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How quickly different species of plants and animals are disappearing or how the climate changes. It will be possible to assess this more accurately thanks to a project by the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (FAV UWB), which focuses on monitoring fundamental natural and climatic indicators. This information then helps to create effective strategies for nature conservation and adaptation to climate change.

Experts are jointly developing tools for a unified and flexible nature monitoring system that can be applied in different parts of the world. New methods using artificial intelligence will help to process large amounts of data more efficiently and propose solutions for environmental protection. The project will use satellite imagery, drones, field sensors, and artificial intelligence to assess natural and climatic variables accurately. The data obtained in this way will serve as the basis for effective strategies in biodiversity conservation and adaptation to climate challenges.

"BioClima is more than just research—it is a connection of ideas, data, and technologies across Europe aimed at solving today's key climate and biodiversity problems. It focuses on strengthening cooperation between the EU and China and sets new standards in global environmental monitoring and early warning systems for climate and biodiversity," said project coordinator Tomáš Mildorf from FAV UWB.

The BioClima project includes eight pilot sites in various biogeographical areas of Europe and parts of China, where uniform and harmonized monitoring methods will be tested. One of the pilot areas is the Czech Republic, specifically the Žďársko region in the Vysočina region. Experts are monitoring how nature in agricultural and forest landscapes changes under climate's influence. Sensors are being installed in the field to measure, for example, temperature, soil moisture, and precipitation. The Czech part of the project involves the Holovousy Fruit Research and Breeding Institute and the Plan4all organization, which was established, among other things, on the University of West Bohemia initiative. Data from this location will contribute to European and global initiatives focused on using nature-based solutions for biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation. The project also supports the objectives of the EuropaBON initiative, which aims to create a unified system for monitoring the state of nature across Europe.

Each location has its specific characteristics corresponding to the local landscape and conditions. Research will be conducted, for example, in Finland, Austria, Romania, Greece, and Belgium, as well as in areas of the European Arctic (the northern parts of European countries that extend beyond the Arctic Circle). Research activities include monitoring grasslands and protected areas for climatic influences, studying vegetation, permafrost, and carbon flows, and the impact of intensive agriculture and urbanization.