ILAP at the 2025 Landscape and Mountain Conferences

Insights on climate resilience, conservation, and science–society interactions from Bratislava to Innsbruck

September 2025 was a dynamic month for the ILAP team. Our researchers presented their work at two major international gatherings, the IALE Europe 2025 Congress in Bratislava and the International Mountain Conference (IMC 2025) in Innsbruck, contributing to global discussions on sustainable landscapes, biodiversity conservation, and collaborations between science and society.

 

IALE Europe 2025 | Bratislava, Slovakia (1–5 September 2025)

At the European Landscape Ecology Congress, ILAP researchers showcased the breadth of our interdisciplinary work, addressing topics from climate impacts in Africa to stakeholder perspectives on European conservation policy:

  • Thomas Thaler presented “Drought and Disconnect: Climate Blindspot under Contemporary Conservation Planning Strategies in Zimbabwe,” examining how droughts intensified by El Niño affect biodiversity and community livelihoods in Gonarezhou and Hwange National Parks. His findings underscore the need for conservation planning that explicitly integrates community resilience and climate adaptation.
  • Julian Janisch shared results from the Biodiversa+ ALPMEMA project in “Comparing Assessment Criteria for the Favourable Degree of Conservation of Mountain Hay Meadows in the Alps,” highlighting inconsistencies in how EU Habitats Directive parameters are applied across Alpine countries and the importance of linking ecological and management indicators.
  • Alexander Mitrofanenko gave a fast-paced presentation on science–society interactions in mountain Biosphere Reserves, drawing on results from the BIOSS project. His talk emphasized how biosphere reserves can serve as laboratories for sustainability, linking scientific research and local action.
  • Valentin Fiala concluded the ILAP contributions with “What Matters for the Future of Mountain Hay Meadows?”, a Q-methodology study conducted in Armenia, Austria, Germany, and Sweden as part of the Biodiversa+ ALPMEMA project. The study identified four distinct viewpoints among stakeholders, each prioritizing different factors, from economic viability to cultural heritage, in shaping the future of mountain hay meadows.

International Mountain Conference (IMC 2025) | Innsbruck, Austria (14–18 September 2025)

Just a week later, ILAP continued the international exchange at the International Mountain Conference in Innsbruck, a major event for the global mountain research community.

Representing the BIOSS project, Julian Janisch presented on Science–Society Interactions and Knowledge Networks in Mountain Biosphere reserves. His presentation explored how biosphere reserves in mountain regions can act as models for new forms of science–society collaboration, drawing on social network analysis (SNA) across six case study regions.

Julian also presented a poster from the Biodiversa+ ALPMEMA project titled “What Matters for the Future of Mountain Hay Meadows? A Q-study on Stakeholder Views in Austria,”. The study revealed diverse stakeholder perspectives on managing mountain hay meadows, offering insights into the ecological, economic, and cultural dimensions of their conservation.

Our contributions at IALE Europe and IMC Innsbruck reflect the institute’s strong engagement with interdisciplinary research on landscapes, biodiversity, and knowledge co-creation. From climate-smart conservation in Africa to collaborative governance and knowledge networks in the Alps, ILAP continues to bridge science, policy, and practice across regions and scales.

Congratulations to all presenters for representing BOKU and ILAP with excellence!

 

10.10.2025