Welcome to the Research Group Applied Landscape Ecology and Ecological Planning

The Applied Landscape Ecology/Ecological Planning working group (AG Buttschardt) researches the effects of human ways of life and land use on the natural and landscape environments and how these can be designed to achieve a regenerative development of landscapes.  We assume that landscapes are the spatial representation of socio-ecological systems that can only be fully understood in an interdisciplinary approach. In order to take into account the applied aspect of ecological planning, our research is increasingly transdisciplinary and explicitly includes the noosphere. We therefore cooperate with interdisciplinary centres (e.g. the ZIN or the Brazil Centre), other Universities (e.g. Münster University of Applied Sciences) and practitioners (see links). Our work focuses on Integrated Natural Resources Management, Agroecology and Limnology/River restauration.

Eine Reise ins eiserne Herz Brasiliens

As part of the “Geos unterwegs” series, Prof. Dr. Tillmann Buttschardt will report on the working group's numerous trips to central Brazil on 11.02.2024 at 7 pm. Registration is requested and possible here. The talk will be in German language.

The name of the state of Minas Gerais can be translated as General Mines and indicates the amount of mineral resources stored here in central Brazil. They form the backbone of the Brazilian industry and export economy. Iron mining in Minas Gerais is carried out in open-cast mines and massively changes the landscape. Entire mountain ranges are disappearing and with them valuable biodiverse, ancient ecosystems. For ecological planning, the question arises as to how iron ore mining can be made more environmentally friendly on the one hand and how the necessary renaturation can be achieved on the other. The journey begins with the Peter Lund karst caves and their rich archaeological finds. From there, we move on to the Caraça Reserve with its untouched mountain ecosystems that are threatened by slash-and-burn. The environmental impact of mining and the approaches to mitigation are discussed in more detail. The tour continues via the baroque town of Ouro Preto and ends in a renaturalized mine with enormous charisma INHOTIM: botanical garden, art museum and research site.

First publication in 2025:

Feeding preference of Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) in the Lower Rhine region, Germany

The article, which was written by Margarete Dytkowicz together with William M. Megill (Kleve University of Applied Sciences) and Tillmann Buttschardt, examines whether beavers that have been reintroduced into the landscape of the Lower Rhine or have settled spontaneously find sufficient food in their environment and what their food preferences are. Extensive mapping work was carried out, supported by volunteers from the Earthwatch organisation, among others. The research shows that sufficient food resources are available in the study areas on the Niederrein and that calls for beavers to be hunted are not appropriate there. Rather, conflicts arise from the expansion of human utilisation claims. The article was published by Academia Environmental Sciences and Sustainability. If you would like to listen to the summary as an AI-supported podcast, you can find it here.