Professorship for Sustainable Landscapes

Organisational unit: Professoship

Organisation profile

The working group "Sustainable Landscapes" was established in November 2010 by Prof. Joern Fischer and is affiliated to the School of Sustainabilty at Leuphana University.

We are an interdisciplinary team working on human-environment relationships. Much of our work focuses on the landscape scale. We are particularly interested in how people use landscapes, and how land use, in turn, affects biodiversity and ecosystem services. We see people and nature as interdependent.

Main research areas

In addition to our work at the landscape scale, we are interested in the conceptual development of sustainability science at a global scale. Here, too, we are influenced by an ecosystems approach, but we also draw on the insights from the social sciences as appropriate.

Our goal is to contribute to sustainable development through solution-oriented research.

  1. 2022
  2. Published

    Using meaningful places as an indicator for sense of place in the management of social-ecological systems

    Knaps, F., Gottwald, S., Albert, C. & Herrmann, S., 01.11.2022, In: Ecology and Society. 27, 4, 12 p., 9.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Earth stewardship: Shaping a sustainable future through interacting policy and norm shifts

    Chapin, F. S., Weber, E. U., Bennett, E. M., Biggs, R., van den Bergh, J., Adger, W. N., Crépin, A. S., Polasky, S., Folke, C., Scheffer, M., Segerson, K., Anderies, J. M., Barrett, S., Cardenas, J. C., Carpenter, S. R., Fischer, J., Kautsky, N., Levin, S. A., Shogren, J. F., Walker, B., Wilen, J. & de Zeeuw, A., 01.09.2022, In: Ambio. 51, 9, p. 1907-1920 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Operationalising the leverage points perspective for empirical research

    Riechers, M., Fischer, J., Manlosa, A. O., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S. & Sala, J. E., 01.08.2022, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 57, 101206.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Sense of Place in Spatial Planning: Applying Instrumental and Deliberative Approaches at the River Lahn

    Gottwald, S., 30.06.2022, In: Landscape Online. 97, 13 p., 1100.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    From stories to maps: translating participatory scenario narratives into spatially explicit information

    Duguma, D. W., Schultner, J., Abson, D. J. & Fischer, J., 06.2022, In: Ecology and Society. 27, 2, 26 p., 13.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Disentangling Obstacles to Knowledge Co-Production for Early-Career Researchers in the Marine Sciences

    Rölfer, L., Elias Ilosvay, X. E., Ferse, S. C. A., Jung, J., Karcher, D. B., Kriegl, M., Nijamdeen, T. M., Riechers, M. & Walker, E. Z., 13.05.2022, In: Frontiers in Marine Science. 9, 8 p., 893489.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published
  9. Published
  10. Published

    Governance in the Face of Extreme Events: Lessons from Evolutionary Processes for Structuring Interventions, and the Need to Go Beyond

    Levin, S. A., Anderies, J. M., Adger, N., Barrett, S., Bennett, E. M., Cardenas, J. C., Carpenter, S. R., Crépin, A. S., Ehrlich, P., Fischer, J., Folke, C., Kautsky, N., Kling, C., Nyborg, K., Polasky, S., Scheffer, M., Segerson, K., Shogren, J., van den Bergh, J., Walker, B., Weber, E. U. & Wilen, J., 01.04.2022, In: Ecosystems. 25, 3, p. 697-711 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Using a leverage points perspective to compare social-ecological systems: a case study on rural landscapes

    Fischer, J., Abson, D., Dorresteijn, I., Hanspach, J., Hartel, T., Schultner, J. & Sherrene, K., 03.2022, In: Ecosystems and People. 18, 1, p. 119-130 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Broadening the scope of ecosystem services research: Disaggregation as a powerful concept for sustainable natural resource management

    Brück, M., Abson, D. J., Fischer, J. & Schultner, J., 01.02.2022, In: Ecosystem Services. 53, 11 p., 101399.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Spatial variation in human disturbances and their effects on forest structure and biodiversity across an Afromontane forest

    Beche, D., Tack, A., Nemomissa, S., Warkineh, B., Lemessa, D., Rodrigues, P., Fischer, J. & Hylander, K., 01.02.2022, In: Landscape Ecology. 37, 2, p. 493-510 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Advancing research on ecosystem service bundles for comparative assessments and synthesis

    Meacham, M., Norströma, A. V., Peterson, G. D., Andersson, E., Bennett, E. M., Biggs, R., Crouzat, E., Cord, A. F., Enfors, E., Felipe-Lucia, M. R., Fischer, J., Hamann, M., Hanspach, J., Hicks, C., Jacobs, S., Lavorel, S., Locatelli, B., Martín-López, B., Plieninger, T. & Queiroz, C., 02.2022, In: Ecosystems and People. 18, 1, p. 99-111 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published
  16. Published

    A feminist ethos for caring knowledge production in transdisciplinary sustainability science

    Staffa, R. K., Riechers, M. & Martín-López, B., 01.01.2022, In: Sustainability Science. 17, 1, p. 45-63 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Co-productive agility and four collaborative pathways to sustainability transformations

    Chambers, J. M., Wyborn, C., Klenk, N. L., Ryan, M., Serban, A., Bennett, N. J., Brennan, R., Charli-Joseph, L., Fernández-Giménez, M. E., Galvin, K. A., Goldstein, B. E., Haller, T., Hill, R., Munera, C., Nel, J. L., Österblom, H., Reid, R. S., Riechers, M., Spierenburg, M., Tengö, M., Bennett, E., Brandeis, A., Chatterton, P., Cockburn, J. J., Cvitanovic, C., Dumrongrojwatthana, P., Paz Durán, A., Gerber, J. D., Green, J. M. H., Gruby, R., Guerrero, A. M., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Montana, J., Steyaert, P., Zaehringer, J. G., Bednarek, A. T., Curran, K., Fada, S. J., Hutton, J., Leimona, B., Pickering, T. & Rondeau, R., 01.01.2022, In: Global Environmental Change. 72, 17 p., 102422.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. 2021
  19. Published

    Participatory scenario planning to facilitate human-wildlife coexistence

    Jiren, T. S., Riechers, M., Kansky, R. & Fischer, J., 01.12.2021, In: Conservation Biology. 35, 6, p. 1957-1965 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Artificial intelligence, systemic risks, and sustainability

    Galaz, V., Centeno, M. A., Callahan, P. W., Causevic, A., Patterson, T., Brass, I., Baum, S., Farber, D., Fischer, J., Garcia, D., McPhearson, T., Jimenez, D., King, B., Larcey, P. & Levy, K., 01.11.2021, In: Technology in Society. 67, 10 p., 101741.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Discourses for deep transformation: perceptions of economic growth in two rural communities in Lower Saxony, Germany

    Lübker, H. M., Abson, D. J. & Riechers, M., 01.11.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 6, p. 1827-1840 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    Six modes of co-production for sustainability

    Chambers, J. M., Wyborn, C., Ryan, M. E., Reid, R. S., Riechers, M., Serban, A., Bennett, N. J., Cvitanovic, C., Fernández-Giménez, M. E., Galvin, K. A., Goldstein, B. E., Klenk, N. L., Tengö, M., Brennan, R., Cockburn, J. J., Hill, R., Munera, C., Nel, J. L., Österblom, H., Bednarek, A. T., Bennett, E. M., Brandeis, A., Charli-Joseph, L., Chatterton, P., Curran, K., Dumrongrojwatthana, P., Durán, A. P., Fada, S. J., Gerber, J. D., Green, J. M. H., Guerrero, A. M., Haller, T., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Leimona, B., Montana, J., Rondeau, R., Spierenburg, M., Steyaert, P., Zaehringer, J. G., Gruby, R., Hutton, J. & Pickering, T., 11.2021, In: Nature Sustainability. 4, 11, p. 983-996 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  23. Published

    Integrating indigenous and local knowledge in management and research on coastal ecosystems in the Global South: A literature review

    Loch, T. K. & Riechers, M., 15.10.2021, In: Ocean and Coastal Management. 212, 19 p., 105821.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  24. Published

    From grief to hope in conservation

    Fischer, J. & Riechers, M., 10.2021, In: Conservation Biology. 35, 5, p. 1698-1700 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  25. Published

    Understanding relational values in cultural landscapes in Romania and Germany

    Riechers, M., Balázsi, Á., Engler, J. O., Shumi, G. & Fischer, J., 10.2021, In: People and Nature. 3, 5, p. 1036-1046 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  26. Published

    Woody plant species diversity and composition in and around Debre Libanos church forests of North Shoa Zone of Oromiya, Ethiopia

    Koricho, H. H., Shumi, G., Gebreyesus, T., Song, S. & Fufa, F., 10.2021, In: Journal of Forestry Research. 32, 5, p. 1929-1939 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  27. Published

    Leverage points to foster human–nature connectedness in cultural landscapes

    Riechers, M., Pătru-Dușe, I. A. & Balázsi, Á., 01.09.2021, In: Ambio. 50, 9, p. 1670-1680 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  28. Published

    Social and Ecological Elements for a Perspective Approach to Citizen Science on the Beach

    Fanini, L., Costa, L. L., Zalmon, I. R. & Riechers, M., 17.08.2021, In: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 9, 6 p., 694487.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  29. Published

    A social-ecological assessment of food security and biodiversity conservation in Ethiopia

    Fischer, J., Bergsten, A., Dorresteijn, I., Hanspach, J., Hylander, K., Jiren, T. S., Manlosa, A. O., Rodrigues, P., Schultner, J., Senbeta, F. & Shumi, G., 28.07.2021, In: Ecosystems and People. 17, 1, p. 400-410 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  30. Published

    Planung naturbasierter Lösungen in Flusslandschaften: Ein Handbuch für die Praxis

    Schröter, B., Brillinger, M., Gottwald, S., Guerrero, P., Henze, J., Ott, E., Schmidt, S. & Albert, C., 01.07.2021, 1 ed. München: oekom verlag GmbH. 117 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  31. Published

    Leverage points for addressing marine and coastal pollution: A review

    Riechers, M., Brunner, B. P., Dajka, J. C., Dușe, I. A., Lübker, H. M., Manlosa, A. O., Sala, J. E., Schaal, T. & Weidlich, S., 01.06.2021, In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. 167, 10 p., 112263.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  32. Published

    Human-nature connectedness as leverage point

    Riechers, M., Balázsi, Á., García-Llorente, M. & Loos, J., 13.05.2021, In: Ecosystems and People. 17, 1, p. 215-221 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  33. Published

    A leverage points perspective on institutions for food security in a smallholder-dominated landscape in southwestern Ethiopia

    Jiren, T. S., Riechers, M., Bergsten, A. & Fischer, J., 05.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 3, p. 767-779 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  34. Published

    Key advantages of the leverage points perspective to shape human-nature relations

    Riechers, M., Loos, J., Balázsi, Á., García-Llorente, M., Bieling, C., Burgos-Ayala, A., Chakroun, L., Mattijssen, T. J. M., Muhr, M. M., Pérez-Ramírez, I., Raatikainen, K. J., Rana, S., Richardson, M., Rosengren, L. & West, S., 25.04.2021, In: Ecosystems and People. 17, 1, p. 205-214 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  35. Published

    A change of values is in the air

    Fischer, J., 01.04.2021, In: Nature Sustainability. 4, 4, p. 292-293 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  36. Published

    Ecosystem services from forest and farmland: Present and past access separates beneficiaries in rural Ethiopia

    Schultner, J., Dorresteijn, I., Manlosa, A. O., von Wehrden, H., Hylander, K., Senbeta, F. & Fischer, J., 01.04.2021, In: Ecosystem Services. 48, 101263.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  37. Published

    Predicting the impacts of human population growth on forest mammals in the highlands of southwestern Ethiopia

    Rodrigues, P., Dorresteijn, I., Guilherme, J. L., Hanspach, J., De Beenhouwer, M., Hylander, K., Bekele, B., Senbeta, F., Fischer, J. & Nimmo, D., 01.04.2021, In: Biological Conservation. 256, 109046.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  38. Published

    Governance Challenges at the Interface of Food Security and Biodiversity Conservation: A Multi-Level Case Study from Ethiopia

    Jiren, T. S., Leventon, J., Jager, N. W., Dorresteijn, I., Schultner, J., Senbeta, F., Bergsten, A. & Fischer, J., 04.2021, In: Environmental Management. 67, 4, p. 717-730 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  39. Published

    Plastics in our ocean as transdisciplinary challenge

    Riechers, M., Fanini, L., Apicella, A., Galván, C. B., Blondel, E., Espiña, B., Kefer, S., Keroullé, T., Klun, K., Pereira, T. R., Ronchi, F., Rodríguez, P. R., Sardon, H., Silva, A. V., Stulgis, M. & Ibarra-González, N., 01.03.2021, In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. 164, 5 p., 112051.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  40. Published

    Does money "buy" tolerance toward damage-causing wildlife?

    Kansky, R., Kidd, M. & Fischer, J., 03.2021, In: Conservation Science and Practice. 3, 3, 16 p., e262.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  41. Published

    Understanding drivers of human tolerance towards mammals in a mixed-use transfrontier conservation area in southern Africa

    Kansky, R., Kidd, M. & Fischer, J., 01.02.2021, In: Biological Conservation. 254, 10 p., 108947.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  42. Published

    Woody plant species diversity as a predictor of ecosystem services in a social–ecological system of southwestern Ethiopia

    Shumi, G., Rodrigues, P., Hanspach, J., Härdtle, W., Hylander, K., Senbeta, F., Fischer, J. & Schultner, J., 01.02.2021, In: Landscape Ecology. 36, 2, p. 373-391 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  43. Published

    Making the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration a Social-Ecological Endeavour

    Fischer, J., Riechers, M., Loos, J., Martín-López, B. & Temperton, V. M., 01.01.2021, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 36, 1, p. 20-28 9 p., 2749.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  44. 2020
  45. Published

    Woody plant diversity, composition and structure in relation to environmental variables and land-cover types in Lake Wanchi watershed, central highlands of Ethiopia

    Angessa, A. T., Lemma, B., Yeshitela, K., Fischer, J., May, F. & Shumi, G., 01.12.2020, In: African Journal of Ecology. 58, 4, p. 627-638 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  46. Published

    The erosion of relational values resulting from landscape simplification

    Riechers, M., Balázsi, Á., Betz, L., Jiren, T. S. & Fischer, J., 01.11.2020, In: Landscape Ecology. 35, 11, p. 2601-2612 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  47. Published

    Urbanization, Migration, and Adaptation to Climate Change

    Adger, W. N., Crépin, A. S., Folke, C., Ospina, D., Chapin, F. S., Segerson, K., Seto, K. C., Anderies, J. M., Barrett, S., Bennett, E. M., Daily, G., Elmqvist, T., Fischer, J., Kautsky, N., Levin, S. A., Shogren, J. F., van den Bergh, J., Walker, B. & Wilen, J., 23.10.2020, In: One Earth. 3, 4, p. 396-399 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  48. Published

    The influence of landscape change on multiple dimensions of human–nature connectedness

    Riechers, M., Balázsi, Á., Abson, D. J. & Fischer, J., 01.09.2020, In: Ecology and Society. 25, 3, p. 1-12 12 p., 3.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  49. Published

    Three principles for co-designing sustainability intervention strategies: Experiences from Southern Transylvania

    Lam, D. P. M., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Fischer, J., Peukert, D. & Lang, D. J., 01.09.2020, In: Ambio. 49, 9, p. 1451-1465 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  50. Published

    Reconciling food security and biodiversity conservation: participatory scenario planning in southwestern Ethiopia

    Jiren, T. S., Hanspach, J., Schultner, J., Fischer, J., Bergsten, A., Senbeta, F., Hylander, K. & Dorresteijn, I., 09.2020, In: Ecology and Society. 25, 3, p. 1-16 16 p., 24.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  51. Published

    Red and green loops help uncover missing feedbacks in a coral reef social–ecological system

    Dajka, J. C., Woodhead, A. J., Norström, A. V., Graham, N. A. J., Riechers, M. & Nyström, M., 09.2020, In: People and Nature. 2, 3, p. 608-618 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  52. Published

    Alternative discourses around the governance of food security: A case study from Ethiopia

    Jiren, T. S., Dorresteijn, I., Hanspach, J., Schultner, J., Bergsten, A., Manlosa, A., Jager, N., Senbeta, F. & Fischer, J., 01.03.2020, In: Global Food Security. 24, 11 p., 100338.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  53. Published

    Harmonising biodiversity conservation and food security in southwestern Ethiopia

    Manlosa, A. O., Rodrigues, P., Shumi, G., Hylander, K., Schultner, J., Dorresteijn, I., Hanspach, J., Jiren, T. S., Mausbach, M., Abson, D., Senbeta, F. & Fischer, J., 02.01.2020, 1 ed. Sofia: Pensoft Publishers Ltd. 166 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook