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The proposed consortium between IAI, ICSU-ROLAC, and UNESCO aims to implement an interdisciplinary research and capacity-building program in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on sustainable energy and risk prevention and management within the Future Earth framework.

The IAI's 2015-2016 plan focuses on institutional restructuring across Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, the implementation of integrated science projects, and various capacity-building workshops in Colombia and Panama. Key initiatives include a new call for grants on ecosystem services and adaptation, and the development of professional seminars on global environmental change and health.

The IAI Directorate Report details the organization's efforts to bridge science and policy in the Americas, focusing on biodiversity, water security, and climate adaptation. It highlights the establishment of the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), the progress of the Third Collaborative Research Network (CRN3), and the results of a MacArthur Foundation project on Andean biodiversity hotspots. The report also outlines capacity-building seminars in Panama and Uruguay, and the IAI's engagement with global entities like Future Earth and IPBES.

The IAI Executive Directorate report for the period July 2014 to May 2015 details the institute's efforts to bridge the gap between global change science and policy in the Americas. Key activities include the 'Lima 2014 Declaration on Biodiversity and Climate Change', the establishment of the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), and the management of several cooperative research networks (CRN3 and SGP-CRA). The report highlights a significant trend toward interdisciplinarity in IAI-funded research, with social sciences integration rising from 33% in CRN1 to 87% in CRN3. Additionally, the report describes a MacArthur-funded project on climate vulnerability in the tropical Andes and various capacity-building seminars across Panama, Guatemala, and other member states.

The IAI activities plan for 2016-2017 focuses on institutional transitions in Argentina and Brazil, the continuation and expansion of CRN3 research projects with an emphasis on interdisciplinary science and ecosystem services, and the delivery of professional development seminars across the Americas. Key science-policy goals include launching a MOOC at COP-22, participating in UNCBD COP-13 and IPBES-5, and aligning research with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The IAI's 2016-2017 plan focuses on enhancing interdisciplinary research through the CRN3 projects and new grants on ecosystem services for adaptation. Key capacity-building initiatives include professional seminars in Costa Rica, Chile, Dominican Republic, and Canada, as well as an advanced science school on the nitrogen cycle in Brazil. The institute aims to strengthen science-policy links through a MOOC launched at COP 22, a partnership with IPBES, and participation in the UN High-Level Political Forum regarding the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The IAI Directorate Report (June 2015 - May 2016) outlines the institute's efforts to bridge the gap between global change science and policy in the Americas. Key activities include the implementation of the NSF-funded Training Institute Seed Grant Program, the development of Professional Development Seminars, and the creation of a Science Policy Liaison Directorate in Buenos Aires to quantify the impact of IAI research. The report highlights strategic collaborations with the UNFCCC, CBD, and the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as a transition toward greater financial ownership by member countries through the Inter-american Forum of Funding Agencies. It also details specific regional projects, such as climate vulnerability assessments in the Tropical Andes and water management initiatives in Argentina and Colombia.

The IAI report outlines its efforts to bridge the gap between climate science and policy in the Americas through capacity-building programs, international networking, and strategic alliances with UN agencies and development banks. Key achievements include the implementation of seed grant programs, the development of climate vulnerability tools for the tropical Andes, and increased visibility through the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) campaign. The document also highlights a transition toward a more diversified funding model and the establishment of a Science-Policy Liaison office in Buenos Aires to quantify the impact of IAI research on national and regional policies.

The IAI has developed a comprehensive set of 24 KPIs and 38 metrics to evaluate its progress in advancing transdisciplinary science, capacity building, and organizational sustainability in the Americas. These metrics cover areas such as fundraising, open data management, and the integration of underrepresented groups in research.

The IAI has established a framework of indicators and metrics to assess progress toward its 25-year Strategic Plan (2019–2044). This framework includes 24 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and a series of leading and lagging metrics across categories such as fundraising, open data, capacity building, and science priorities. The system is designed to be reviewed every three to six years to align with the tenure of the IAI Executive Director.

The IAI Executive Director Search Committee recommends Dr. Marcos Regis da Silva for the position following a process that began in August 2016. The search involved reviewing 25 applications, conducting teleconference interviews with 10 shortlisted candidates, and holding in-person interviews with three finalists in Montevideo in January 2017. The committee selected Dr. Regis da Silva based on his 25 years of experience in academia and the United Nations, his expertise in biodiversity and ecosystem services, and his vision for open science and regional policy engagement.

The document examines the critical state of biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting threats such as 'empty forest syndrome,' gold mining in the Amazon, and the impact of global commodity trade. It emphasizes the vital role of ecosystem services—such as water regulation in Andean páramos and soil health for agriculture—and argues for a shift from an extractivist logic to an inclusive conservation model that integrates indigenous knowledge and territorial rights. The text also explores the nexus between biodiversity and human health, the potential of a sustainable blue economy, and the risks associated with the 'green extractivism' of lithium mining for the energy transition.

The report details the 'Impacts of Climate Change and Global in Latin America' MOOC, a free educational tool launched at COP-22 to provide knowledge on climate science and its effects on biodiversity and services in Latin America. Developed with 21 scientists from eight countries, the course covers six thematic axes, including terrestrial and marine ecosystems and the agricultural sector. As of February 28, 2018, the course had 8,684 registered users and 94,371 visits. The document proposes implementing a digital certification system involving module-specific exams with a minimum passing score of 80 to increase user retention and provide professional accreditation.

The MAP-FIRE project focuses on the 'MAP region' (Madre de Dios in Peru, Acre in Brazil, and Pando in Bolivia) to address increasing vulnerability to droughts and wildfires. The project found that drought-induced fire emissions are often excluded from national carbon inventories and that gross emissions from wildfires can exceed 50% of primary forest deforestation during drought years. In Acre, Brazil, economic losses from forest fires between 2008 and 2012 were estimated at US$ 307.46 ± 85.41 million, representing 9.07 ± 2.46% of the state's GDP. To mitigate these risks, the project co-developed monitoring platforms for fire occurrence and air quality, which have since influenced the installation of air quality sensor networks across all Brazilian Amazonian states and informed a new project in the Pantanal region. The initiative also produced 10 technical reports and 34 collaborative events to integrate fire risk knowledge into school curricula and decision-making processes.

The GovernAgua project analyzed six river basins in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay to identify how to improve water governance in the face of complex crises. Findings indicate that while water crises often lead to improved biophysical monitoring, responses remain predominantly reactive. The project advocates for a shift toward anticipatory governance, interdisciplinary practices, and stronger science-policy-society dialogue to address the fragmented management between environmental protection and agricultural productivity.

The project investigates governance modalities that incorporate local and traditional knowledge to improve biodiversity conservation. Using a 'decentralizing academia' approach, the team established Communities of Practice Collaborators (CCP) to foster co-learning between academics, farmers, and local knowledge keepers. The research identifies plurality, power asymmetries, and conflict as key facilitators or barriers to conservation and is producing a collaborative book featuring local voices from Colombia, Chile, and Uruguay.

The project investigated the Paraná river downstream of the Porto Primavera dam in Brazil to understand how flow dynamics affect large wetlands and floodplains. Using the Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) method, researchers found that fish migration and reproduction are strongly influenced by the duration, starting date, peak, and frequency of flood events. The study also identified that professional fishing, tourism, and recreation depend on these ecosystems, though these activities often face conflicts of interest. To address these issues, the team developed a mathematical model using Stochastic Dual Dynamic Programming (SDDP) to simulate the performance of 53 hydropower plants on the river, aiming to create operating policies that optimize both energy production and ecosystem recovery.

The project addresses gaps in local and regional biodiversity strategies by developing 'Communities of Practice Collaboratories' (CPCs) to integrate diverse knowledge systems and decentralize academia. Through case studies in four countries and a systematic literature review, the research identifies plurality, power asymmetries, and conflict as key enablers or barriers to conservation, while promoting the inclusion of local voices through a forthcoming edited book.

The report identifies a significant gap between climate change and biodiversity policies in the Tropical Andes, noting that while legal frameworks exist, scientific research and institutional coordination remain fragmented. It highlights that high-altitude zones are the most vulnerable to climate change, affecting ecosystem services for lowland areas. The document details national strategies and projects in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, emphasizing the need for integrated monitoring networks, better flow of scientific data to decision-makers, and the development of multidisciplinary research to study the interaction between climate variability and species distribution.

The document identifies the IAI Directorate and members of its Science-Policy and Scientific Advisory Committees attending UNFCCC COP28. The delegation includes experts in climate and health, science diplomacy, adaptation for rural and indigenous communities, carbon emissions, and marine governance.