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The project developed the Local Knowledge Scenarios (LKS) method, which integrates field work and Agent-Based Models to document local perceptions of environmental change and their impact on decision-making. Testing across five diverse American regions revealed that local awareness of issues like deforestation in the Amazon does not always translate to the acceptance of environmental laws, and that fishing communities in Canada require national public policies to successfully diversify their income sources.

The TRopi-dRy research network is establishing a knowledge base on the ecology, diversity, and socio-economic drivers of tropical dry forests (TdFs) in the Americas. Initial findings include the creation of the first-ever map of TdFs in the Americas, which provides a legal basis for conservation monitoring in Costa Rica. Phenology monitoring indicates divergent productivity trends: dry forests are becoming more productive near the equator, with increases noted in Brazil and decreases in Bolivia, while dry seasons are lengthening further north and south.

The project examines the relationship between land use and cover change (LUCC), climate, and soil microorganisms, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Initial findings indicate that AMF species abundance shifts seasonally and that diversity and symbiotic ability decline significantly during warm and dry seasons, potentially disrupting the relationship with host plants. In the páramos region, this research has been applied to create bio-fertilizers that enhance potato growth.

The DiverSus Collaborative Research Network investigates the relationship between land cover change, functional biodiversity, and ecosystem services. The project aims to create a conceptual framework and empirical tools to assist land-use decisions by linking ecological data—such as carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling—with the livelihoods of social actors. Initial work includes case studies in Alaska, Costa Rica, Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina, focusing on measuring functional trait values of dominant species and conducting social surveys to identify ecosystem services.

The IAI is seeking to fill two vacancies on its Science Advisory Council in 2010, replacing Rana Fine and Maria Carmen Lemos. The nominations will target four priority areas: Climate Science (specifically climate modeling), Ecosystems and climate (specifically biodiversity), Policy and Human Dimensions of global change (including vulnerability assessment, mitigation, adaptation, and science-policy interaction), and Integration and modeling (focusing on resilience and social-ecological systems modeling). Candidates are evaluated based on basic criteria of scientific excellence, geopolitical balance across the Americas and the Caribbean, and gender balance, as well as second-tier considerations including interdisciplinary research ability, representation of science in the Americas, and the ability to bridge the science-policy divide.

The IAI Strategic Plan (2010) establishes a framework for addressing global environmental change in the Americas through interdisciplinary research, regional networking, and science-policy dialogue. The plan emphasizes a shift toward 'needs-driven' science that integrates natural and social sciences to address vulnerability, adaptation, and mitigation. Key goals include enhancing capacity building for young scientists, promoting equitable access to research tools across the continent, and implementing adaptive management to respond to rapid environmental changes. The IAI aims to serve as an interface between the scientific community and decision-makers to support evidence-based policy and sustainable development, particularly for populations in developing countries most vulnerable to environmental risks.

The report evaluates the IAI's progress since 1994, highlighting its success in developing scientific capacity and high-quality natural science research. It identifies a critical need to improve the communication of scientific results to decision-makers and proposes a strategic focus on the human impacts of global change. The IAI intends to maintain its current broad scientific agenda while enhancing the methodology of implementation to foster deeper interaction between interdisciplinary scientists and policy-makers across the Americas.

The report evaluates the IAI's progress since 1994, noting its success in building scientific capacity and producing high-quality natural science. While the existing Science Agenda remains valid, the report argues for a strategic shift toward improving the translation of research into actionable guidance for decision-makers. It emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration—integrating social, economic, and health sciences with natural sciences—and suggests expanding the involvement of senior policy makers and industry leaders in the research process to enhance the societal relevance of global change science.

The 28th SAC meeting in Miami reviewed the status of IAI's Cooperative Research Networks (CRN II) and Small Grants Programme for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), emphasizing the need for better scientific integration across projects and increased institutional visibility. Key discussions included the development of a Latin American optical phenology network, the creation of science-society interaction proposals, and the importance of translating scientific achievements into policy briefs.

The document outlines the preliminary framework for the IAI's Strategic Plan, identifying the need for a new approach due to evolving global change science and an increasing number of stakeholders. It defines the plan's objective as guiding the IAI's scientific and programmatic agenda for 5-10 years, strengthening the science-policy relationship in the Americas, and preparing for a strategic planning workshop in November 2008. The framework is organized around four key themes: global change science, knowledge-involved dialogue, IAI governance, and cross-cutting issues.

The IAI Strategic Planning committee is developing a new 5-10 year institutional agenda to move away from an 'opportunity driven model'. The process identifies a changing context for Global Environmental Change (GEC) science, including the need to integrate human dimensions and move toward solving issues via agent-based modeling. The plan focuses on four themes: GEC Science, Knowledge Dialogs, GEC Governance for IAI, and Cross-cutting Issues, with a synthesis workshop planned for November 2008.

The 27th SAC meeting in Toronto focused on the transition of leadership, with Juan Valdés and Maria Carmen Lemos appointed as President and Vice President. The committee established three specialized commissions to manage the science-policy interface, science integration, and governance. Key operational updates included the launch of an IDRC project on land use and biofuels, the planning of a colloquium on water resources in Mendoza, and the development of a science-policy proposal for CRN II projects. The SAC also prioritized improving the IAI's communication strategies and reaffirmed its commitment to scientific excellence and the development of the next generation of global change scientists within its strategic plan.

This briefing outlines the Terms of Reference (TORs) for developing a strategic plan and priorities for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) for the following decade. The document identifies key areas for institutional improvement, including governance, funding, communication, and the IAI's relationship with member countries and global organizations.

The report details the financial status of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) as of October 31, 2007. It highlights that 53% of approved country contributions for the 2007/2008 fiscal year had been collected, with a heavy reliance on the US, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. The document outlines expenditures for the Collaborative Research Networks (CRN I and II), Training Institutes, and a new Small-Grants Program for Human Dimensions. It also notes in-kind contributions from Brazil totaling US$185,776.30 for the 2006/2007 fiscal year and reports a favorable external audit for the same period.

The IAI is managing the closure of its CRN I program and the implementation of CRN II and Small Grants Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), while seeking new funding from the MacArthur Foundation and IDRC. The institute is expanding its regional network through collaborations with entities like IGBP, IUCN, and CEPAL, and is focusing on capacity building through research internships and specialized training institutes on climate risk, water management, and urban responses. Efforts to secure operational budget contributions from member countries like Guatemala and Uruguay are ongoing.

The 24th SAC Meeting, held in December 2006, focused on transitioning IAI science from individual projects to broader research programs and increasing the societal relevance of global environmental change (GEC) research. The committee identified priorities for 2007-2008, including the development of an overarching strategic plan, the integration of human dimensions research via a US$800K fund, and the need to balance scientific excellence with informed action and policy relevance. The meeting also outlined the criteria for renewing SAC membership to ensure interdisciplinary expertise in areas such as meteorology, biodiversity, urban/energy, and environment/economy.

The 24th SAC meeting, held in December 2006 in Cuernavaca, Mexico, focused on transitioning the IAI from individual projects to broader research programs. The committee emphasized increasing the social relevance of global change research, promoting interdisciplinary work between natural and social sciences, and developing a general strategic plan. The meeting also outlined the criteria for renewing SAC membership to ensure coverage of key areas such as meteorology, biodiversity, urbanization, and economics.

The External Review Committee (ERC) found that the IAI produces high-quality natural science and has successfully built scientific capacity across the Americas. However, it struggles to translate science into policy action, suffers from a narrow funding base heavily dependent on the United States, and lacks a comprehensive communication strategy and long-term strategic plan.

The IAI Directorate report for 2006-2007 outlines the institute's efforts to integrate global change science with policy, specifically focusing on land-use change in the La Plata Basin and the impacts of biofuels. The report highlights the implementation of Collaborative Research Networks (CRN I and II), the success of Training Institute Seed Grants (TISG) in fostering multidisciplinary networks across 19 countries, and new strategic partnerships with organizations like IDRC, NCAR, and the Asia-Pacific Network. It also details capacity-building efforts through summer schools and internships, and fundraising initiatives targeting the MacArthur Foundation for biodiversity research in the Andes.

The document argues that IFIs, as subjects of international law, are bound by human rights obligations regardless of whether their charters explicitly mention them. It asserts that member States cannot escape responsibility for human rights violations resulting from IFI projects, even when acting through IFI decision-making bodies. The analysis concludes that IFI internal safeguard and accountability mechanisms are not equivalent to universal or regional human rights protections, and suggests that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has the mandate to engage IFIs operating in the Americas.