Protecting diverse ecosystem services.

Ecosystems are reaching their limits, as humans are demanding more from the natural foundations of life in a way that has never been seen before. But ecosystem services are important, as they guarantee the preservation and advancement of human societies.

UFZ has the world’s largest-area experiment on the influences of land use and climate change on agroecosystems. Here, we analyze material and energy flows in ecosystems, investigate structural and functional aspects of biodiversity, and explore the causes and consequences of changes caused by humans. For example, soil animals are becoming smaller as a result of climate change, and different crop species are reaching harvest maturity at the same time, increasing the risk that a flood will destroy entire harvests. In model landscapes in Germany, Europe, and hot-spot regions of the world, we shed light on how ecosystem services can be permanently safeguarded and optimized. Among other things, we operate the Global Change Experimental Facility (GCEF), a long-term experiment that is unique in the world, in which we are investigating the influence of climate and land use change. After all, we need to bring nature back into our lives and economies and improve the multi-functionality of our ecosystems and landscapes.

(Photo: UFZ/André Künzelmann)