START is a network of research centers and collaborating scientists in Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania. Our regional steering committees and secretariats identify and develop programs to address priority research areas relating to global climate change, degradation of ecosystems, and sustainable development. In addition to focusing on causes and impacts, experts provide relevant information to policy makers and governments to assist in formulating appropriate response strategies.

Currently, START’s regional research includes topics, such as:

• land use and land cover change and its impacts on regional climate and on ecosystem services,
• climate variability and change,
• biogeochemical cycles under global environmental change,
• global change and coastal and marine systems,
• vulnerability and adaptation to climate change.

START’s work in nurturing and strengthening regional research structures has led to a substantial growth in the number of scientists and institutions from developing countries involved in global environmental change research, and has enhanced the output and quality of peer-review publications.