Abstract
Defra contribution to a common call to be administered by BiodivERsA. http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/themes/biodiversity/events/ao-biodiversa.asp Defra and NERC are UK partners in the European Research Area Network (ERA-Net) on biodiversity (Biodiversa). There are 19 partners from 14 MS in total. The aims of Biodiversa are to improve the co-ordination of biodiversity research between Member States, to share best practice in research procurement and to develop a ‘common call’ for research. It is envisaged that the common call for research would address major shared research priorities, including research related to Overseas Territories and International Development. The mechanism for such a common call has still to be determined, but it is likely that national research funders would be responsible for funding their own national institutes. Under new proposals for ERA-Nets Plus, the EC would provide funds from FP7 to supplement MS funding. The arrangements are complicated but there is significant potential for Defra to obtain added value for any Defra funds contributed to the common call. Total budgets have not been finalised but could be in the range of 5-15m Euro pa. The topics being considered for a common call are: 1. Understand and predict consequences of biodiversity changes on ecosystem functioning and services; 2. Step up assessment of biodiversity at population, species and community level in Europe and provide wide access to this information 3. Scientific contribution to policies and conservation actions
United Kingdom