Climate change is a major threat for biodiversity. For many species, existing habitats will be lost partially or completely, but at the same time habitat suitability in previously unsuitable regions (new climate space) will increase. Ecologists have developed two types of climate adaptation strategies to protect biodiversity: supporting migration towards new climate space with appropriate land use measures and improving habitat quality in existing habitats to create climate refugia. Economic research on climate adaptation has until now largely ignored the threat to biodiversity.

Ecoclimb will conduct pioneering research in the emerging field of "economics of climate adaptation for biodiversity conservation". Ecoclimb will develop exemplarily novel dynamic ecological-economic models to analyse three key conservation policy instruments – incentive payments, offsets and land purchase – in terms of ecological effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in a changing climate. Approaches from ecological and economic research that deal with risk and uncertainty are identified, compared and integrated into the models. Ecoclimb will work in the sample regions of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein with a focus on the protection of endangered grassland species.

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding this project within the framework of the Strategy „Research for Sustainability" (FONA) www.fona.de/en

Further information on the dialogue on the economics of climate change, a supporting measure financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.