PRIN PNRR 2022 - P2022N5KYJ - MITEX – Mitigating socio-ecological impacts of glacier extinction - Finanziamento dell’Unione Europea – NextGenerationEU – missione 4, componente 2, investimento 1.1. - CUP: D53D23015900001

The IPCC recognizes glacier ecosystems as a major reason of concern for their uniqueness and vulnerability. Following glacier retreat, new terrains get uncovered prompting novel species interactions and creating grasslands for grazing. But glacier extinction also drives shrub encroachment in late stages, which drives the loss of species from local communities and the inherent impoverishment of ecosystem services. Unfortunately, lack of experimental, system-level studies limits our understanding of ecological mechanisms underlying biodiversity loss. This knowledge gap impairs our ability to devise specific recommendations for halting ecosystem service erosion. Developing conservation actions for mitigating socio-ecological impacts of glacier extinction is therefore of paramount importance to biodiversity maintenance, environmental health, food production and human welfare. To address such challenges, it is crucial to go beyond the traditional description of biodiversity patterns and overcome the difficulties associated with understanding ecological processes and predicting biodiversity change. We hypothesise that sustainable grazing levels in late stages may favour biodiversity by limiting shrub encroachment. MITEX will develop conservation and mitigation actions in environments ranging from recent ice-free terrains to late stages of ecosystem development across ten Alpine glaciers. The contribution MITEX will provide is crucial to predicting the fate of biodiversity and mitigating the impact of glacier extinction on ecosystem services and our societies. First, we will forecast biodiversity change across multiple ecological communities (plants, pollinators, herbivores, and predators) and reconstruct ecosystem services. By means of field surveys and innovative ecological modelling, we will identify species at risk of extinction and highlight how biodiversity loss impacts human welfare. Second, we will unveil ecological mechanisms of biodiversity loss by establishing field experiments that manipulate livestock grazing, woody encroachment and plant recruitment. Integrating environmental data and ecological processes will allow us to provide effective recommendations for halting biodiversity loss and supporting ecosystem services in a sustainable manner. Third, we will provide maps with specific interventions and solutions for sustaining biodiversity and preserving ecosystem functionality. Management plans and policy recommendations will be discussed with stakeholders in order to smooth trade-offs and maximise co-benefits. This project is crucial for addressing the urgent crisis we are facing. The outcome of MITEX will help to inform decision-making to preserve and manage these nearing extinction yet fundamental ecosystems. Given the novelty and topicality of our project and the pressing challenges posed by climate change and biodiversity loss, MITEX will be of interest to a broad scientific community and the general public.