Mission: Promote the sustainable use of natural resources, incl. water, air and energy, conservation of biodiversity, and resilience of socio-ecological systems through transdisciplinary research, innovation, and community engagement.

Aims:

1. Investigate socio-economic drivers of environmental change and their impacts on ecosystems;
2. Assess vulnerabilities of socio-environmental systems to global change, including natural disasters, anthropogenic stressors, and other environmental drivers, to develop adaptive management strategies;
3. Enhance knowledge of traditional and industrial processes practices and community conservation actions for sustainable resource use and biodiversity conservation;
4. Study the economic and social implications of sustainable and circular economy transition models, including bioeconomy, to optimize resource and energy utilization while minimizing environmental impacts;
5. Develop transdisciplinary approaches for assessing ecosystem services, their valuation, and equitable distribution of benefits to support sustainable resources management decision-making;
6. Facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration among stakeholders, including policymakers, local communities, and industry, to co-design solutions for sustainable resource use and socio-ecological systems conservation.

CESAM’s research within the Socio-Ecological Systems and Resources thematic line (TL3) tackles the complex challenges of managing socio-ecological systems for sustainability, in line with key EU policies and strategies, incl. the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, and the EU Energy Policy. TL3 will directly contribute to several EU Missions. By addressing socio-economic drivers of climate change, assessing vulnerabilities, and developing adaptive strategies, TL3 will support EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. Research on Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), such as the restoration of wetlands, and the reduction of impacts caused by “old” and emerging pollutants on aquatic ecosystems, will contribute towards EU Mission to Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030. Research on soil health, sustainable agriculture, and the use of Life Cycle Assessment to minimize soil degradation will allow TL3 to contribute to EU Mission A Soil Deal for Europe. Moreover, TL3 will also address the scientific priorities highlighted by IPBES, the UNFCCC and the FAO.

TL3 research will encompass socio-ecological resilience (RG1, RG4), focusing on socio-economic drivers of environmental change and their impacts on ecosystems. This scope will enable the assessment of vulnerabilities to inform adaptive management strategies, which will preferentially incorporate traditional knowledge and community-based conservation practices. Research within TL3 will also prioritize sustainable resource management and the circular economy (RG2, RG6), incl. soil and ocean health, sustainable agricultural practices, biomass valorization for waste reduction, living and non-living resources optimization, and energy transition, always supported by Life Cycle Assessment approaches to best quantify environmental impacts and optimize resource efficiency. TL3 will investigate Nature-based Solutions and Ecosystem Services (RG1, RG4, RG6), exploring their potential for climate change mitigation, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity conservation, and optimized ecosystem services delivery, thus allowing these solutions to drive enhanced benefits for both people and nature.

TL3 emphasizes transdisciplinary research and stakeholder engagement, promoting collaboration among researchers, local communities (through participatory approaches and knowledge exchange platforms), industry partners, and policymakers to co-design solutions, ensuring research addresses real-world challenges. TL3 fosters equity and social justice within environmental projects, striving to ensure that all stakeholders have a voice in shaping research priorities and solutions for a more resilient and sustainable future.

RGs major contributors:

RG6 – Circular Economy, Resources and Energy Optimization

RG4 – Ecosystem Management and Conservation

RGs minor contributors:

RG1 – Deep-Sea, Ocean, and Transitional Ecosystems

RG2 – Soil Functions, Agriculture, and Forestry