Selected projects
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EU-PROTECTED AREAS (N2K)
Funded by the European Environmental Agency (EEA) (Co-PI: Borja Jiménez-Alfaro; 2024-2028) In association with several techonological companies (COTESA, CLS, EVENFLOW), we will update the European map of land cover in Natura 2000 areas. We developed a conceptual framework to link land cover classes to EUNIS habitat classification, combining in-situ observations, remote sensing, Artificial Intelligence, and high-computing systems. |
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FLORACAN
Funded by the Atlantic Botanic Garden (PI: Borja Jiménez-Alfaro; 2023-2026) FLORACAN is the current scientific project developed at the Jardín Botánico Atlántico de Gijón, in Asturias, Spain. Our main is to synthetize the diversity of vascular plants and habitat types of the Cantabrian Mixed Forest Ecoregion in SW Europe. We combine the analysis of vegetation data with national and international databases to develop biodiversity tools to support nature conservation at the ecoregion level. |
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SONATA
Funded by EU Horizon WIDERA 2023 (Co-PI: Borja Jiménez-Alfaro; 2024-2026) This project focuses on the development of technical skills for Modeling, Mapping and Monitoring Nature Infraestructures as a tool for implementing nature-based solutions in conservation management. The project is a capacity building approach to support IT facilities in Serbia. We will implement a working flow to integrate in-situ field observations, remote sensing, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. |
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MOTIVATE
Funded by Biodiversa+ EU Biodiversity parternship (Co-PI: Borja Jiménez-Alfaro; 2024-2026) MOTIVATE integrates vegetation-plot time series data with various forms of quantitative monitoring and qualitative stakeholder perceptions to improve how monitoring data is put into practice by decision-makers at the EU level. The data produced in MOTIVATE will be the basis of habitat- and species-specific assessments of plant biodiversity status and trends in Europe. |
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PREDINV
Funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (Juan de la Cierva grant) (PI: Adrián Lázaro-Lobo; Tutor: Borja Jiménez-Alfaro; 2023-2024) PREDINV aims at predicting the invasivility of plants in nature ecosystems. We focus on the distribution of invasive plants to generate regional checklists and to predict their potential distribution in non-invaded areas. We also focus on regenerative processes like seed dispersal, germination and seedling establishment. One of our target species is Cortaderia selloana, a native species from South America but invasive worldwide. |
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EUROPABON
Funded by EU Horizon 2020 (PI: Henrique Pereira; 2021-2024) The European Biodiversity Observation Network engages users at the regional, national and European level to identify the data needs of policies and targets aligned with the new European Green Deal, such as the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, Habitats Directive, etc. We collaborate in a showcase on habitat mapping and monitoring. website: https://europabon.org/ |
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SEEDALP
Funded by the Spanish Research Agency (AEI) (PI: Borja Jiménez-Alfaro; 2021-2024) The aim of this project is to assess the seed ecological spectrum of alpine communities by using high-quality data. We evaluate regeneratuive raits related to different functions and how they determine trade-offs across species and plant communities. A major question is related to the variation of communities across microclimatic gradients. |
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ATLANTIC BOTANIC GARDEN
Funded by the Gijón City Council (PI: Borja Jiménez-Alfaro; 2021-2022) The scientific project for the Atlantic Botanic Garden is focused on assessing the influence of global change on plant diversity at the Cantabrian Mixed Forest Ecoregion. We are also developing a new research and conservation project for the herbarium (JBAG) and the seed bank collections. |
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REWILDING
Funded by the Principality of Asturias (PI: Susana Suárez-Seoane; 2021-2023) We use the Cantabrian mountains as a study system to evaluate the influence of passive rewilding on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Using vegetation modeling and remote sensing tools, our main aim is to quantify the influence of land abandonment in ecosystem changes of mountain areas in southern Europe. |
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EUROFENS
Funded by the Czech Science Foundation (PI: Michal Hájek; 2019-2022) Fens are threatened habitats serving as refugia for rare species and also as important carbon sinks worldwide. In this project, we test hypotheses dealing with the distribution of these mire ecosystems and the compositional variation of bryophytes, vascular plants and molluscs in relation to macroclimate, hydrology and chemical conditions of European fens. |
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ALPINE ISLANDS
Funded by EU Marie Curie Actions -CLARIN (PI: Borja Jiménez-Alfaro; 2012-2019) Although there has been high interest in describing the diversity of alpine flora worldwide, the patterns and processes regulating alpine plant communities at large scales are largely unknown. Here we try to unveil historical and environmental drivers of plant diversity across European mountains. See also the ALPVEG network |
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NASSTEC
Funded by EU Marie Curie Actions - ITN (Co-PI: Borja Jiménez-Alfaro; 2016-2019) The aim of NASSTEC is to improve the capability of seed scientists and seed companies to produce native seeds for ecological restoration. We developed methods for grassland restoration on (i) prioritization of native species for restoring biodiversity in olive groves and (ii) species selection for the restoration of European grasslands. |
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sPLOT
Funded by the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research - iDiv (PI: Helge Bruelheide; started 2015) The global vegetation database (sPlot) is a research platform storing more than 1.5 million of vegetation plots. The maain aim is to understand global patterns of compositional, functional and phylogenetic diversity in world plant communities. We collaborate with sPlot through the Steering Committee and leading research projects. |
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EVA
Funded by the European Vegetation Survey working group and Masaryk University (PI: Milan Chytrý, started 2012) The European Vegetation Archive (EVA) is the main repostitory of European vegetation data. In collaboration with The European Vegetation Survey IAVS working group, EVA stores the largest continental database of plant communities available worldwide. We collaborate with EVA in the governing board and the coordination of research projects |
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N2000TK
Funded by the EU and the Republic of Turkey (Coord. Begoña Matilla (Human Dynamics), 2016-2019) This project aimed at establishing a conservation network mirroring the Natura 2000 in Europe. We established a methodology for (i) creating an inventory of habitat types of Turkey based on vegetation data and (ii) implementing spatial models to assess the distribution of natural habitats in Central Anatolia using topo-climatic predictors and remote sensing variables. |
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