Unsustainable human intervention in ecosystems, driven mainly by the demand for food, raw materials, and especially energy, has sparked an unprecedented environmental crisis. This crisis manifests as significant biodiversity loss, climate change and the disruption of ecosystem functions, which in turn leads to the loss of essential services that ecosystems provide to society (e.g. air, water, food, energy, medicines, genetic resources). Addressing this issue effectively demands a multidisciplinary approach. Ecology is a cornerstone science in this effort, as it helps us understand the complex interactions driving the crisis and allows us to develop strategies for mitigation, conservation and restoration. Specifically, the field of functional plant ecology is crucial, as it examines how plants adapt to their surroundings and influence ecosystem functions. However, scientific understanding of ecological processes alone is insufficient; crafting truly viable and sustainable solutions requires acknowledging the crisis's deep connections to global economic and power relations and actively pursuing environmental justice.

This 10-week seminar will examine the major impacts of global change on ecosystem processes, making complex science accessible by starting with the basics of how plants adapt, and then scaling up to show how entire ecosystems function. Building on this foundation, the course will analyze critical issues such as climate warming and habitat fragmentation, using a variety of illustrative examples. Special attention will be dedicated to Andean tropical mountain ecosystems, such as montane cloud forests and tropical alpine vegetation (Páramos). The critical focus on these regions is because they are Earth's highest biodiversity hotspots in terms of endemic species. Ultimately, the course bridges scientific knowledge with practical action. It will explain how this foundational understanding is not only useful but necessary for proposing and evaluating effective strategies for mitigation, conservation, and ecosystem restoration. Participants will gain the insight needed to critically assess modern environmental tools, such as carbon offset credits, understanding both their potential benefits and their limitations.