Mana Gharun’s Post

The 2-hour hike in the wild forest 🌳 of Leipzig as part of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)-sponsored global seminar on chemical pollution monitoring was both fascinating and exciting! We went through a very vast, rich, robust & unperturbed landscape of lush green vegetation, forest, biodiversity and vibrant ecosystems which are just natural buffers for climate resilience! This expedition was part of our global pilot study for ecological surveys and water 💦 sampling to ensure we had balanced and representative samples for our experiments 🔬! Seeing this multi- dimensional and disciplinary approach to #OneWorld, #OneHealth and #UNSDGs-driven project being pioneered by ecologists, environmental chemists, environmental scientists/legal professionals, ecotoxicologists, ecologists, biologists, hydrologists, geologists, policymakers, global organizations (UNEP rep was among this cohort), life scientists and many more experts, demonstrates the undeniable commitment of the intentional and purpose-driven sponsors to global #environmentalsustainability! We are now analyzing all our water samples collected from our various countries and Leipzig to determine the impact of anthropogenic pollution on sensitive and vulnerable aquatic environments that benefit many indigenous communities as very important ecosystem services! Sustainable solutions to these challenges will also be proffered once the datasets are available and fully analyzed! #SDG17PartnershipsForTheGoals #ClimateAction The Elsevier Foundation

🌍 New Special Issue in Urban Science 🌍 Urbanisation is one of the most powerful drivers of global biodiversity change, reshaping both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems at unprecedented rates. Cities transform landscapes, alter ecological interactions, and create novel niches; some species decline, others adapt, and communities become increasingly shaped by urban environments. 📢 We are pleased to announce the launch of a Special Issue on the Biodiversity in Urban Landscapes. Guest Editors are: Dr. Marija Ilić, Prof. Dr. Jelka Crnobrnja Isailovic, Dr. Božica Vasiljević and Dr. Jelena Čanak Atlagić This Special Issue explores: How urban expansion reshapes ecosystems and species persistence Ecological interactions under urban pressures (pollinators, herbivores, pathogens, urban exploiters) Effects of urban heat islands, pollutants, and habitat fragmentation Terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity responses at local to global scales Innovative approaches to conservation and sustainable coexistence in cities We welcome observational, experimental, modelling, and interdisciplinary research that integrates ecological and socio-economic perspectives. 📄 Submit your work and join us in advancing understanding of biodiversity responses to urbanisation! 👉 Learn more and contribute: https://lnkd.in/dYUwXBrg #UrbanScience #Biodiversity #UrbanEcology #Conservation #Research

A new paper in Remote Sensing of Environment, “The progress and potential directions in the remote sensing of farmland abandonment,” showcases the power of international collaboration, featuring Europe-LAND partner Charles University (Czech Republic). Although land scarcity is rising, farmland abandonment is emerging as a global land-use change phenomenon. This review of 131 publications highlights the rapid growth of remote-sensing techniques for monitoring abandonment, while revealing continued reliance on Landsat and Sentinel-2 data. The article makes a conceptual contribution to one of Europe-LAND’s future outputs — developing indicators of LU/LC transition processes. Supported by programs such as 4EU+ Flagship: Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Program, Biodiversa+, and ALPMEMA, the work offers clear directions for expanding research, diversifying data sources, integrating socio-economic contexts and improving communication. 🔗Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eu6m-QCw Congrats to all authors who contributed to this collaborative paper: - Alexander Prishchepov (University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet), Denmark/Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany) - Katharina Anders (Heidelberg University/Technical University of Munich, Germany) - Jan Feranec (Slovenská akadémia vied / Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia) - Tomáš Goga (Slovenská akadémia vied / Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia) - Simona Grădinaru (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland) - Jan Kolář (Charles University, Czech Republic) - Robert Pazur (Slovenská akadémia vied / Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia/Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland) - Marketa Potuckova (Charles University, Czech Republic) - Bogdan Zagajewski (University of Warsaw, Poland) - Lucie Kupkova (Charles University, Czech Republic)

One of the best parts of conferences is reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones! Last night at the Georgia Resiliency 2025 Conference, I had a delightful dinner with Maggie Straight, a student in Georgia Institute of Technology's Ocean Science and Engineering PhD program, and Sarah Hope Roney, PhD, a recent alumna from the same program and former Georgia Tech Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems Graduate Fellow who is now a Marine Conservation and Education Fellow at Georgia Conservancy. The conversation ranged from micro to macro - literally. Maggie's research characterizes bacteria-algae interactions in micro-algae systems, while Sarah worked on oyster ecosystems during her time at GT. Her recent study showed that restored oyster reefs can reduce wave energy in the Savannah River by up to 40%, providing critical protection against marsh erosion while supporting coastal communities and Georgia's ecotourism industry. What struck me about our conversation was that the principles of resilience show up at every scale. Both Maggie and Sarah are exploring how foundational species - from micro-algae to oysters - create the conditions for entire ecosystems to thrive. This is exactly the kind of systems thinking we need! Proud to see the next generation of scientists like Sarah translating their research into real-world impact and grateful for conversations that connect the dots across disciplines and scales. #GTatGeorgiaResiliency2025 #BBISS #GeorgiaTech #MarineConservation #CoastalConservation #ClimateResilience #CommunityResilience

💧 How can we ensure that water remains a vital resource in cities despite urbanisation and climate change? Dr. Maria Magdalena Warter is launching her project ‘Water-conscious cities of the future’ at IGB, funded by the Kurt Eberhardt Bode Foundation. 🎉 With her new junior research group, she will investigate in #Berlin how urban #waters respond to human influences and how #restoration measures can increase their ecological function, #biodiversity and benefits for city dwellers. Methods such as environmental DNA and tracer approaches help to better understand #water quality, water balance, flow paths and aquatic biodiversity – for resilient blue-green infrastructures and sustainable, water-conscious cities. 🌿🏙️ 👉 Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ehgrq2c3 #UrbanWaters #UrbanDevelopment #Biodiversity Stifterverband

🥳 Great to see the first step towards our systematic map on the impact of restoration of natural processes on biodiversity finished! 🌍 The past months, me and my colleagues have worked on our systematic map protocol on "What evidence exists for the impact of restoration of natural processes on biodiversity in temperate ecosystems". It is now available open-access in Environmental Evidence (https://rdcu.be/eLOar). We aim to show which metrics are being used to measure the impact of dynamic nature management working with natural processes. 🦬 The publication is part of our NaturMål project where we focus on how to quantify and monitor restoration of natural processes. In this systematic map, we will focus on four main processes related to herbivores (grazing, browsing, wallowing, uprooting), water level dynamics, fire and wind dynamics. 📑 Now the work of reviewing over 5000 papers can start! Thanks a lot to the team for their contribution to this publication! Pablo Villalva Aguilar, Siri Vatsø Haugum, Bjarke Madsen, Urs Treier, Signe Normand, Carsten Rahbek, Jacob Heilmann-Clausen. AAGE V. JENSEN NATURFOND, 15. Juni Fonden, Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen, Globe Institute, Aarhus University, Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC)

Doesn't the middle of the forest feel different from the edges of forest? Two new studies reveal just how damaging forest fragmentation has become, AND the second study tells us how the edges of the forest have a reduced role as a carbon sink versus the middle. 🔹 In Science Magazine (Zou et al. 2025): More than half of the world’s forests became more fragmented between 2000–2020. 👉 Read here: https://lnkd.in/dHt25aVC 🔹 In Nature Ecology & Evolution (Yang et al. 2025): Fragmentation weakens forests as carbon sinks. Edges store ~16% less biomass than the interior part of the forest. 👉 Read here: https://lnkd.in/dsGrbBRb At Restor, these findings reinforce that it’s not just about how many trees remain, but how well forests stay connected. Connectivity is what allows wildlife to move, seeds to disperse, and ecosystems to recover. Hundreds of projects on Restor are already restoring this connectivity: building wildlife corridors, linking forest patches, and protecting continuous landscapes. Explore them and see how connection drives recovery. Crowther Lab | ETH Zurich | Thomas W. Crowther | Yibiao Zou #Research #Science

Our second habitat design is ready! It includes three large openings that provide shelter for fish species such as cod, while the 3D-printed structure creates a large surface area for marine organisms to attach, enhancing marine biodiversity. This prototype was printed at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Soon, we will deploy our first prototypes in collaboration with municipalities in Sweden and Germany to evaluate their ecological performance. If you’re interested in collaborating, we’d love to hear from you! #Artificialreefs #AdditiveManufacturing #3Dprinting #OceanBiodiversity Ojas Chaudhari, Ph.D.

🎥 What’s really going on beneath the surface in Haderslev Fjord? In this video, our water environment researcher Flemming Gertz retrieves sensors from both the seabed and surface waters of Haderslev Fjord. These sensors, along with water samples sent for lab analysis, help us understand how nitrogen and phosphorus interact in the aquatic ecosystem. The goal? To generate valuable insights that can improve the ecological status of Haderslev Fjord — and inspire similar efforts in other Danish fjords facing oxygen depletion challenges. 🌊 Transparency matters. That’s why we share this work openly — so farmers, municipalities, utilities, advisors, and citizens can engage with the realities and development of their local water environment. At SEGES Innovation, we truly value the strong collaboration with our partners: Spiras, Haderslev Kommune, Provas Forsyningsservice, Aarhus University, Longline Environment, Syddansk Universitet - University of Southern Denmark, Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Sønderjysk Sportsfiskerforening (Angling Association) #HaderslevFjord #WaterEnvironment #TransparencyMatters #StakeholderEngagement #EnvironmentalMonitoring #DanishFjords Video production by Martin Stoltenberg Hansen

🌿 Wareham, Dorset: Living Testbed for Environmental Science 🌿 Tucked between the rivers Frome and Piddle, Wareham in Dorset is fast becoming a hub for applied environmental science where landscape recovery, freshwater ecology, geology, and community-led sustainability meet. From the Wareham Arc Landscape Recovery Project, which is restoring 4,000 hectares of wetlands and heathland, to cutting-edge freshwater ecosystem research at the River Laboratory, this region exemplifies how science and stewardship can work hand-in-hand. Add to that the geological studies of the Wareham Basin, linking mineral extraction with environmental management, and the efforts of Sustainable Wareham, bringing local people into the heart of biodiversity and climate action and you have a model of One Health thinking in practice. Wareham reminds us that environmental science isn’t confined to labs, it’s taking place in our landscapes, communities, and partnerships. 🔬 #TESTBEDDorset might be able to help. TESTBED isn’t about duplication — it’s about being useful. It seeks to connect and support what already works across Dorset’s environmental and health innovation landscape, helping new responsible research and innovation take root. Brittany Maxted Andrew Dowsey Professor Jo Slater-Jefferies PhD MBA CMgr MCMI Professor Cheryl Metcalf Cheryl Stroud Cecilia Bufton Silas Whiteley Ellis Emwanta Emily Fripp Rachel H. Lee Miles Sam Crowe Rob Carroll FFPH Richard Gordon MBE Lucy Green Tom Munro Ian Alexander Maria Clarke Martin Sutcliffe Nikki Dalby Prof Grant Stentiford FRCP Lucy Cullinane Matthew Elmes Exeter Science Park University of Southampton Science Park Porton Science Park Dorset Innovation Park Plymouth Science Park Ltd Tom Hallam Coastland College Dorset National Landscape Dorset Local Nature Partnership UK Agri-Tech Centre Cefas Dorset Council UK Bournemouth University BCP Council #EnvironmentalScience #OneHealth #Innovation #Dorset #Sustainability #ResponsibleInnovation #OHEN #TESTBEDDorset