With a growing population and rapid changes in the global environment, a thorough understanding of ecosystems is critical to managing natural resources in a sustainable way.<\/p>\n
Ecosystem research addresses the complex interactions between living organisms, the physical environment and human societies. This work is key to a better understanding of how we can conserve biodiversity, ecosystem services and promote human well-being. The health of humans, animals and plants depends on a healthy environment.<\/p>\n\t
What we offer<\/h2>\n
CABI\u2019s ecosystems research focuses on assessing the interactions between species and the environment.<\/p>\n
We offer research support to understand the factors underlying ecosystem degradation and the links with human well-being. We then develop methods that help conserve or restore biodiversity and ecosystems.<\/p>\n
We also work in both temperate and sub-tropical climates to understand and mitigate the impacts of biological invasions on ecosystems and the services they provide for humans.<\/p>\n
The sustainable management strategies we develop and implement contribute to the conservation or restoration of healthy ecosystems.<\/p>\n
Besides our research and implementation activities, we also provide advice to policy-makers in Switzerland, the rest of Europe and Africa.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tThe team and key contact\n\t<\/h2>\n\t
The team working at CABI in Switzerland is led by Dr Urs Schaffner and includes two research scientists. In addition, a number of PhD and MSc students join the team during their thesis work. We also work closely with research institutions all over the world, including Africa, Asia, North America and Europe.<\/p>\n
Contact: Dr Urs Schaffner<\/a>. Head Ecosystems Management.<\/p>\n\t\n Head Ecosystems Management<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t T: +41 (0)32 4214877 E: u.schaffner@cabi.org<\/a><\/p>\n\t We are currently working on projects addressing grassland conservation and restoration, the environmental and socio-economic impact of invasive species and integrated weed management. Project highlights include:<\/p>\n Many exotic trees and shrubs have been introduced into Africa and become destructive invasive species. They\u2019re reducing native biodiversity and limiting the livelihoods of those that live in rural communities. CABI is trying to mitigate these impacts in East Africa by generating and sharing knowledge on their effects and finding ways that they can be controlled.<\/p>\n\t\t\n Global biodiversity is receiving increased attention as it becomes more and more threatened because of the growing human population and development. Beetles or coleopteran are no exception and CABI is running this project to increase knowledge and understanding of their biodiversity in Laos.<\/p>\n\t\t\n Halting and reversing land degradation is one of the biggest challenges to meeting the targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals. This project aims to assess the effects of grassland degradation on soil functions on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and determine whether manipulation of plant functional diversity can accelerate the restoration of functioning of degraded soils.<\/p>\n\t\t Ecosystem research addresses the complex interactions between living organisms, the physical environment and human societies. This work is key to a better understanding of how we can conserve biodiversity, ecosystem services and promote human well-being. The health of humans, animals and plants depends on a healthy environment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":157331,"parent":937,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"tags":[26],"section":[],"pathway":[],"class_list":["post-117359","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-switzerland"],"yoast_head":"\n![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/staff_24719.jpg\")
\n <\/figure>\n\tCABI In Switzerland<\/a>\n\tUrs Schaffner<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t
Project highlights<\/h2>\n
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\n\t\tRelated Projects\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/project-images\/IMG_5472-600x360.jpg\")
\n <\/figure>\n\t\tWoody weeds in East Africa<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/project-images\/IMG_5097-1-600x360.jpg\")
\n <\/figure>\n\t\tImproving knowledge and understanding of beetle biodiversity in Laos<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/project-images\/P1013586-600x360.jpg\")
\n <\/figure>\n\t\tRestoring grasslands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\t\t
\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/bbpowerpack\/images\/spinner.gif\")
<\/a>\n\n\t\tMore from CABI in Switzerland\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/International-development\/Centres\/China-BMSB-smaal-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tBiological control of invasive insects<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/International-development\/Centres\/Marc-Kenis-and-JL-students--wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tRisk analysis and invasion ecology<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/International-development\/Centres\/EPNsSoilPestsAgriTT_RW_Oct2015_bySToepfer-289-1-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tIntegrated crop management<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/International-development\/Centres\/IMG_0038-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tMAS ICM Course<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/International-development\/Centres\/IMG_0013-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tEducation and training<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_2282-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tMAS ICM students 2019<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/International-development\/Centres\/MAS-ICM-students\/MAS-ICM-2018-group-photo-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tMAS ICM students 2018<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/International-development\/Centres\/3.-PhD-students-Aaron-Weed-and-Alicia-Leroux_4459756210_o-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tBiological control of invasive plants<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/masicm2017-e1571748037377-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tMAS ICM students 2017<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/MAS-ICM-2016-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tMAS ICM students 2016<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t\t\t\tAbout CABI in Switzerland\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"