World leading research on biodiversity and ecosystem services in a changing climate

Explore our research at Lund University Research portal - portal.research.lu.se

Information about BECC at Gothenburg University - gu.se/en

Scientists from different research backgrounds

Addressing today’s complex social–ecological challenges requires excellent research and the effective integration of knowledge into policy and management. BECC brings together diverse expertise to understand and address the combined impacts of climate change, anthropogenic emissions, and land‑use change on biodiversity and ecosystem services—from local to global scales.

Our research provides a scientific foundation for the sustainable management of ecosystems and biodiversity. By combining multiple disciplines and methods, we generate knowledge that supports informed decision‑making and long‑term societal resilience.

BECC unites research across:

• natural and social sciences
• observational data and modelling
• basic and applied research
• disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches
• research addressing issues of regional, national, and international relevance

Vision and aims

Our vision is to provide a world-leading research environment that brings together excellent research and training at Lund University and the University of Gothenburg to address our society's need for knowledge about the dynamics between biodiversity and ecosystem services in a rapidly changing world. The knowledge generated by BECC serves the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services into policy development, decision-making and praxis, from local to global levels.

In particular, BECC aims to:

• assess the combined consequences of anthropogenic emissions, climate and land-use change on biodiversity and ecosystem services and provide a basis for informed societal responses, with a focus on critical changes in forest, agricultural, urban and arctic ecosystems, including interactions between terrestrial and aquatic systems.
• support local, national and global policymakers through the scientific evaluations of policy options, including adaptation and mitigation strategies to global change, the conservation of biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems and their services.
• create synergies and added value to global change research by developing and bringing together theories and methods from different disciplines such as biology, economics, environmental science, geology, political science and physical geography, and by integrating stakeholder experience in the research process.

Funding

BECC receives SEK 30 million annually in direct government funding.