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The study introduces the MCSMA method to improve the mapping of tropical dry forest succession stages by utilizing spectral and spatial information and an evaluation framework based on RMSE, spatial distance, and fraction consistency. Tested in Costa Rica's Santa Rosa National Park, the method outperformed the MESMA approach in reducing error across early, intermediate, and late successional stages.

A study of an NSF-PIRE research project involving team members in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico identified five primary barriers to international interdisciplinary research: integration, language, fieldwork logistics, personnel and relationships, and time commitment.

The study examines the effectiveness of terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) and hemispherical photographs (HPs) in predicting the structure of tropical dry forests (TDFs) across different successional stages. While these tools can identify structural differences between successional stages, the researchers found that these predictive differences disappear as liana abundance increases, suggesting that lianas create structural biases in the forest.

The research examines four case studies in Argentina, Mexico, and the USA to demonstrate how disconnected or neoliberal water policies exacerbate vulnerabilities for less privileged groups in arid regions. It argues that water policies act as key non-climatic factors that can either increase or reduce climate vulnerability depending on their inclusivity and coordination with other resource policies.

The paper argues that 'wicked problems' in water security require integrative science-policy interfaces. It defines 'dialogic science-policy networks' as interdisciplinary, international, cross-sectoral, open, continual, and flexible interactions that achieve inclusivity, involvement, interaction, and influence. The authors highlight the AQUASEC virtual center as a comprehensive example of such a network, which has since expanded into the International Water Security Network. While these networks facilitate scientific and policy achievements, they face significant challenges regarding steady commitment and financial support, and there remains a research gap in evaluating their long-term outcomes.

The document details Canada's engagement with the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), highlighting its involvement in the Regional Hydroclimatic Program for the Andes (Andex) and various advisory committees. It lists Canadian researchers and associates participating in IAI projects, including biodiversity conservation in Panama's Balsas River Basin, and identifies available resources such as the Science, Technology, and Policy Fellowship Program (STeP) and the IAI Virtual Campus.

The document details the resources and opportunities provided by the IAI to Costa Rica, including seed funding for research on climate, health, and tropical forests, as well as capacity building in scientific diplomacy. It highlights specific projects such as the study of multidimensional vulnerability to dengue and diarrhea and fire management in the Trifinio Region, while listing available institutional resources like the IAI Virtual Campus and expert search tools.

The document details the specific resources and opportunities provided by the IAI to Cuba, including climate-sensitive health research projects, funding through the Belmont Forum, and professional development programs for public officials.

The document details Paraguay's participation in the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), highlighting the involvement of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción in the IAI Executive Council and the co-design of an environmental observatory in the La Plata Basin. It lists available resources such as a virtual campus and expert search tool, as well as opportunities for scientific diplomacy training, research funding through the Belmont Forum, and nominations for scientific and policy advisory committees.

The document details the engagement of the Dominican Republic with the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), highlighting its participation in the Harmonize project for digital tools on environment, climate, and health. It lists available resources such as the IAI Virtual Campus and various opportunities for funding, professional development through the STeP Fellowship, and nominations for scientific advisory committees.

The document lists the specific benefits and opportunities available to Venezuela through its membership in the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). These include access to a scientific publications repository, an expert search tool, and a virtual campus offering certified self-managed courses such as "Diplomacia Científica y Cambio Ambiental Global en las Américas" and "Avances en Investigación Transdisciplinaria sobre el Cambio Ambiental Global en América Latina y el Caribe". Additionally, the IAI provides opportunities for research funding via the Belmont Forum, the ability to nominate members to the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), the Science and Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), and the Indigenous Peoples Advisory Committee (IPAC), and a Science, Technology and Policy (STeP) Fellowship program for public sector officials.

The report identifies 2024 as the year with the highest number of state-based conflicts since 1946, with 61 conflicts across 36 countries. While the total number of battle-related deaths in 2024 (approximately 129,000) was similar to 2023, it remains the fourth most violent year since 1989, driven primarily by wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Ethiopia's Tigray region. The paper notes a growing complexity in conflict dynamics, where a higher share of conflict-affected countries now host multiple simultaneous conflicts. Non-state conflicts decreased slightly to 74 in 2024, with Africa becoming the region with the highest number of such conflicts. One-sided violence increased to 14,000 fatalities in 2024, with non-state actors responsible for the majority of deaths, although 14 governments also perpetrated such violence.

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) have signed a five-year agreement to collaborate on global change research in the Americas. The partnership focuses on biodiversity, health, and sustainable development, emphasizing data sharing, capacity building, and science diplomacy. The MOU provides a non-binding framework for future specific project agreements and joint funding proposals without creating immediate financial obligations.

The First Amendment to the Agreement for Scientific or Technological Cooperation between FAPESP and IAI extends the original agreement's duration by ten years, setting a new termination date of 7 January 2035. It also establishes new areas for information exchange and collaboration, including equity and diversity in science, traditional knowledge for climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation, scientific diplomacy via the IAI Regional Center for Scientific Diplomacy, open data and open science, and transdisciplinary science for public policy development.

The document examines the complexities of the dialogue between science, policy, and society in addressing global environmental change (GEC). It highlights that effective policy responses require integrating political, scientific, and technical considerations, while scientific relevance depends on attributes such as credibility, practicality, and accessibility. Based on an IAI-SCOPE assessment, the brief argues for early engagement between scientists and policymakers, the involvement of social scientists, and the need for funding mechanisms that encourage interdisciplinary work and societal accountability.

The document reports that tropical dry forests in the Americas are highly endangered, with only 40% of their original extent remaining and only 4.5% protected. Satellite data from 1982 to 2006 shows divergent productivity trends: forests in the Brazilian Caatinga and parts of Mexico are losing productivity, while those in the Llanos of Venezuela and Colombia, Northern Mexico, and the Chaco of Argentina and Bolivia are seeing increases. These shifts are linked to global warming's effect on rainfall and moisture. The text warns that productivity losses threaten carbon storage and water resources, while productivity gains may encourage further deforestation and agricultural intensification. It advocates for expanded protection beyond national parks, including economic incentives and sustainable land management.

The IAI and DSG have entered into a two-year renewable agreement to cooperate on solar geoengineering (SG) governance and research. The partnership focuses on preparing IAI member states, particularly those most vulnerable to climate change, for participation in multilateral forums. Planned activities include co-organizing capacity-building workshops, co-producing knowledge products, and sharing research funding opportunities. The agreement outlines protocols for financial responsibilities, confidentiality, and dispute resolution through amicable negotiation.

The IAI Executive Directorate is implementing CoP-32 mandates by strengthening scientific communication, developing digital monitoring systems for its Strategic Plan, and establishing partnerships with institutions like CR2, FAPESC, and STRI. Key initiatives include the 'Tropical Forests' Collaborative Research Action (CRA), the 'Climate, Environment and Health' (CEH) program, and the creation of the Center for Science Diplomacy. The Directorate is also advancing gender, equity, diversity, and inclusion (GEDI) policies and establishing advisory committees for indigenous peoples and local communities.

The document examines the relationship between soil microorganisms and plants, focusing on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). It argues that land-use and climate changes affect these microorganisms, which in turn impacts plant nutrition and agricultural yields. Findings indicate that AMF diversity and symbiotic capacity can decline during warm and dry seasons, potentially leading to a loss of the symbiotic relationship. In the páramos region, this research has been applied to create biofertilizers that increase potato growth in Bolivia and Ecuador.

The project introduces the Local Knowledge Scenarios (LKS) method, which integrates fieldwork and Agent-Based Models to document local perceptions of environmental change and their impact on decision-making. Testing across five diverse ecological zones in the Americas revealed that while local awareness of issues like deforestation and hydrological change is increasing, the effectiveness of environmental governance is often hindered by a lack of local acceptance of laws or the absence of flexible national policies for adaptation.