integrated model for BiodIversity distribution projectionS (ibis.iSDM)
Projects
European Union Biodiversity and Climate strategies Assessment (BIOCLIMA)
Designing a resilient and coherent Trans-European Network for Nature and People (NaturaConnect)
Creating leverage to enhance biodiversity outcomes of global biomass trade (CLEVER)
Advancing Capacity and Analytical Tools for Supporting Common Agricultural Policies post 2027 (ACT4CAP2027)
Staff
Clara Frezal
Research Scholar (IBF)
Ellen Tan
Program and Project Officer (IBF)
Johanna San Pedro
Researcher (AFE)
Alexey Smirnov
Guest Research Scholar (IBF)
News
05 May 2026
Amazon understory forests show short-term boost in CO₂ uptake – but this comes at a cost
Tropical forests are one of the planet's most important carbon sinks – often also called "the lungs of the Earth". But their future in a high-CO₂ world remains uncertain. IIASA researchers contributed to a new study, which suggests even small understory trees in the Amazon may initially buffer climate change more strongly. Their long-term capacity to store carbon could, however, be restricted by nutrient availability, highlighting the vulnerability of these ecosystems under future climate conditions.
17 April 2026
IIASA and OSCE explore collaboration on emerging technologies and security challenges
Earlier this week, IIASA welcomed a delegation from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to Schloss Laxenburg for a high-level exchange on advancing collaboration at the intersection of science, policy, and emerging technologies.
23 March 2026
CHOICE webinar showcases interactive tools bringing food-system models closer to stakeholders
The Horizon Europe project CHOICE hosted an online webinar presenting two interactive simulation environments designed to make food-system and climate modelling more accessible to stakeholders, policymakers, and non-expert users. The session featured live demonstrations and hands-on exercises exploring how behavioral change, dietary shifts, food waste reduction, and land-use decisions can shape sustainability outcomes.
Events
Vienna, Austria & Online
IIASA at the EGU General Assembly 2026
Austrian Academy of Sciences and ISTA
IIASA at Austria's Long Night of Research
Focus
Annual Report 2025: Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program Highlights
Balancing the needs of people and nature is one of the defining challenges of our time. Throughout 2025, the Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program advanced research on how societies can pursue climate, biodiversity, and development goals while managing growing pressures on land, water, energy, and ecosystems.
08 April 2026
Forest Talks webinar explores integrating Earth observation and national forest inventories across Europe
The most recent edition of the Forest Talks webinar series – jointly hosted by the ForestNavigator project (coordinated by IIASA) together with the ForestPaths and PathFinder projects – brought together researchers, modelers, and national reporting experts to discuss advances in Earth observation (EO) for forest monitoring and greenhouse gas inventory support across Europe.
Publications
Mohammadnezhad, M., Rezaee, A., & Smilovic, M. (2026). Multi-timescale streamflow projections in human-regulated basins of southwest Iran using CWatM and explainable machine learning. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies 66 e103534. 10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103534.
van Dijk, M. , Kuiper, M., de Lange, T., Koopman, J.F.L., & van Zeist, W.-J. (2026). Simulation of subnational projections of poverty and income distribution to support climate risk assessments: A case-study for Ethiopia. Climate Services 43 e100668. 10.1016/j.cliser.2026.100668.
Duncanson, L., Montesano, P.M., Neuenschwander, A., Zarringhalam, A., Thomas, N., Minor, D.M., Wulder, M.A., White, J.C., Guenther, E., Feng, T., Leitold, V., Hancock, S., Armston, J., Puliti, S., Mandel, A.I., Shah, S., Silva, C., Purslow, M., Bruening, J., Breidenbach, J., Næsset, E., Saarela, S., Hunka, N., Kellner, J.R., Healey, S.P., Shchepashchenko, D. , Wallerman, J., Neigh, C.S.R., Carvalhais, N., & Dubayah, R. (2026). Global and boreal estimates of woody aboveground biomass for 2020: Filling GEDI'S northern data gap with ICESat-2 and harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2. Remote Sensing of Environment 340 e115406. 10.1016/j.rse.2026.115406.
Etard, A. , Jung, M. , & Visconti, P. (2026). Risk to European birds from collisions with wind-energy facilities. Biological Conservation 319 e111875. 10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111875.
Yokomatsu, M. & Pflug, G. (2026). Optimal risk reduction and insurance for government infrastructure protection. Insurance: Mathematics and Economics 129 e103265. 10.1016/j.insmatheco.2026.103265.
Eckhartt, G.M., Sadler, J.P., Matthews, T.J., Graham, L., & Reynolds, S.J. (2026). Movement ecology of urban birds: a review of tracking studies. Royal Society Open Science 13 (6) e251034. 10.1098/rsos.251034.