Projects (since 1998)

• carbiocial - Carbon sequestration, biodiversity and social structures in Southern Amazonia: models and implementation of carbon-optimized land management strategies


• SFB 552: Stabilität von Randzonen tropischer Regenwälder in Indonesien


• DEKLIM C: "The Impact of ENSO on Sustainable Water Management and the Decision-Making Commnity at a Rainforest Margin"
• Hypsometrischer Wandel naturnaher Bergregenwaldökosysteme in den Yungas Boliviens
• Soil-degradation in relation to land-use systems in different tropical forest ecosystems (humid lowlands of Bolivia) (abgeschlossen)
• Bodendifferenzierung, Bodenqualität und Wasser- und Nährstoffumsatz in Regenwaldschutzgebieten der Elfenbeinküste
• Wasser- und Nährstoffumsatz im Tieflandsregenwald Ecuadors -Vergleich von Primär-/Sekundärwald mit unterschiedlichen Nutzungssystemen
• Pedoökologische Folgen traditioneller und moderner Landnutzungssysteme im Oriente Boliviens
• DFG-Graduiertenkolleg: "Wertschätzung und Erhaltung von Biodiversität"
  - B2: GIS-gestützte Habitatanalyse und geoökologisches Inventar zur Biodiversität
  - C2: GIS-gestützte Analyse der Entwicklung von Schutzgebieten und ihren Pufferzonen in Guatemala
• Regionalisierung des Wasserhaushaltes in Einzugsgebieten (SPP- DFG) - Regionalisierung der Abflußbildung über die Aggregierung homogener Flächen unter Verwendung des GIS ARC/INFO und der "Digitalen Reliefanalyse" (abgeschlossen)
• Grenzflächenreaktivität, Aufbau und Zerfall von Bodenaggregaten (ehemaliger SFB 468 A6)

Head of Projects

• carbiocial - Carbon sequestration, biodiversity and social structures in Southern Amazonia: models and implementation of carbon-optimized land management strategies.
  Duration: since 2011
  Climate change will increase precipitation variability – i. e. extreme events like droughts will occur more often also in the tropics and mean temperature will ultimately increase. Land use intensification is associated with (a) losses of ecosystem services like the loss of natural vegetation and associated ecosystem functions in the global and regional climate system, an (b) increasing releases of greenhouse gases (GHG), and (c) the reduction of livelihoods. This project aims at providing interdisciplinary solutions for these problems. Three regions along the land use frontier of Southern Amazonia were selected: Southern Pará: most active deforestation; Northern Mato Grosso: young soy bean production; Central Mato Grosso: established cultivation (>20 years) and adapted mechanised cropping (e.g. no till). Analyses focus on soil carbon (C) turnover, climate, ecosystem functions and socio-economic processes.
  
  
• Land use, forest conversion and nature protection in Bolivia – analysis and modelling of future development
  Duration: 10.2007 – 09.2010, Ph.D. candidate Robert Müller
  Funded by DFG
  Abstract : Bolivia is experiencing exponentially increasing rates of deforestation, mainly due to soy bean farming and cattle ranching. The project aims at understanding the recent development of land use change in the Bolivian lowlands and analysing its implicationsfor biodiversity conservation. In a spatially explicit econometric model, multitemporal remote sensing data on land use change will be interrelated to potential drivers, i.e. geophysical, socioeconomic and political variables such as climate, proximity to roads or extension of protected areas. Based on the findings from the past, probable land use changes in the future will be forecasted. Expected impacts on ecosystems as well as possible strategies for biodiversity conservation will be discussed.


• Integrated management of water resources in the oasis Béni Abbès – Pedohydrological analysis of “Hydrodyne” for traditional irrigation systems and sand dune stabilization
  Duration: 11.2007 – 12.2009, Ph.D. candidate Thomas Kellner
  Funded by GTZ
  Abstract: In cooperation with the German Technical Cooperation
  (GTZ) and local partners in Algeria a possible solution for the problem of irrigation efficiency is being studied. “Hydrodyne” is a biogenic hydrocolloid with the potential to retain water in the soil by keeping it available for plants and reduce evaporation losses of irrigation water. It will be tested in different concentrations (0%, 2% and 4%) on vegetables (peppers, carrots, onions) and oranges respectively. Soil water content and climatological data will be logged continuously for a complete monitoring of crop needs. Traditional irrigation techniques will be applied to determine the direct influence of “Hydrodyne” on the water use and to assure that the results can be easily implemented by local farmers. An experimental reforestation plot will be installed using traditional techniques to test the applicability of “Hydrodyne”.