Linking bioeconomy, biodiversity, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services by using ecological, social and economic Sciences

We are approaching the sixth mass extinction where we expect to lose more than 75% of all species, but within only a few hundred years. As a response to these threats there has been developed EU strategies to sustain biodiversity for future ecosystem serv ices and ecosystem functions. There is good evidence that the approaching mass extinction is solely due to human activity such as habitat destruction and fragmentation, direct exploitation, introduction of alien species, spreading of pathogens and dischar ge of environmental poisons or climatic gasses. Here we will focus on the following four ecosystems that will be heavily affected by emerging changes in land use: agricultural, forests, alpine and freshwater systems. For each of these systems we will: 1) Map and describe biodiversity, how the direct causes of changes are associated to ecosystem functions and services. 2) Test experimentally the resilience of and service provisioning. 3) Develop effective monitoring techniques and forecasting methodologies . 4) Study the societal impact by integrating ecological, economic and social sciences.