Addressing biodiversity loss and navigating toward more resilient futures requires knowledge that is not only scientifically robust but also grounded in long-term engagement with people and places. Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) platforms are vital infrastructures for producing such knowledge. They enable a deeper understanding of the dynamic interactions between biodiversity, land use, and societal change. Across diverse regions and contexts, LTSER initiatives integrate ecological monitoring with social science perspectives, working with stakeholders to generate insights that support transformation toward sustainability.

This session invites contributions from researchers and practitioners involved in long-term, integrative biodiversity research, particularly those exploring how such knowledge can inform future-oriented thinking and action. We are interested in approaches that explicitly engage with questions of desired futures, scenario development, or pathways for social-ecological transformation. Of particular interest are cases that highlight how embedded, inter- and transdisciplinary research can help anticipate developments, navigate uncertainty, and support adaptive governance.

Examples from platforms such as the Kili-SES project in Tanzania and the Biodiversity Exploratories in Germany will serve as starting points to discuss how long-term, place-based research can contribute to collective narratives and informed decision-making for biodiversity. We welcome submissions from other LTSER sites and comparable initiatives that combine ecological and societal dimensions to co-create knowledge for sustainable futures.