Biodiversity & Society

Accelerating transformational change toward living in harmony with nature

UNU-IAS: Biodiversity & Society

Action on biodiversity is urgently needed to sustain a healthy planet and the lives that it supports. Our research provides evidence-based inputs for implementing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, with a focus on sustainable management of production landscapes and seascapes. As the secretariat of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI), UNU-IAS mobilizes efforts by more than 300 member organizations across the globe to build mutually beneficial human–nature relationships. Through technical and institutional capacity development activities, the institute supports governments and other stakeholders in applying landscape approaches and promotes participatory, inclusive management.

News

News

UNCCD COP17 Event Highlights Need to Finance Landscape Governance

An event at the UN desertification conference in Ulaanbaatar urged investment in governance to achieve effective and sustained landscape action.

24 Aug 2026

Media Coverage

Preserving Satoyama Landscapes and Biodiversity in Tokyo

Mongabay featured comments by UNU-IAS expert Suneetha Subramanian on environmental governance based on mutual trust and community collaboration.

21 Aug 2026

Woman picking tea leaves

Ensuring Ecological Connectivity in Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS)

This open-access book explores how integrated landscape and seascape management can support biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable development.
Download the book

Projects

Project

International Satoyama Initiative

The ISI project works to promote the Satoyama Initiative, a global effort to realize societies in harmony with nature.

12 Aug 2026