Resilient development of abandoned landscapes in Polesia (Ukraine) (LaRe)
Client:
German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU)
Duration:
01.03.2026 - 29.02.2028
Project team:
TU Dresden (Prof. Dr. C. Schmidt, Dr. O. Golubtsov)
Restart Agency, Ukraine (O. Shevchenko)
Project description:
In Polesia (northern Ukraine), the war has severely damaged the natural and cultural landscape heritage and greatly exacerbated existing environmental problems as a result of the Chernobyl disaster, large-scale melioration and intensive forestry and agriculture. The desertification of Polesia has intensified as a result of destroyed settlements, depopulation and the abandonment of arable land; at the same time, individual communities are under growing anthropogenic pressure due to the absorption of internally displaced persons and relocated production capacities. The cumulative effect of natural and anthropogenic disturbances is destabilizing the mosaic-like landscapes of Polesia, which are particularly sensitive to encroachment. This is particularly critical as Polesia fulfills central water-regulating and nature conservation functions and - especially in the Dnipro catchment area - is of national importance for water management, biodiversity and ecosystem services (high proportion of protected areas and emerald areas, Emerald Network).
Landscape planning is an integral part of municipal spatial planning and is considered a potentially effective instrument for integrating ecological requirements and strengthening the resilience of landscapes. However, due to the novelty of this instrument in Ukraine (legal since 2021), there is a lack of practical experience and methodological know-how; in addition, the interpretation of the results and mechanisms for their transfer into implementable projects - including effective public participation - have so far been insufficiently developed.
Aims of the research project:
The aim of LaRe is to develop an innovative, transferable model of landscape planning for the landscapes of Poland (northern Ukraine) affected by population decline, degradation and war-related damage in order to strengthen their resilience, ensure multifunctionality and thus contribute to nature and water conservation. The project aims to reduce typical environmental risks, in particular Disruption of the water balance and degradation of wetlands and agricultural landscapes; fragmentation of biotopes and loss of biodiversity; loss of climate-regulating functions. The expected effect will be achieved through the early identification of risks to the resilience of landscapes and the preparation of appropriate measures in landscape plans. The results are to be integrated locally into the planning and decision-making processes of around 200 municipalities in Polesia.
As part of the project, standardized and reproducible digital planning approaches will be developed. These are based on GIS-supported models for the evaluation of central landscape functions and enable the creation of digital landscape plans. The consolidated results will be prepared as a WebGIS in the form of a reference model and a guideline for municipal planning and decision-makers - for use in over 200 municipalities in Polesia.
Link to the DBU website
Project staff:
© Sven Ellger
wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter
NameMr Dr. Oleksandr Golubtsov
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