INERTIA is an ERC-funded Starting Grant (ID 101164015) led by Universidad Complutense de Madrid. It tackles the critical challenge of desertification in drylands by investigating how ecosystems respond to increasing aridity and cross resilience thresholds. The project deploys a combination of long-term field experiments, remote sensing, and global ecological surveys across contrasting dryland environments. The goals are to: 1) Identify resilience mechanisms at different ecological scales (from vegetation physiology to landscape patterns), 2) Enhance remote sensing tools for real-time monitoring of ecosystem resilience, 3) Develop evidence-based strategies to restore and manage drylands at risk of sudden ecological collapse.

This integrated, multi-scale approach aims to inform policy, conservation, and land-management efforts to prevent abrupt environmental transitions linked to climate change.