Keynotes

9.04.2025

14:00 : "Transformation of Landscapes Under Climate and Anthropogenic Impacts, Including russia's Military Aggression: Challenges and Solutions" by Nekrasova Oksana

16:20 : "Unlocking the Power of Participation: Governance Approaches in Landscape Management" by Werner Rolf

10.04.2025

13:30 : "The transformative potential of urban green infrastructure: social-ecological-technological perspectives" by Pauleit Stephan

11.04.2025

09:40 : "Démarches paysagères au service des transitions : L’exemple de l’agro-écologie" by Jean-Pierre Thibault

Keynote speakers :

Nekrasova Oksana

9.04 at 14:00 : "Transformation of Landscapes Under Climate and Anthropogenic Impacts, Including russia's Military Aggression: Challenges and Solutions" by Nekrasova Oksana

Abstract: The simultaneous effects of climate change and armed conflicts result in catastrophic transformations of landscapes, threatening the survival of biological diversity. Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine, ongoing since 2014, has caused significant ecosystem destruction. The destruction of the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant in 2023 by russian forces triggered a complex cascade of changes in Ukraine’s southern regions. These changes, including flooding and habitat destruction, jeopardize the existence of rare fauna and flora species, endangering landscape biodiversity. Results from GIS modeling using Maxent and other machine learning algorithms indicate a sharp reduction in suitable habitats. A large portion of the habitats for rare species such as Dolichophis caspius (62.2%) and Elaphe sauromates (60.5% of the highest habitat suitability (HS) within their range in Ukraine) now falls within conflict zones. Prior to the catastrophe, key areas with the highest habitat suitability were located in southern Ukraine, including the Kherson wetlands and the Kinburn Spit, which are now either flooded or severely impacted by military activities. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted conservation measures to mitigate biodiversity loss in conflict zones. The future of conservation in such conditions demands the integration of innovative technologies, such as advanced GIS modeling and AI. These tools enable real-time monitoring of changes, modeling ecosystem impacts, and developing effective adaptive strategies while ensuring safer monitoring and protection approaches for researchers in conflict-affected regions. AI can identify critical ecological patterns, predict the spread of invasive species, and inform priority restoration efforts. Additionally, the establishment of ecological corridors, networks of protected areas, and the promotion of international collaboration to document and prevent ecocide are crucial. This study underscores the pressing need to unite efforts to safeguard biodiversity against the dual challenges of the escalating climate crisis and armed conflicts, leveraging modern technologies as powerful tools to address these global challenges.

Werner Rolf

9.04 at 16:20 : "Unlocking the Power of Participation: Governance Approaches in Landscape Management" by Werner Rolf

Abstract: Effective landscape management requires innovative governance approaches that foster collaboration between state and non-state actors. Governance, in this context, refers to the dynamic interplay of stakeholders working together to achieve shared goals through the exchange of knowledge, resources, and the establishment of mutually agreed-upon rules. This keynote will explore participatory and governance strategies for landscape management. Drawing on insights from research in different countries of the Central European Alpine Region, in France,  Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, and Switzerland, his talk will synthesizes innovative governance practices and highlights key mechanisms that enable sustainable landscape management. By examining real-world case studies, this presentation will provide actionable insights into fostering inclusive decision-making processes and building resilient landscapes through effective governance frameworks.

Biography: With several years' experience as a practitioner in landscaping, ecosystem restoration and wilderness preservation in Germany and abroad, Werner Rolf studied Land Care and Stewardship. His diploma thesis investigated GIS-based methods for modelling ecosystem potential. His PhD thesis at the University of Potsdam focused on the potentials of urban and peri-urban agro-ecosystems in green infrastructure strategies to promote sustainability transformation. From 2012 to 2024, Werner was a teaching and research assistant at the TUM Chair for Strategic Landscape Planning and Management, with with guest stays at various European universities. He is currently Professor of Landscape Planning, Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation at the Sustainable Campus Höxter of the OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts (TH OWL). He has been involved in IALE for many years and is currently a member of the Executive Committee of IALE-Europe and IALE-Germany. He is also co-editor-in-chief of the community owned non-profit open-access journal Landscape Online.

Stephan Pauleit

10.04 at 13:30: 'The transformative potential of urban green infrastructure: social-ecological-technological perspectives' presented by Prof. Stephan Pauleit

Abstract: Developing coherent networks of urban green infrastructure (UGI) can help address significant urbanisation challenges and is essential for transforming cities into sustainable, climate-resilient environments. Integrating such UGI into dense urban areas requires research on the interdependencies of social, ecological, and technical systems. The Research Training Group “Urban Green Infrastructure” at the Technical University of Munich, established in 2022, uses social-ecological-technological systems (SETs) thinking to explore the potential to smartly blend green, blue, and grey infrastructure into multifunctional hybrid solutions. 
In my presentation, I will discuss recent findings of our RTG and reflect on the potential of the SETs framework for integrated urban research focused on urban green infrastructure.

Biography: Prof. Stephan Pauleit is an academic landscape planner and Chair for Strategic Landscape Planning and Management at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where he also directs the Centre for Urban Ecology. He is spokesperson to the Research Training Group "Urban Green Infrastructure". His work focuses on urban green infrastructure planning, urban forestry, and the sustainable development of rural and urban landscapes.
Prof. Pauleit’s research explores how cities can adapt to global challenges such as climate change, urbanization, and natural hazards, with a particular interest in nature-based solutions and urban tree growth and functioning. He has contributed extensively to national and international research projects across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Jean-Pierre Thibault

11.04 at 9h40 "Démarches paysagères au service des transitions : L’exemple de l’agro-écologie" by Jean-Pierre Thibault

Translation: "Landscape Approaches in Service of Transitions: The Example of Agroecology" by Jean-Pierre Thibault

Summary: Founded in 2015 by professionals from various fields of spatial planning, the Collectif Paysages de l’Après-Pétrole (Post-Oil Landscapes Collective) aims to promote landscape as a dynamic, participatory, and unifying method for addressing the different dimensions of ecological transition (climate, biodiversity, sustainable resource management, etc.). The collective engages in publishing activities and supports territories that request assistance, particularly by providing awareness-raising tools and project development guidance.

In collaboration with seven other institutions where landscape is a major or dominant concern (CAUE, PNR, Grands Sites, landscape architects’ organizations, etc.), the collective advocates to local elected officials that landscape is not only a political issue but also a comprehensive societal element and a key facilitator for the transition. More importantly, it is a local matter and a lever for shared projects. To this end, territories can leverage several public policy tools for landscape management, including protection, knowledge development, education, and requalification efforts. Notably, landscape plans combine legal frameworks with work programs. However, human and financial resources for implementing these policies need to be strengthened.

In the specific context of agroecological transition—currently a subject of debate—landscape can play a crucial role in revitalization, considering the concerning landscape and ecological transformations resulting from the continuation of past intensification trends and their modern developments. In this area, promoting local food supply chains (as seen with the territorial food project label) and highlighting the role of agroforestry—particularly hedgerows—can serve as powerful levers. These efforts illustrate the positive convergence between landscape management and an agroecology that could regain momentum despite current challenges.

Biography: After studying at the École Nationale d’Administration (1981-83), Jean-Pierre Thibault discovered the field of landscape management during his appointment at the French Ministry of the Environment, where he worked on classified sites (1988). Since then, landscape approaches have been the guiding principle of his work, both in public service and in civic engagement. Serving as Inspector General of the Environment from 2014 to 2022, he is now retired and serves as president of the Paysages de l’Après-Pétrole collective—an association of planners promoting landscape approaches as facilitators of ecological transition.