Between September 2006 and January 2009, the EU-funded project ‘RUBICODE’ (Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems) reviewed the current state-of-the-art of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service provision in numerous terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of Europe.

The results have been summarised in 12 research articles and are now available as a Special Issue of Biodiversity and Conservation (Vol. 19[10], 2010).

Several papers address the indication and assessment of biological diversity in different ecosystems and in particular the role that biodiversity plays for such services. Priority services are presented and impacts of environmental pressures on these services are analysed. Socio-economic aspects of biodiversity (loss) and related services are presented and incorporated in future ecosystem conservation strategies. The authors summarise their results in a plea for future policies on the conservation of biodiversity that inevitably have to incorporate issues of ecosystem services. A comprehensive and referenced glossary aims at providing the terminological basis for discussion.

For further questions, please contact: Dr. Christian K. Feld

Link to the Special Issue in Biodiversity and Conservation, Vol. 19(10), 2010 

Website of the project