The IAFES Division conducts research in the context of the interaction between climate and terrestrial ecosystems, taking into account new development pathways in the post-pandemic world, the new EU policies (e.g. CAP, Climate Law), strategies (Green Deal, Digital) and initiatives (Copernicus, Destination Earth), as well as the new Horizon Europe Programme (including its Missions) and the projects under the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience (PNRR).
The Division’s research activities pay attention to keep data and software strategy aligned to the one of CMCC (e.g. in terms of programming languages, data interoperability and FAIR principles) and to support decision making processes on land-based climate change adaptation and mitigation options at local, national and international level, by:
- improving public awareness on climate change and communicating related risks and vulnerabilities;
- co-designing with users innovative solutions and mechanisms for a systemic transformation of the territory;
- guiding the formulation of climate-related strategies and plans, fostering transitions toward greater resource efficiency and contributing to SDGs.
IAFES Projects
Mediterranean agrosilvopastoral ecosystems (MAEs), such as Dehesa in Spain, Montado in Portugal,…
The IRIDE program is an innovative project undertaken by the Italian government…
IAFES Publications
Influence of climate change on irrigation demand: insights from one of the most agricultural regions in Italy (Puglia)
Ellena M., Padulano R., Mercogliano P.
2025, Natural Hazards, doi: 10.1007/s11069-025-07233-z
Are trait responses of tree species across pyroregions indicative of fire-modulated plant functional strategies?
Costa Saura J. M. , Midolo G., Ricotta C., Baudena M., Calfapietra C., Elia M., Fiorucci P., Mereu S., Sirca C., Spano D., Vivaldo G., Ottaviani G.
2025, Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, doi: 10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125867
Pressure on Global Forests: Implications of Rising Vegetable Oils Consumption Under the EAT-Lancet Diet
Chiriacò M. V. , Galli., Latella M., Rulli M.C.
2025, Global Change Biology, Volume31, Issue2, doi: 10.1111/gcb.70077
Research Units
Research Unit Leaders
Maria Vincenza Chiriacò and Valentina Mereu
The “Carbon Neutrality in the Land Sector and Sustainable Agricultural Production” Research Unit assess the impact of land use on the carbon cycle to enhance climate resilience and carbon neutrality while sustaining ecosystem services. It includes GHG accounting in the AFOLU sector, land suitability assessments, and remote sensing to understand climate change impacts on agriculture. Assessment of sustainable practices (e.g., regenerative agriculture, precision farming) and emerging technologies (AI, monitoring) to support policies, incentives, and certification for soil health, biodiversity, and carbon farming. Improving the assessment of land use and climate change impacts and risks on crop productivity and food security at local and regional level.
Research Unit Leaders
Manuela Balzarolo, Costantino Sirca and Dario Papale
The “Monitoring and Modelling Land-Ecosystem Processes and Responses to Human and Climate-Induced Stresses” Research Unit examines responses to droughts, fires, and climate extremes, and impacts on carbon and biogeochemical cycles. Earth Observation application to model ecosystem dynamics, improve wildfire prediction, and assess fire management trade-offs for climate adaptation. Wildfire impact analysis on biodiversity, testing automated approaches in simulators, and GHG monitoring. In this unit is included the coordination of the ICOS Ecosystem Thematic Centre, developing methodologies for ecosystem monitoring and calibration-validation using European observation networks.
Research Unit Leaders
Antonio Trabucco, Marta Debolini and Simone Mereu
The “Nexus Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems and Associated Landscape Processes and Dynamics” Research Unit assess the SDG achievements, considering multi-sector dynamics like food security, land use, and degradation. Digital tools support water resource management and policy. Evaluation of agrosystems’ ecosystem services, climate adaptation, and alternative cropping methods. Spatial analysis and remote sensing map agricultural landscapes, assess crop suitability, and model forest community dynamics under changing conditions, enhancing understanding of ecosystem responses to environmental and human pressures.
Research Unit Leaders
Serena Marras and Matteo Funaro
The Science-Policy Interface and Applied Sociology Research Unit is transversal to the other research units and develops the sectoral integration among adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development. Developing qualitative and quantitative sociological and participatory approach methods, transferable and flexible across diverse contexts and scales, to identify and prioritize adaptation objectives and options, in particular related to agro and forest ecosystems, and to evaluate the coherence between adaptation and sustainable development policies. Stakeholder engagement and support for strategical planning in terms of climate adaptation.
ICOS Ecosystem Thematic Center
ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System) is a European Research Infrastructure (ESFRI) for quantifying and understanding the greenhouse gas balance of the European continent and of adjacent regions (www.icos-ri.eu). It is organized in three different components (Atmosphere, Ecosystems, Oceans) and each of them is coordinated by a Thematic Centre.
This website host the ICOS Ecosystem Thematic Centre construction phase, providing all the information available and introducing the actual network of sites. The sections available on the top bar menu offer access to the documentation, working groups for protocols and demonstration experiment sites.
