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At the end of August, our four-year BIONEXT project officially came to a close. It is time to harvest the outputs and to reflect on what we have achieved during our exploratory journey. One message stands out: yes, there is hope. A nature-positive and sustainable society is possible. It is not a dream. Much of the knowledge, tools, and innovations needed to make this future a reality already exist. The challenge lies in integrating them into actionable policies that connect biodiversity, justice, and key socio-economic pathways, helping to turn ambition into action.
Over the past four years, the BIONEXT project has developed analyses, tools, scenarios, and guidance to help navigate the complexity of the Biodiversity Nexus: the interconnections between biodiversity, climate change, energy and food production, water use, transport, and human health. Our research highlights that lasting transformative change requires inclusive dialogue, cross-sector collaboration, systems thinking, and the integration of biodiversity considerations into decision-making at all levels of society. This message was reinforced last June in Brussels, where BIONEXT joined eight other Horizon Europe projects at the Transformative Change Biodiversity Conference, bringing together more than 180 participants. One of the key takeaways was the urgent need to better connect scientific knowledge with policymaking and implementation, ensuring that solutions can drive meaningful progress across Europe. Although the project has reached the end of its official journey, its impact continues. We expect BIONEXT’s outcomes to be used for years to come, supporting research, policy development, and practical action towards a positive future. We are grateful to all our collaborators and stakeholders who contributed to BIONEXT, especially those who participated in the co-creation workshops where the nature-positive scenarios and pathways were developed. Your expertise and enthusiasm made this work possible. We thank all project participants, members of the Steering Group, and the Scientific Advisory Board for their invaluable contributions.
Last but certainly not least, thanks to everyone who has followed the project throughout its journey. We encourage you to continue sharing our results and championing solutions that advance nature-positive societies. The BIONEXT story is far from over. More results and insights are still on their way, so stay tuned for upcoming outputs and the latest news on the BIONEXT website.
Anna-Stiina Heiskanen coordinates the BIONEXT project, with a focus on the science-policy interface. Her expertise lies in marine and freshwater management and governance, with current interest on systemic and integrative approaches linking biodiversity knowledge and water and marine policies across national, regional and international levels. She is a Professor and a Unit Director at the Finnish Environment Institute.
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