People and Nature
Topic and aims: Intact ecosystems supply important habitats for many endangered plant and animal species, but also fulfill relevant ecosystem functions and thus provide essential ecosystem services to people. We aim to reconcile human livelihood needs and nature conservation in fragile ecosystems, mainly in sub-Sahara Africa. The combination of natural- and social sciences is crucial to better understand drivers and consequences of ecosystem degradation in anthropogenic landscapes.
Approaches and methods: We combine biodiversity research (including ecosystem functions and geosciences) with human attitudes towards nature conservation. We perform data collection via standardized biodiversity monitoring, questionnaires and expert interviews to identify suitable communication channels and key stakeholders. We translate our theoretical findings into practical advices and formulate policy briefs.
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