ASCEND recently selected the BAOBAB synthesis team Guidance for Conserving African Biodiversity in a Changing Climate, led by Alan Lee, Gregor Schuurman and Wendy Foden, to pioneer new guidance on conserving African biodiversity in a rapidly changing climate.

The team’s work focuses on understanding how climate change is reshaping ecosystems across the continent and identifying which conservation actions most effectively reduce climate-related risks. By integrating scientific evidence, indigenous knowledge, and practical conservation experience, the initiative aims to provide clear, actionable guidance that helps decision-makers boost the resilience of African ecosystems under intensifying climate pressures.

The synthesis teams is part of a global collaboration in partnership with 9 global synthesis centres in the USA, Europe and Latin America (sDiv, Powell Centre, NCEAS, AquaSYNC, Sinbiose, CESAB, CIEE-ICEE, Institute for Global Change Biology, Just Transformations for Sustainability). Each of these synthesis centres will also host a team around the theme of climate change and biodiversity.  The collaboration will include joint seminars, symposia, training opportunities, joint meetings for some participants from different teams to explore ‘ubersynthesis’.