The final event of the Horizon 2020 project BISON was organised under the theme ‘Transport Infrastructure and Biodiversity at a Nexus of Challenges’ together with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in the Council of Europe. From 5 to 9 June, various activities were organized to introduce outcomes of the project and discuss the cooperation of infrastructure and ecology experts facing challenges posed by climate change and biodiversity loss.
Work Package 3, ‘Existing and Future Synergy between Infrastructure and Biodiversity’, led by Minuartia, organised a presentation of deliverables on Emerging Trends and Future Challenges and Opportunities Linked to Digitalisation, together with colleagues from the Swedish Agriculture University, CEREMA, TerrOïko – UPGE and CERTH- (a Greek Transport Research Centre). A new online handbook that is under preparation was also introduced, entitled ‘Biodiversity and Infrastructure. A Handbook for Action’.
The panel of experts How to Reach Symbioses between Infrastructure and Biodiversity? about the key results of BISON and the Strategic Agenda for Research, Innovation and Deployment was moderated by Elisabeth Losos from Duke University in North Carolina (USA). Carme Rosell (MINUARTIA) participated in the panel together with Charlotte Navarro (IENE), Yannick Autret (French Ministry for Ecological Transition), Thierry Goger (FERHL) and Andreas Seiler (SLU and chair of the IENE Scientific and Expert Committee).
MINUARTIA participated actively in the workshop organised by the International Union of Railways (UIC) at ENGEES, to introduce the project ECOV4R (Ecosystem Valuation for Railways). This is a new project about how to apply ecosystem-service thinking and science to the land management techniques used in railways, and the habitats and associated services provided on railway land. Nine railways operators are participating in the project.
For the latest news on the HORIZON 2020 BISON project, see: https://bison-transport.eu/
