Fondazione Edmund Mach is the coordinator.
G-BiKE is a COST Action with more than 120 participants from 42 countries currently involved. All interested researchers, practitioners and stakeholders are welcome to join our activities and contribute in achieving the Action’s objectives.

(EU COST ACTION) Development of standard tools for assessing, monitoring and managing the genetic resilience and related adaptive potential of wild and captive populations.

G-BiKE is a network of researchers and practitioners enlarging the scope of a previous EU-funded project, ConGRESS. G-BiKE will enable standard and routine tools for assessing, monitoring and managing the genetic resilience and related adaptive potential of wild and captive populations. Although genetic data can be obtained for most organisms, the standardization of protocols for detecting and monitoring species’ genetic diversity, and their potential for adaptation, is still lacking. G-BiKE will assist scientists and practitioners across the EU and particularly in COST Inclusiveness Target Countries to integrate genetic and evolutionary knowledge into conservation planning policies, and to promote cross-border management and long term monitoring programs of evolutionary potential in order to ensure persistence of populations and species, and ultimately the continued supply of nature-based ecosystem services. Considering the drastic impacts of climate change during the coming decades, G-BiKE is especially urgent.

The aim of G-BIKE is to enable standard and routine tools for monitoring and managing the adaptive potential and genetic resilience of populations. Although genetic data is now easily obtainable for most organisms, there are few established best practices or easy-to-use tools for maximizing species’ potential for adaptation, and there is a need for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and training in this topic.

G-BIKE will assist scientists and practitioners across the EU and particularly in ITC countries to integrate genetic and evolutionary knowledge into managing local nature sites, and achieve coordinated cross-border management.
The long term impact of safeguarding evolutionary potential in managing nature is to ensure persistence of populations and species, and ultimately the continued supply of nature-based ecosystem services. Considering the drastic impacts of climate change within one or two decades, this Action is especially urgent. The following aims will be accomplished by full involvement and fully balanced representation of scientists and practitioners from a diversity of countries: clearly articulating for managers how genetic diversity can support ecosystems; developing and testing best practice protocols for monitoring genetic diversity in time and space; providing practitioners a forum and information on emerging tools; connecting all stakeholders through networking and training opportunities; and building a foundation for long term impact.

Results will be disseminated in easy-to-read summaries for practitioners and outreach to the public at natural parks, botanic gardens and zoos as well as in scientific publications.