SYMBIOSIS is a pioneering interdisciplinary initiative in biodiversity, aligning with the UN's vision for responsible land use and the European Green Deal. It will build a community of practice between transport infrastructure, energy distribution and production, and biodiversity, while addressing the role of strategic planning in climate change and building resilient infrastructure. The collaborative approach will accelerate action, seamlessly integrating diverse stakeholders within the CSA framework and the EU-Rail Master Plan. SYMBIOSIS offers a holistic approach integrating biodiversity consideration through the entire lifecycle of infrastructure projects. Introducing an impact assessment tool for linear infrastructure, it promotes digitalisation, contributing to a unified European biodiversity baseline through standardised data collection, monitoring and mapping in transport and energy projects. Committed to nature-based solutions for climate-resilient infrastructure, SYMBIOSIS establishes a methodology contributing to the "theory of change", guiding decisions and facilitating information exchange for "no net loss" and "net gain" biodiversity objectives. Building on the momentum created in projects such as the EU-funded BISON project, SYMBIOSIS envisions the coexistence of sustainable infrastructure with thriving biodiversity, advocating for social, economic and environmental well-being. It provides guidance for regulatory changes in biodiversity standardisation globally, acts as a cornerstone for science-based decision-making, similar to the SOURCE platform, and will contribute to a unified European biodiversity baseline, including processes such as CSRD and supply chain management. SYMBIOSIS provides recommendations for biodiversity-related research and innovation, guiding decision-makers and investors on pathways leading to a sustainable, biodiverse future. It showcases transformative change through cross-disciplinary efforts for harmonious coexistence.

The main objectives of the BISON project are: ● To identify future research and innovation needs for a better integration of biodiversity with infrastructure planning, construction, operation and decommissioning. The project will develop a Strategic Research and Deployment Agenda (SRDA) which can be deployed at multiple scales, within the EU research framework programme, or by other regional, national or local programmes, in order to improve the knowledge-base on infrastructure and biodiversity. ● To make linear infrastructure more high performing and reliable while taking into account the specific needs of Western and Eastern Europe. In Western Europe, there is an increasing need to adapt existing long-lived infrastructure to new climate conditions, as well as finding innovative and sustainable solutions to reduce the impact of invasive species and support declining native species, while in Eastern Europe, there is significant land-use change and habitat fragmentation due to the surge in infrastructure developments to provide economic opportunities that are threatening the local, and very often endemic biodiversity. The project will identify the construction, maintenance and inspection methods and materials which are long-lasting and resilient and can be used by different transport modes to mitigate pressure on biodiversity. ● Support European Member States to fulfill their international commitments by engaging all stakeholders into biodiversity mainstreaming for infrastructure planning and development. It will do so by providing recommendations to minimise the impacts of infrastructure on biodiversity through supporting existing and developing projects. ● Support European Member States to become political leaders through collaboration and support of European research institutions and infrastructure operators, and providing more sustainability at the international level through jointly addressing biodiversity and infrastructure challenges.