Global change, driven by growing population densities and rising economic production levels, is increasingly placing pressure on scarce land resources involved in the production of food and other ecosystem products and services.
Adequate solutions to environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss, unsustainable food production systems, deforestation, overgrazing, landscape fragmentation, climate change, and the depletion and contamination of land and water resources require an integration of multiple perspectives and disciplines. Below, you can read more about our highlighted themes of expertise and impact: Forestry, Agriculture and Environment.
Forestry research at NRS focuses on biodiversity conservation, climate change, carbon cycling, and sustainable management of forest and tree resources.
With a primary focus on:
Biodiversity conservation.
Climate change and carbon cycling.
Sustainable forests and tree resource management.
Our Department's work emphasizes innovative geospatial techniques and data management to support these goals, contributing to broader environmental and land use planning efforts and disaster risk reduction. The department's approach integrates the study of landscape processes with a strong consideration of human roles in the environment, aiming to provide practical solutions for natural resource management.
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NRS research in Agriculture centres on the sustainable use of land resources, focusing on food security and agricultural resilience in the face of climate change.
Food production and food security in global agricultural systems.
Agroforestry systems.
Crop type and growth monitoring.
Livestock mapping and monitoring.
By integrating geospatial data with field observations, the Department develops innovative tools for precision farming, crop monitoring, food system resilience, and land use optimization. This research helps in improving agricultural practices, increasing productivity, and ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources, which is essential for supporting rural livelihoods and adapting to changing environmental conditions.
Research in the Environmental field at NRS addresses critical issues related to HEALTHY LANDSCAPES, climate change, and ecosystem services.
Environmental impact of land use and land use change assessments.
Restoration of degraded landscapes.
Risk assessment and monitoring.
The Department focuses on understanding landscape processes, particularly how they affect and are affected by human activities. Through advanced geospatial technologies, the team monitors environmental changes, assesses risks, and develops strategies for sustainable management. This is crucial in supporting livelihoods, resource conservation efforts, and creating actionable insights for policymakers, businesses, and civil society organisations to mitigate environmental challenges.
By pursuing a PhD at our department you will be able to develop research in a field you love, create societal impact and travel across the world to collect data.
For research inquiries, please contact Wieteke Willemen
Publications
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