From ecology to conservation and restoration biology: another gap to bridge?
Raphaël Arlettaz
The scientific production, notably the publication of peer-review articles, has been increasing dramatically over time in all scientific domains, including conservation biology and restoration ecology. At the same time, biodiversity erosion continues unabated, with a few exceptions. I will present some outstanding case studies from the research carried out by my lab which have led to tangible benefits for flora and fauna in real contexts. Thereby, I’d like to demonstrate that research that is from the onset conceived and designed not only following scientific golden standards but also with a clear recognition of the needs of the end-users – with a real intention to make results translated into conservation, restoration and management recommendations in practice – can make a difference for biodiversity.
Approaches to assess forest naturalness
Tibor Standovár
Forests have been identified as playing a vital role in preserving Europe's biodiversity. It is hypothesised that natural forests represent the primary reservoirs of original biodiversity. Nevertheless, a harmonised European methodology aimed at estimating forest naturalness is still absent. This presentation provides a concise overview of the notion of forest naturalness and the primary methodologies employed for its evaluation. To provide concrete examples, three distinct projects that aim to assess forest naturalness in Hungary at varying spatial scales will be introduced. The talk will also address the strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches.
Linking Biodiversity, Pastoralism and Cultural Heritage: Carpathian Convention the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026
Tamara Mitrofanenko