Projects

International

Restore4Life - Restore4Life - Obnova mokraďových komplexov ako systémov podporujúcich život v povodí Dunaja
Restore4Life - Restoration of wetland complexes as life supporting systems in the Danube Basin
Program: Horizon Europe
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: Restore4Life demonstrates the multiple socio-economic benefits generated by a holistic and transdisciplinary approach for the restoration of freshwater and coastal wetlands in the Danube basin that will contribute to new blue-green infrastructure supporting regional climate change resilience and mitigation. Restore4Life engages in 4 demonstration sites and 6 monitoring sites all across the Danube basin to make evident that increased delivery of key ecosystem services, as water and pollutant retention, carbon sequestration and tourism opportunities as well as improved resilience of water-dependent habitats will produce multiple socioeconomic synergies that also provide opportunities for sustainable businesses and investments.Implementation of activities basically aiming to restore lateral connectivity in riverine corridors will be supported by a Restore4Life long term wetland restoration service/ Restore4Life Wetland Reconstruction Accelerator that combines timely integrative wetland management with a novel level of societal engagement. The Accelerator will provide tested indicators, monitoring approaches and decision support to identify adapted and future-oriented restoration goals, techniques and holistic road maps. Citizens and stakeholders will be empowered to engage in the co-design of projects by establishing stakeholder communities of practice, by twinning of similar projects at different realization stage, citizen science, thematic mobile apps and the use of multiple communication channels with special focus on visual, hands-on interactive information flow that promotes emotional links to water shaped environment. The various tools generated by Restore4Life also including handbooks for business audiences and targeted restoration roadmaps will secure the efficient replication of restoration activities in associated regions. In collaboration with similar mission activities, Restore4Life thus efficiently supports integrative social and economic transitions.
Duration: 1.6.2023 - 31.5.2027
MORIDEK - MORIDEK - Modelovanie vplyvov rastlinných invázií na dunajské ekosystémy
MORIDEK - Modelling long term impacts of plant invasions on danubian ecosystems
Program: Other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The activities of the proposed MORIDEK project complement the interdisciplinary nature of the original Horizon Europe project Restore4Life, which represents an innovation action addressing the socially significant issue of wetland restoration. Our proposed MORIDEK project contributes primarily to the scientific and research component of this innovation activity, which is necessary for demonstrating the importance of wetland restoration based on solid and reliable scientific foundations. Specifically, it focuses on assessing the impact of a particular threat to the Danube\'s alluvial wetlands, which is posed by plant species invasions. Invasive plants represent a significant threat to many of the Danube\'s alluvial wetlands, which are important and valuable ecological zones in Europe, but also act as catalysts for the spread of these invasive species. These invasive plant species can significantly disrupt ecosystem balance, threatening native species and the overall functionality of wetlands. The project will employ innovative approaches to assess the impacts of plant invasions using a combination of Earth observation (EO) and ecosystem process modeling (EM), aiming to contribute to the understanding of potential impacts of plant invasions on wetlands, particularly in terms of carbon and nutrient flows.
Duration: 1.6.2024 - 31.5.2026
EUGW - Pozorovanie trávnych porastov - aktualizácia CO4N2K
EU Grassland Watch – CO4N2K update
Program: Bilateral - other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: EU Grassland Watch will support the monitoring and management of N2000 sites with a focus on grasslands and thereby assess the health of protected areas / ecosystems through time. The Copernicus programme will provide valuable resources for mapping and monitoring the sites through existing ready to use service products and operational Earth Observation (EO) image acquisitions. The results of the analysis processes will be exposed to users through a user-friendly and intuitive webtool to support their reporting and management needs at a range of scales from the pan-European to site levels.
Project webpage: https://cop4n2k.eu/
Duration: 22.1.2024 - 16.5.2026
eLTER PPP - eLTER Preparatory Phase Project
eLTER Preparatory Phase Project
Program: Horizon 2020
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: eLTER RI is a pan-European Research Infrastructure planned to be operational in 2027. It has been built on the basis of existing national investments over several decades in the context of dedicated networks and ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological research projects. 162 Research Performing Organisations support the eLTER RI Science Case through a signed MoU, and 19 countries (including Slovakia) have formally provided political support to establishment of eLTER RI. The eLTER RI intends to create scientifically sound information required in response to grand societal challenges, while working as a distributed RI in the most cost-efficient way. It will continuously enhance its services and in-situ facilities to meet the needs of stakeholders as to emerging research challenges. Thereby, it will bring Europe to a globally leading role in ecosystem sciences. eLTER PPP will establish the vision and mission, strategic collaboration schemes and impact analysis of the RI; plan, consolidate with shareholders and start to implement the governance structures, coordinate a smooth transition from preparation into operations by establishing a legal entity, and by clearly identifying risks and risk reduction measures; prepare the cost benefit analysis, full Cost Book of the RI, and the financial plans for the mid-term and long-term perspective, and consolidate them with the shareholders; conclude the requirements of the RI to be met by the Central Services, identify the host for the Head Office, and the scope and decision making processes for hosting other central service components; finalise the technical specifications of eLTER RI concerning National Research Infrastructure design, eLTER Standard Observations and site categories, and establish a site labelling process; and develop and set up communication, dissemination and marketing structures or seamless continuation in eLTER RI, and engaging the eLTER scientific user community and other user groups beyond the project life time.
Project webpage: https://www.lter-europe.net/projects/PPP
Duration: 1.2.2020 - 31.1.2025
eLTER PLUS - European long-term ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological systems research infrastructure PLUS
European long-term ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological systems research infrastructure PLUS
Program: Horizon 2020
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: Progress in understanding, managing and securing current and future ecosystem functions and services is challenged by fragmented and dispersed ecosystem research, operated using narrow disciplinary perspectives that prevent a holistic understanding of complex eco- and socio-ecological systems. The emerging European Long-Term Ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological systems Research Infrastructure (eLTER RI) was evaluated by the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) as having high potential for closing this gap in the European RI landscape. The primary objective of eLTER PLUS is to open and expand the research capacities and impact of eLTER by engaging current and new users and developing the operations of cross- and transdisciplinary research, exemplified in eLTER Site and Platform design and the RI’s Standard Observation framework. eLTER PLUS will execute a performance test of the emerging RI and assess and strengthen its operations in real time. It will further advance community building and provisioning of services as pursued by the H2020-funded eLTER INFRAIA Starting Community project and related projects. Its focus is on making intensive use of 35 selected sites and platforms in terrestrial, freshwater and coastal ecosystems, combined with observational data from an additional 50 sites, for studying ecosystem and socio-ecological responses to globally-relevant environmental challenges in terms of ecosystem integrity and ecosystem services. Its Whole-Systems approach will derive meaningful scientific and policy-relevant information via co-designed, transdisciplinary research in collaboration with diverse stakeholders at local, regional and EU-scales. Concerted actions also focus on collaboration with peer RIs to maximize synergies, increase efficiencies and catalyze holistic understanding of ecosystem function, and on development of virtual laboratories where in-situ site data are linked with other data sources, e.g. Copernicus.
Project webpage: https://www.lter-europe.net/projects/PLUS
Duration: 1.2.2020 - 31.1.2025
REGATA - Štúdium atmosférickej depozície ťažkých kovov v priemyselných regiónoch Slovenska pomocou biomonitorovacích techník, metód jadrovej fyziky a technológií GIS
Atmoheric Deposition of Heavy Metals in Industrial Areas of Slovakia Studied by the Moss Biomonitoring Technique Employing Nuclear and Related Analytical Techniques and GIS Technology
Program: Bilateral - other
Project leader: RNDr. Borovská Jana, PhD.
Annotation: The project is focused on research of chemical pollution of ground layer of the Slovak atmosphere with an emphasis on heavy metal pollution as part of the European mapping of heavy metals through selected groups of bryophytes within the ICP Vegetation program. The ILE SAS together with NFC in Zvolen ensures the collection and sorting of mosses from monitoring sites. The Radioanalytical Department of LNF JINR Dubna carries out an analysis of mosses in terms of the presence of selected heavy metals. The Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics FMFI UK Bratislava measures the radioactivity of moss samples from selected localities in order to map the annual dose of the population of the Slovak Republic from the inhalation of isotopes 137Cs and 210Pb. The results of the analyses will be published in the final report of the ICP Vegetation "Mosses as biomonitors of air pollution 2020-22 survey on heavy metals, nitrogen and POPs in Europe".
Duration: 1.11.2020 - 31.12.2022
Linking science, policy and people for sustainable Carpathians
Linking science, policy and people for sustainable Carpathians
Program: International Visegrad Fund (IVF)
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Duration: 1.3.2020 - 31.7.2022
Mobilizácia databáz siete Emerald na Západnom Balkáne ako príprava na biogegrafické semináre
Mobilisation of Emerald Network databases in the Western Balkans in preparation of biogeographical seminars
Program: Other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The six Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia have ratified the Bern Convention and consequently have to select Emerald sites and to forward complete Standard Data Form for every protected area. Setting-up the Emerald Network at national level is considered as one of the main tools for the Contracting Parties to comply with their obligations under the Bern Convention. The overall project objectives of the project are to support and to facilitate the mobilization of SDF databases followed by submission to the Bern Convention via the Reportnet’s Central Data Repository by Western Balkan countries. In hands-on workshops for each Western Balkan Country, representatives of national or regional nature conservation administration as well as scientific are working together, supported by the project team, to mobilize and update the Emerald database. The project should improve also taxonomic consistency and consistency in interpretation of habitat types in reporting between the Resolution N° 6 (1998) of the Bern Convention and the annexes of the Nature Directives (Habitats Directive and Birds Directive.
Duration: 22.12.2021 - 30.6.2022
ETC BD - Európske tématické centrum pre biologickú diverzitu - 2022
European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity - 2022
Program: Bilateral - other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: ETC BD is project of the European Environment Agency (EEA). The ETC BD activities in 2022 is to high extent determined by programme of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its strategic plan; on the EÚ level by the EU Strategy 2020 on biodiversity. These political elements are fully integrated to the EEA multi-annual working programme that determines the ETC BD working plan. The ETC BD activities will be performed in two main areas: Monitoring, reporting and indicators; and Knowledge for ecosystem-based management. The first area consists of four parts: Dataflows and data analysis - Biodiversity, nature and terrestrial policies; Streamlining data monitoring and reporting, and data acquisition; Biodiversity monitoring and progress indicators (EU and global); and Protected areas. The second area has five parts: Assessing ecosystem condition, drivers of change and pressures on ecosystems; Restoration needs and targets; Solutions and restoration measures for ecosystems impacted by agriculture; Solutions and restoration measures for ecosystems impacted by forestry; and BISE - Biodiversity Information System for Europe.
Duration: 1.1.2022 - 31.1.2022
ETC BD - Európske tématické centrum pre biologickú diverzitu - 2019-2021
European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity - 2019-2021
Program: Bilateral - other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: ETC BD is a project of the European Environmental Agency. EEA‐ETC/BD work over the period 2019‐2021 will be largely framed on global level by the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Strategic Plan for 2011‐2020 and at EU level by the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy. These policy elements are fully integrated in the EEA Multi‐annual Work Programme 2014‐2018 extended to 2020, which determine the ETC BD work plan. The ETC BD activities will be done in 5 work packages. WP1 (Monitoring, data, management and information systems) addresses the organisation of dataflows and the management of core datasets which will either directly feed the policy process or/and underpin the production of indicators and assessments. WP2 (Indicators) mainly addresses work to be done by ETC/BD as part of the SEBI collaborative process (Streamlined European Biodiversity Indicators). WP3 (Assessments) over the next period will be largely framed by targets 1 and 2 of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy. The evaluation of progress towards target 1 and its supporting actions will make use of information reported by Member States under the Nature Directives. A major piece of EEA‐ETC/BD work will be the preparation of the State of Nature report, to be published by end 2020. WP4 (Networking and policy support) covers networking with national authorities and experts under policy processes, whether at EU, pan‐European or global levels. WP5 is focused to the ETC BD management, capacity‐building and cross‐ETC cooperation.
Project webpage: https://bd.eionet.europa.eu/
Duration: 1.1.2019 - 31.12.2021
Emerald Balkan - Posilnenie účasti krajín západného Balkánu na práci Európskej environmentálnej agentúry 2020- 2021
Strengthening the participation of the Western Balkans in the work of the European Environment Agency 2020- 2021
Program: Other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The six Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia have ratified the Bern Convention and consequently have to select Emerald sites and to forward complete Standard Data Form for every protected area. Setting-up the Emerald Network at national level is considered as one of the main tools for the Contracting Parties to comply with their obligations under the Bern Convention.The overall project objectives of the project are to support and to facilitate the mobilization of SDF databases followed by submission to the Bern Convention via the Reportnet’s Central Data Repository by Western Balkan countries. In hands-on workshops for each Western Balkan Country, representatives of national or regional nature conservation administration as well as scientific are working together, supported by the project team, to mobilize and update the Emerald database. The project should improve also taxonomic consistency and consistency in interpretation of habitat types in reporting between the Resolution N° 6 (1998) of the Bern Convention and the annexes of the Nature Directives (Habitats Directive and Birds Directive.
Duration: 2.12.2021 - 31.12.2021
ENI-SEIS II - Podpora pre implementáciu regionálneho a národného plánu ENI-SEIS II East 2019 v podpore podávania správ pre sieť Emerald
Support for the implementation of the ENI-SEIS II East 2019 Regional and National Work Plan in assisting reporting to Emerald Network
Program: Other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The ENI-SEIS East project aims at helping partner countries gradually develop and extend their biodiversity data e.g. on habitats, species and internationally designated areas in line with the SEIS principles in terms of institutional cooperation, content and infrastructure. The overall objective of the proposed activities and deliverables is to strengthen capacities of national authorities to further improve and share the data on internationally designated areas with quality assurance/quality control standards comparable with European Environmental Agency (EEA) and the World database on protected areas (WDPA). Developing the relational database helps partner countries to meet also international reporting obligations and requirements, for instance, to the Bern Convention, the Convention of Biological Diversity and its Aichi targets, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) etc. Given that, the specific objectives of the project are:• strengthening of the national authorities’ capacity in collecting biodiversity data and information for the reporting on the conservation status of species and habitats of European importance to the Bern Convention in 2019• supporting the designation cycle of new proposed areas to the Emerald network by providing sufficiency assessments to enable the countries to meet the Aichi strategic goal C target 11 and SDG-15To achieve these objectives, one reporting workshop and two biogeographical seminars will be organised. The reporting workshop will offer the possibility for the national experts to share their experiences and challenges at the regional level, both in content reporting and in using the reporting tool. The biogeographical seminars will be focused to scientific assessment of the sufficiency of the proposed and candidate Emerald sites to protect a) birds in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and 2) habitats and non-bird species in Belarus, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The project should also ensure the helpdesk - the assistance to the country teams related to the reporting on species and habitats conservation status, making use of the Resolution 8 reporting tool.
Duration: 1.4.2019 - 31.12.2019
eLTER - Európska infraštruktúra pre dlhodobý ekosystémový a socioekologický výskum - eLTER
European Long-Term Ecosystem and Socio-Ecological Research Infrastructure — eLTER
Program: Horizon 2020
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The overall aim of the eLTER project is to advance the European network of Long-Term Ecosystem Research sites and socio-ecological research platforms to provide highest quality services for multiple use of a distributed research infrastructure.eLTER ́s major objectives and methods are to:(1) identify user needs for the research infrastructure in relation to major societal challenges through consultations with scientific, policy and business stakeholders and horizon scanning;(2) streamline the design of a cost-efficient pan-European network, able to address multiple ecosystem research issues, in collaboration with related global and European research infrastructures, e.g. LifeWatch;(3) develop the organisational framework for data integration and enable virtual access to the LTER data by enabling data publishing through distributed Data Nodes and by providing access to data on key research challenges through a Data Integration Platform;(4) foster the societal relevance, usability and multiple use of information, data and services through new partnerships with the providers of remotely sensed data, analytical services and scenario testing models, and via the adoption of new measurement technologies.The LTER-Europe network and the European Critical Zone community will collaborate to achieve these goals. 162 sites in 22 countries will provide data on long-term trends in environmental change, some reaching back 100 years. Test cases using these data will address a range of environmental and social issues to push innovation in network level services and steer conceptual developments. The envisaged “LTER Infrastructure” will enable European-scale investigation of major ecosystems and socio-ecological systems, and support knowledge-based decision making at multiple levels.
Project webpage: http://www.lter-europe.net/projects/eLTER
Duration: 1.6.2015 - 31.5.2019
ETC BD - Európske tematické centrum pre biologickú diverzitu
European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity
Program: Bilateral - other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity (ETC/BD) is established to support the work of EEA in the field of biodiversity for the period 2014-18 and the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Biodiversity and related global strategies. Key priority areas included in the work plans established between the EEA and the European Commission include:• Support implementation of existing EU legislation relating to nature (Habitats and Birds Directives), including links to other key EU legislation concerning the sea and water, rationalization of the data collection, reporting and sharing of experience and knowledge;• Support for assessment and reporting in connection with the global- and the EU biodiversity strategies, while promoting the implementation of data and information aspects, in particular the mapping and assessment of the health of ecosystems and their services in Europe;• Work on specific tasks relating to the EU\'s biodiversity strategy in sectors that are not covered by other ETCs. These include agriculture and forestry. The cooperation with the JRC, DG AGRI, and other pan-European and global partners in these issues is needed.
Project webpage: http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/
Duration: 1.1.2014 - 31.12.2018
NEEMO - Monitorovanie LIFE projektov, komunikácia o LIFE programe a o iných aktivitách spojených s LIFE programom - NEEMO EEIG
Monitoring of LIFE projects (action grants and operating grants), communication about the LIFE programme and other linked activities- NEEMO EEIG
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The project is focused mainly on monitoring of quality and professional and financial correctness of implementation of the EU co-funded projects of the LIFE programme in strands Environment and Climate Action. These projects support the development of Natura 2000 network through concrete conservation actions or deal with various environmental issues. They usually last from three to five years. NEEMO EEIG consortium comprises 9 companies and institutes spread across the Europe, enabling the consortium to make the best use of its resources, and to provide expertise combined with local knowledge and the necessary language skills. Monitoring experts regularly check the implementation of projects in the field or beneficiary premises and submit evaluation reports to the European Commission, DG Environment.
Duration: 1.1.2015 - 31.12.2018
ENI_SEIS - Podpora pre implementáciu regionálneho a národného plánu ENI-SEIS II East 2017-2018 v podpore podávania správ pre sieť Emerald
Support for the implementation of the ENI-SEIS II East 2017-2018 Regional and National Work Plan in assisting reporting to Emerald Network
Program: Other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The project is aimed to provide scientific and technical support to the six countries of Eastern Europe (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) to strengthen their environmental monitoring and information management on the basis of the SEIS principles. As far as biodiversity is concerned, this implies support for the implementation of the Emerald Network under the Berne Convention. The project includes following activities:- Regional workshops on reporting requirements. Two workshops are expected with focus to reporting requirements based on international standards and developing of distributional maps for species and habitats; - Biogeographical seminars on sufficiency assessment of proposed and candidate Emerald sites. Two seminars are foreseen: 1) Seminar to assess sufficiency of the proposed and candidate sites to protect species (except birds) and habitats in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia; 2) Seminar to assess sufficiency of the proposed and candidate Emerald sites to protect bird species in Belarus, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine;- Helpdesk support to the ENI East countries in using the Standard Data Form Tool for reporting the data to the EEA CDR;- Stremalining between Bern Convention (Emerald) and the EU Nature Directives in reporting- Harmonisation of methodologies for production of regionally comparable indicator on protected areas – implementing the indicator on protected areas.
Project webpage: https://www.coe.int/en/web/bern-convention/emerald-network-reference-portal
Duration: 1.7.2017 - 30.11.2018
NBP - Podpora pre biogeografický proces Natura 2000
Support for the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: In this project, the consortium led by European Centre for Nature Conservation will continue supporting the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process. The support provided in this context will cover the continuation of the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process and its expansion with two Kick-off Seminars for the Continental, Pannonian, Steppic & Black Sea Region, which takes place in Luxembourg in spring 2015, and the Macaronesian Region planned for autumn 2015. It will also cover the organization of Review Natura 2000 Seminars for the Boreal and Atlantic regions in 2016 and for other regions in 2017.Last but not least, as a part of the \'Natura 2000 Biogeographical Networking Programme\', the new contract will support the establishment and implementation of a number of networking events, in close cooperation with the Commission, Member States, conservation institutes, NGOs and stakeholder organizations. These events will be designed to take forward specific common priorities identified by Process participants. The aim will be to develop collaboration and cooperative actions on the management of Natura 2000. In particular, focus will be given to developing new insights and practical know-how about management approaches required to improve the condition and status of Natura 2000 habitats and species.
Project webpage: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/index_en.htm
Duration: 1.1.2015 - 31.12.2017
Advance eLTER - Posunutie výskumných infraštruktúr Európskeho dlhodobého ekosystémového výskumu, kritickej zóny a socio-ekologického výskumu smerom k ESFRI
Advancing the European Long-Term Ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological Research Infrastructure towards ESFRI
Program: Horizon 2020
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: Advance_eLTER marks a crucial step in building the distributed European ResearchInfrastructure of Long-Term Ecosystem Research sites and socio-ecological research platforms(eLTER RI) to provide highest quality data and services complementary to the European andglobal environmental RIs. The project will conduct important conceptual work andpreparatory steps towards enabling European-scale investigation of the “Critical Zone”, majorecosystems and socio-ecological systems, targeted at supporting knowledge-based decisionmaking at various levels concerning ecosystem services and biodiversity. Advance_eLTER will closely cooperate with all LTER related processes and projects and willresult in a 2017 eLTER ESFRI proposal.
Project webpage: http://www.lter-europe.net/elter-esfri/advance-elter
Duration: 1.1.2017 - 31.12.2017
Syntéza štúdií vplyvu inštitucionálnych zmien a zmien krajinnej pokrývky a využitia krajiny na uhlík, biodiverzitu a poľnohospodárstvo po rozpade Sovietskeho Zväzu
Synthesis of Studies on Institutional Change and LCLUC Effects on Carbon, Biodiversity, and Agriculture After the Collapse of the Soviet Union
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: Major institutional changes occurred throughout Eastern Europe and European Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the expansion of the EU in 2004 and \'07, resulting resulted in substantial land cover and land use change. NASA-funded case studies led by members of our proposal team have highlighted the magnitude of these land changes. However, these case studies have not been synthesized, and we lack comprehensive datasets of land change, analysis of its economic and institutional drivers, and assessments of its environmental effects. Our first goal is to utilize recent advances in remote sensing science to a) map wall-to-wall decadal land change from Landsat data across Eastern Europe and European Russia, and b) conduct in-depth analyses of higher temporal resolution land change for dense time stacks of selected footprints. Our prior case studies highlighted that land changes were highly heterogeneous in space suggesting that economies and institutions were important drivers of land change. However, how economic, policy, and institutional changes - and their legacies – affected land change is not clear. Our second goal is to understand the economic, policy and institutional drivers of land change across Eastern Europe and European Russia. Similarly, case studies by our team and others provide strong evidence for substantial effects of land change on agriculture, forestry, carbon pools and fluxes, and biodiversity. The additional remote sensing analyses outlined above would allow us to take the research on these effects to a new level, and make comprehensive assessments across Eastern Europe. Our third goal is to assess the effects of land change on agriculture, forestry, carbon, and biodiversity across Eastern Europe and European Russia. The main outcome will be a synthesis of prior research on land change in Eastern Europe. Our prior research puts us in a unique position to provide three important outcomes: a) consistent maps of land change across Eastern Europe; b) analyses of the policy, economic and institutional drivers of the land changes that occurred; and c) assessments of land change effects on agriculture, forestry, carbon, and biodiversity. Land use is the principal driver of global environmental change. Twenty years after the Soviet Union, and ten years after the start of NEESPI and of numerous research projects in the region, we now have a unique opportunity to synthesize findings and extract more general patterns. We propose to conduct such a synthesis and make a major contribution to our understanding of human-natural systems, and land use science.
Duration: 1.1.2013 - 31.12.2016
SENSFOR - Zvýšenie kapacity reziliencie citlivých horských lesných ekosystémov pri environmentálnych zmenách (SENSFOR)
Enhancing the resilience capacity of SENSitive mountain FORest ecosystems under environmental change (SENSFOR)
Program: COST
Project leader: Mgr. Kollár Jozef, PhD.
Annotation: Treeline ecosystems are important indicators of environmental change, because they are heavily impacted by environmental drivers, in particular changed climate and land use, resulting in land abandonment and reforestation of formerly treeless areas. With a focus on treeline ecosystems, this Action aims at integrating scientific methods and results related to the biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources under climate and land use change. The Action will investigate the drivers and extent of contemporary and future environmental changes in European mountain forests, developing methods for estimating their resilience and define consequences for society. This knowledge provides the scientific basis necessarily to develop and adjust management strategies together with local and regional stakeholders as well as policy recommendations for national and European policy makers. Applying the DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact, Response) framework, the joint actions of the SENSFOR network will contribute to the development of strategies for preserving ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation in sensitive mountain areas in Europe.
Project webpage: http://www.sensfor-cost.eu/
Duration: 1.1.2013 - 21.11.2016
200 rokov zmien využívania krajiny a krajinnej pokrývky a ich hnacie sily v Karpatskej kotline
200 years of land use and land cover changes and their driving forces in the Carpathian Basin
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: Mgr. Lieskovský Juraj, PhD.
Annotation: The project will utilize historical topographic maps and modern satellite imagery to characterize land use patterns in the Carpathian region, to document agricultural land use change and to understand the major drivers for this change during the last 200 years. Historical materials will include maps dating back to 1840s, starting with the First Military Mapping of the Astro-Hungarian Empire, followed by maps of the Second Military Mapping, maps of period between two World Wars, collectivization and socialism – up to 70s. Satellite data (Landsat) will be utilized (starting 1979) will be used for socialist period, final socialist years, post-socialist period and EU expansion. All maps will be analyzed for the change in (1) agricultural extent, with focus on cropland, grasslands and abandoned land (2) agricultural intensity with focus on crop variability and reforestation of abandoned croplands (3) agricultural fragmentation with focus on field size. The study will also address agricultural land use transitions caused due to shifts in institutional, socio-economic and societal conditions.
Duration: 1.1.2012 - 31.12.2015
ASTRALE DELTA - ASTRALE GEIE - Asistencia a technická podpora pri riešení úloh programu LIFE + a LIFE III (ASTRALE DELTA)
ASTRALE GEIE - Technical and Administrative assistance related to Implementation of Projects under the Life+ and LIFE III (ASTRALE DELTA)
Program: Other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Duration: 1.7.2014 - 15.11.2015
FC2014 - Forum Carpaticum 2014
Forum Carpaticum 2014
Program: International Visegrad Fund (IVF)
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The project focuses on the organization of the 3rd International Conference “ Forum Carpaticum” (FC) in 2014 which promotes international research cooperation in the Carpathian region. FC is a platform for the exchange of experience and information between subjects in fields of science, policy and practice that active contribute to the sustainable development of the Carpathians. The activities of FC include the development of research aimed at enhancing the specific needs of the region, strengthening capacities and promoting research in the Carpathians and strengthening the links between science and practice.
Duration: 1.1.2014 - 31.1.2015
Back to future - Skúmanie historických hnacích síl zmien využitia krajiny, environmentálnej histórie a ich vplyvov na biodiverzitu a služby ekosystémov v Európe (Back to future)
Exploring historical drivers of land use and environmental history and their impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services in Europe (Back to future)
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The project aims in use of the knowledge of past conditions and assessment of changes for better understanding of the present environmental conditions. This historical perspective is helpful when predicting how the environment at a location may change in the future, given certain scenarios. Rather than addressing a single specific research question, the project is designed as and an umbrella project under which a set of sub-projects is running. Although these run separately, they share some features in common. They utilise historical sources of information dating back at least 20 years and compare these with present day information, in order to better understand such things as past environmental conditions, past human utilisation of land, rates of change in certain parameters, how the past explains present environmental observations. They involve one or more partners of the ALTER-Net network, bring together young and old generations of researchers, ‘natural’ and ‘social’ scientists and generate an output - either published paper or new datasets, accessible photographic resources and educational resources. Each sub-project team should produce a report describing the study and the results, and explaining how the results could be applied to (a) further studies of the site and (b) similar sites / habitats / landscapes.
Duration: 1.10.2013 - 31.12.2014
NBP - Nový biogeografický proces (NBP)
New Biogeographical Process (NBP)
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The overall objective of the project is to provide technical and scientific support to the European Commission in relation to the implementation of the new Natura 2000 seminars process, including the logistic preparation of the Natura 2000 seminars and the preparatory workshops. This includes the preparation of invitations, agendas, working documents, reports and guidance documents. The technical and scientific support will aim at achieving the following objectives:1. Preparatory workshops, Natura 2000 seminars, ad hoc expert meetings and preparatorymeetings between the main actors of the process are well prepared and organised.2. Appropriate technical and scientific information on the conservation status of species andhabitat types covered by the seminars, the major threats acting on these species and habitats,existing management instruments and measures for addressing threats and achievingfavourable conservation status, including best practice is compiled and made available inadvance of the workshops and seminars. 3. The appropriateness of existing conservation objectives and measures for species and habitattypes covered by the seminars is being assessed.4. Appropriate recommendations are prepared on the adaptation of conservation objectives andmeasures to changing conditions; including climate change, where necessary.5. High quality working documents are prepared and made available in advance of the workshopsand seminars.6. High quality seminar reports and guidance documents, interpretation notes or reviews onparticular issues are prepared and made available.7. A permanent internet-based communication platform of the Natura 2000 Seminars isestablished, promoted and maintained.8. Ad hoc expert meetings are organised on particular issues if necessary.
Project webpage: http://www.ecnc.org/projects/green-infrastructure/new-biogeographic-process/
Duration: 14.12.2011 - 13.12.2014
ASTRALE GAMMA - Asistencia a technická podpora pri riešení úloh programu LIFE + a LIFE III (ASTRALE GAMMA)
ASTRALE GEIE - Technical and Administrative assistance related to Implementation of Projects under the Life+ and LIFE III (ASTRALE GAMMA)
Program: Other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Duration: 1.1.2014 - 30.6.2014
ETC/BD -13 - Európske tématické centrum pre biologickú diverzitu - ETC/BD -13
European Topic Centre for Biological Diversity - ETC/BD - 13
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Duration: 1.1.2013 - 31.12.2013
Astrale E - Asistencia a technická podpora pri riešení úloh programu LIFE - ASTRALE E
Assitance and technical support for the tasks related to actions under the LIFE programme
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The project is focused on quality checking of EC funded projects of LiFE + and LIFE III. This projects are concrete scientific-technical actions in the problematic circles of environment protection and nature protection. Scienists of ILE regulary check the quality of the work directly in the field, as well as in laboratiories and in the administrative. The report submitted to the European Comimission , comment the fullfilment of duties of the beneficiaries, if the activity is an accordance with the approwed contract and if the beneficiary respect the scientific argumments in the application of the project.
Duration: 1.7.2012 - 31.12.2012
ETC/BD 12 - Európske tématické centrum pre biologickú diverzitu-ETC/BD 12
European Topic Centre fo Biological Diversity- ETC/BD 12
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The aim of the project is the following (2009-2013): Assessment of number and distribution of the chosen plant species, compilation of the Red List(book for europeaa plant and animal species, compilation of list of important species, compilation of list of important habitats).
Duration: 1.1.2012 - 31.12.2012
FC2012 - Forum Carpaticum 2012
Forum Carpaticum 2012
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The project supported organisation of the international conference Forum Carpaticum 2012 (FC2012) with the main theme “From Data to Knowledge, from Knowledge to Action” (Stará Lesná, 30.5.-2.6.2012). The FC2012 organised Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the network Science for the Carpathians Initiative (S4C). The S4C aims to integrate different fields of expertise to generate theoretical and practical knowledge for the Carpathian mountain region. The objectives of the Forum Carpaticum conference are: To link research and practice related to coupled human and natural systems in mountain regions; to scientifically support actions leading towards sustainability in the Carpathian region; to increase the visibility of the Carpathian region in the global change research agendas. The Forum Carpaticum 2012 reviewed current research in the Carpathian region, presented examples of knowledge generation and its successful application to practice and policy, and fostered networking and international cooperation within and beyond Carpathian countries.
Project webpage: www.forumcarpaticum.org
Duration: 1.1.2012 - 31.7.2012
Astrale D - Astrale D
-
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The project is focused on quality checking of EC funded projects of LiFE + and LIFE III. This projects are concrete scientific-technical actions in the problematic circles of environment protection and nature protection. Scienists of ILE regulary check the quality of the work directly in the field, as well as in laboratiories and in the administrative. The report submitted to the European Comimission , comment the fullfilment of duties of the beneficiaries, if the activity is an accordance with the approwed contract and if the beneficiary respect the scientific argumments in the application of the project.
Duration: 1.7.2011 - 30.6.2012
EBONE - Európska sieť pre štúdium biodiverzity: návrh plánu pre integrovaný observačný systém v priestore a čase
European Biodiversity Observation Network: Design of a Plane for an Integrated Biodiversity Observing System in Space and Time
Program: FP7
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The EBONE project is designed to develop a fully integrated system based on key biodiversity indicators, implemented within an institutional framework operating at the European level. EBONE will make the links between databases, which have currently remained isolated in order to increase their overall effectiveness. A link will be made between the methods, data and observation sites available in different countries and regions. A link will also be made with various ongoing projects and available databases, as well as observation and monitoring systems. This will lead to a cost effective procedure for biodiversity monitoring by applying the most efficient indicators into a balanced sampling programme. One of the important steps is to carry out tests on the data from LTER sites in relation to analysis of nation-wide habitat monitoring programmes. EBONE is a partnership of sixteen universities and research institutes in Europe, Israel and South Africa.
Project webpage: www.ebone.wur.nl
Duration: 1.2.2008 - 31.1.2012
ETC/BD 11 - ETC-BD 2011
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Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The aim of the project is the following (2009-2013):Assessment of number and distribution of the chosen plant species, compilation of the Red List(book for europeaa plant and animal species, compilation of list of important species, compilation of list of important habitats).
Duration: 1.1.2011 - 31.12.2011
Astrale C - Administratívna a technická podpora pri úlohách súvisiacich s implementáciou projektov v rámci programov LIFE III a LIFE+
Astrale C - Technical and administrative assistance for tasks related to implementation of projects under the LIFE+ and under the LIFE III programme
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The contract is focused on monitoring of quality and professional correctness of the EU co-funded projects of the LIFE programme in categories NAT, ENV and TCY. These projects support the development of Natura 2000 network through concrete conservation actions or deal with various environmental issues. The contracted personnel regularly checks whether the administration and field actions of the projects follow the approved project proposals and the rules of sound professional and financial management. Experts of the Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS monitor the LIFE NAT projects (nature conservation category) in Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary and Romania.
Duration: 1.7.2010 - 30.6.2011
Výskum a zachovanie biodiverzity v historických štruktúrach poľnohospodárskej krajiny Slovenska
Research and maintaining of biodiversity in historical structures of agricultural landscape of Slovakia
Program: Bilateral - other
Project leader: RNDr. Dobrovodská Marta, PhD.
Annotation: The historical structures of agricultural landscape (HSAL) represent mosaics of small-scale arable fields and permanent agricultural cultivations which were not affected by the process of agricultural collectivization. They have irreplaceable ecological, cultural and historical value. They are a result of a long term, mutual relationship between man and the landscape. As main sources of local biodiversity, they are linked mainly to balks, margins of cross fields tracks, original meadows and pastures and after collectivization abandoned grass-grown former arable fields. These areas are now becoming rare and thus highly valuable in the European space. Since these areas are not at present a subject of special protection, there’s a high risk that in the near future, due to abandonment and subsequent forest succession and urban pressure, their decline or even irreversible loss is probable. Our project aims to resolve this problem by carrying out a thorough inventory and typologization of HSAL on the territory of whole Slovakia, coupled with detailed interdisciplinary research (research of vegetation, animals, ecological conditions and human society) in 3 representative pilot areas (Svätý Jur town, Liptovská Teplička village Hriňová town) and implementation of an proposed Strategy for protection and management of HSAL in these territories as well.
Duration: 10.9.2009 - 30.4.2011
POINT - Vplyv indikátorov na environmentálnu politiku
Policy Influence of Indicators
Program: FP7
Project leader: Prof. RNDr. Izakovičová Zita, PhD.
Duration: 1.4.2008 - 30.3.2011
ETC/BD 2010 - ETC/BD 2010 - Európske tématické centrum pre biodiverzitu
ETC/BD 2010 - European Tematic Centre for Biodiversity
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity (ETC BD) is an expert organisation of the European Environmental Agency (EEA) and its work is based on the EEA work plan. The activities of ETC BD were in 2009 focused to 3 main themes (Support to the Biodiversity Directives, Biodiversity-related assessments, ETC/BD Management) that were detailed to individual tasks. ILE SAS co-operated in individual tasks with other partners in the ETC BD consortium that consists of 9 organisations.
Duration: 1.1.2010 - 31.12.2010
SCERES - Scenáre vývoja reprezentatívnych ekosystémov krajiny Slovenska v kontexte globálnych zmien
Development scenarios of representative landscape ecosystems in the Slovak republic considering global changes
Program: Bilateral - other
Project leader: Prof. RNDr. Izakovičová Zita, PhD.
Annotation: The project is aimed at the elaboration of the new approach to nature protection, biodiversity and landscape stability. It proposes to vault over the component approach to nature protection based purely on the protection of life forms and its substitution by complex landscape-ecological approach based on the protection of nature and life by conservation and ensurance of sustainable use of all representative landscape systems of Slovakia in the context of global changes. The target of the subproject is to elaborate the methodological procedure for creation and evaluation of representative landscape ecosystems in order to elaborate the effective strategy of biodiversity protection and proposal of the management of sustainable use of representative landscape ecosystems (landscape types) of Slovakia (RLES) that will ensure the regular care of landscape in view of the present global changes in the landscape. A part of the subproject and an aim is to include „main actors“ into the process of protection and management of RLES, to increase their awareness with respect to the values of representative landscape types, their tasks and changes. The realization of the subproject is the concrete contribution to the implementation of the European Landscape Convention (European Council, 2000, no. 176).
Project webpage: www.ukesav.sk
Duration: 1.10.2008 - 30.10.2010
ASTRALE B - Administratívna a technická podpora pri úlohách súvisiacich s implementáciou projektov v rámci programov LIFE III a LIFE+
ASTRALE B - Technical and administrative assistance for tasks related to implementation of projects under the LIFE+ and under the LIFE III programme
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The contract is focused on monitoring of quality and professional correctness of the EU co-funded projects of the LIFE programme in categories NAT, ENV and TCY. These projects support the development of Natura 2000 network through concrete conservation actions or deal with various environmental issues. The contracted personnel regularly checks whether the administration and field actions of the projects follow the approved project proposals and the rules of sound professional and financial management. Experts of the Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS monitor the LIFE NAT projects (nature conservation category) in Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary and Romania.
Project webpage: www.astrale.org
Duration: 1.7.2009 - 30.6.2010
ETC BD - 09 - Európske tématické centrum pre biologickú diverzitu - 09
European Topic Centre for Biological Diversity-09
Program: Bilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity (ETC BD) is an expert organisation of the European Environmental Agency (EEA) and its work is based on the EEA work plan. The activities of ETC BD were in 2009 focused to 3 main themes (Support to the Biodiversity Directives, Biodiversity-related assessments, ETC/BD Management) that were detailed to individual tasks. ILE SAS co-operated in individual tasks with other partners in the ETC BD consortium that consists of 9 organisations.
Duration: 1.1.2009 - 31.12.2009
ASTRALE 10 - Asistencia a technická podpora pri riešení úloh programu LIFE
ASTRALE 10 - Assistance and technical support for the tasks related to actions under the LIFE Programme
Program: Bilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The contract was focused on monitoring of quality and professional correctness of the EU co-funded projects of the LIFE programme in categories NAT, ENV and TCY. These projects support the development of Natura 2000 network through concrete conservation actions or deal with various environmental issues. The contracted personnel regularly checked whether the administration and field actions of the projects follow the approved project proposals and the rules of sound professional and financial management. Experts of the Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS monitored the LIFE NAT projects (nature conservation category) in Czech Republic and Romania.
Project webpage: www.astrale.org
Duration: 1.10.2008 - 30.6.2009
ASTRALE A - ASTRALE A - Administratívna a technická podpora pri úlohách súvisiacich s implementáciou projektov v rámci programov LIFE III a LIFE+
ASTRALE A - Technical and administrative assistance for tasks related to implementation of projects under the LIFE+ and under the LIFE III programme
Program: Bilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The contract was focused on monitoring of quality and professional correctness of the EU co-funded projects of the LIFE programme in categories NAT, ENV and TCY. These projects support the development of Natura 2000 network through concrete conservation actions or deal with various environmental issues. The contracted personnel regularly checked whether the administration and field actions of the projects follow the approved project proposals and the rules of sound professional and financial management. Experts of the Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS monitored the LIFE NAT projects (nature conservation category) in Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary and Romania.
Project webpage: www.astrale.org
Duration: 1.1.2009 - 30.6.2009
ALTER-Net - Výskumná sieť pre dlhodobý výskum biodiverzity, ekosystému a vedomia
A Long-Term Biodiversity, Ecosystem and Awarness Research Network
Program: FP6
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: Institute of Landscape Ecology Slovak Academy of Sciences participated in collaboration with other 23 partners from 16 European countries on the work of all 14 workpackages. In the year 2008, staff of ILE SAS has been worked on broad spectrum of tasks of the project ALTER-Net and attended actively all important workshops. Work was focused on 4th and 5th Reporting Period of the project. The most important results and outcomes: establishing of the Slovak LTER Committee, implementation of Slovak LTER sites, preparation of publication „LTER European book“, completing of InfoBase database, reinvestigation of task “Multi-site experiment”, preparation of database 2008 and analysis of data; preparation of Slovak LTSER platform.
Project webpage: www.alter-net.info
Duration: 1.4.2004 - 31.3.2009
ETC BD 08 - Európske tématické centrum pre biodiverzitu - 08
European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity - 08
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The assessment of national reports on favourable conservation status of habitats and species represented the most important task in 2008. The EU member countries submitted these reports on the basis of Article 17 of the Habitat Directive, we prepared assessments for individual biogeographical regions. The final report was delivered to the DG Environment. We participated in the EEA task „EURECA – European Ecosystem Assessment“, the main output was the background document on ecosystem assessment of high mountains, presented in the EEA workshop in Copenhagen. In the framework of the Natura 2000 network assessment was prepared the manuscript of paper on habitats of the European importance, requiring agricultural management for their existence.
Project webpage: http://biodiversity.eionet.europa.eu/activities
Duration: 1.1.2008 - 31.12.2008
ASTRALE 9 - Asistencia a technická podpora pri riešení úloh programu LIFE
ASTRALE 9 - Assistance and technical support for tasks related to actions under the LIFE Programme
Program: Bilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The contract was focused on monitoring of quality and professional correctness of the EU co-funded projects of the LIFE programme in categories NAT, ENV and TCY. These projects support the development of Natura 2000 network through concrete conservation actions or deal with various environmental issues. The contracted personnel regularly checked whether the administration and field actions of the projects follow the approved project proposals and the rules of sound professional and financial management. Experts of the Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS monitored the LIFE NAT projects (nature conservation category) in Czech Republic, Slovenia and Romania.
Project webpage: www.astrale.org
Duration: 1.1.2008 - 30.9.2008
Natura 4lots - Natura 2000 - prípravné akcie
Natura 2000 - preparatory actions (4 lots)
Program: Multilateral - other
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The project is aiming in development of database on suitable management practices for habitats of the European importance in the framework of the Natura 2000 network building. The project, performed by the Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS, is focused to grassland ecosystems in Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic. Its main part is collection and selection of relevant published and unpublished documents with required information, their processing to the database form of references and abstracts and making them accessible for users. It is expected that especially managers of Natura 2000 sites and nature conservation organisations will be users of the database.
Project webpage: -
Duration: 1.2.2007 - 30.4.2008

National

CALTER - Toky uhlíka v pôde hlavných typov lesných ekosystémov na výškovom gradiente Západných Karpát.
Soil carbon fluxes in dominant forest ecosystems along elevation gradient in the Western Carpathians
Program: SRDA
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: Forest stores more than 70% of global soil carbon (C) and plays a central role in soil surface-atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases. Due to the amount of C stored in the soil, it is essential to recognize that even a small change within this pool could significantly feedback the earth system. Soil organic carbon occurs in diverse forms, which according to the stability, can be divided into an active (labile) fraction, whose persistence time varies from a few weeks to a few months, and a stable fraction, which can persist in the soil for many years or even centuries. Soil loses C by two main processes - respiration and leaching. Both of them show complex spatio-temporal biophysical controls that vary on different scales as a consequence of changes in biotic (plant or microbial community) and abiotic (e.g., soil temperature, soil moisture, soil texture) factors. Soil respiration (Rs) consists of the two main components - heterotrophic (Rh) and autotrophic respiration (Ra), which respond differently to changes in influencing factors. The elevation is a key driver of climate properties playing an essential role in soil carbon content and fluxes. The main aim of our project is to identify C loss by respiration and leaching and to identify their driving factors along an elevation gradient representing the main forest communities in the Western Carpathians. Study plots are located in sites dedicated to long-term ecological research (LTER Slovakia). Possible impact of elevated temperature on soil C fluxes will be studied in open-top greenhouses. For reliable estimation of naturally very variable soil C fluxes we will optimize sampling strategy for each studied ecosystem by spatial stratification and by adjustment of measuring frequency.
Project webpage: n/a
Duration: 1.7.2022 - 30.6.2025
Diverzita lúčnych a pasienkových biotopov Slovenska po dvoch dekádach v Európskej únii
Diversity of grassland habitats in Slovakia after two decades in the EU
Program: VEGA
Project leader: Ing. Špulerová Jana, PhD.
Annotation: The landuse changes dynamicaly in time and these changes reflect in the vegetation composition and structure. The changes in the agricultural landscape are significantly influenced by the agricultural subsidiesreceived in Slovakia since 2004 when the country joined the European Union. The aim of the project is to asses the changes in the floristic composition and functional traits of the grassland habitats of European and national importance using the resampling of phytosociologicalrelevés. Based on the results we will asses the effectiveness and impact of agricultural subsidies on recent state of the studied habitats. At the same time, we will continue testing the influence of various management techniques in the permanent plots on composition of grassland vegetation. The results of our research may be used by the State Conservancy Agency and will serve as a basis for optimisation of management measures for maintaining the favourable condition of grassland habitats of European and national importance.
Duration: 1.1.2021 - 31.12.2024
Dlhodobé zmeny znečistenia ovzdušia a ich dopad na ekosystémy
Long-term changes of atmospheric pollution and their impact to ecosystems
Program: VEGA
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The project will assess long-term changes in air pollution and their impacts on selected ecosystems. The firstproject theme is study of changes in atmospheric deposition using bryophytes as pollutant accumulators. We willcontinue in former several decades lasting research using the ICP Vegetation methodology. We will developpollution maps for Slovakia and assess impacts on humans and ecosystems. At the Báb LTER site, we willcontinue the study of pollutants accumulation in bryophytes, tree leaves and soil of forest ecosystem. The secondtheme is an experimental study of impacts of elevated temperature and nitrogen and phosphorus deposition onthe ecosystem of alpine grasslands in the LTER sites Jalovecká dolina (since 2002; phosphorus and 3 nitrogenconcentrations; since 2009 also ecosystem regeneration) and Kráľova hoľa (since 2009; temperature rise,nitrogen deposition and their combination). We will repeat all previous measurements, assess changes andimpacts on the ecosystem structure and functioning.
Duration: 1.1.2021 - 31.12.2024
ENVIRO PLUS - Podpora výskumno-vývojových aktivít jedinečného riešiteľského tímu
Supporting the R&D activities of a unique research team
Program: Európsky fond regionálneho rozvoja (EFRR)
Project leader: Mgr. Kalivoda Henrik, PhD.
Annotation: The main objective of the project is to support research and development activities of the unique research team of non-business research organizations ILE SAS and Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra and the company ESPRIT Ltd focused on the knowledge area of environmental engineering. The project topics are focused on product lines in the domain of Healthy Food and Environment:1) Systems for the protection of agricultural and forest soils against degradation2) Systems and technologies for preventing the negative impacts of climate change in agriculture and forestry.
Project webpage: https://www.uke.sav.sk/veda-a-vyskum/projekty/strukturalne-fondy-2/enviro-plus/
Duration: 27.9.2022 - 31.12.2023
URANOS - Údajová a vedomostná podpora pre systémy rozhodovania a strategického plánovania v oblasti adaptácie poľnohospodárskej krajiny na klimatické zmeny a minimalizáciu degradácie poľnohospodárskych pôd
Scientific support of climate change adaptation in agriculture and mitigation of soil degradation.
Program: EU Structural Funds Research & Development
Project leader: Mgr. Halabuk Andrej, PhD.
Duration: 3.4.2020 - 30.6.2023
Demetra - Hodnotenie novodobých zmien a vývojových trendov poľnohospodárskej krajiny Slovenska (Demetra)
Assessment of recent changes and trends in agricultural landscape of Slovakia (Demetra)
Program: SRDA
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The project responds to insufficiently known consequences of the current rapid and extensive changes of agricultural landscape (AL). The aim is to evaluate the extent and distribution of the recent changes in the AL use in Slovakia after r. 1990, their trends and impacts on main functions and depending ecosystem services. The project is based on the DPSIR concept that evaluates environmental context of human activities in the form of a causal chain, following the causes, conditions and consequences. The main original features of the project is a comprehensive approach with the analysis and evaluation of natural and socio-economic factors, with emphasis of internationally established indicators use, analysis of trends and formulation of possible future scenarios, interconnection of multiple spatial levels, the combination of analytical procedures with empirical knowledge and stakeholder involvement.The project is planned for 48 months (07/2018-06/2022). It will develop special methods, procedures and indicators to be applied at national level and in local case studies in all major types of AL. In addition to scientific contribution, the project will also propose measures, tools and procedures for decision-making and planning of the sustainable use of AL.
Duration: 1.8.2018 - 30.6.2022
Zmeny poľnohospodárskej krajiny Slovenska vplyvom politík Európskej Únie
Changes in Slovak Landscape Driven by European Union Agricultural Policy
Program: VEGA
Project leader: Mgr. Lieskovský Juraj, PhD.
Annotation: The project is focused on identification and evaluation of changes in agricultural landscape (AL), which were after 2004 affected by the EU legislation in fields of agriculture, water protection and nature conservation. It is based on analysis of the EU policies as drivers of changes in AL. It will study types and intensity of use of AL on regional and local levels. The project combines methods of remote sensing (RS) and field research. RS will be used for timely obtaining information on AL. Also will be developed and tested innovative approaches and methods with use of new satellite sensors. In local scale will be studied impact of changes in use in AL on biodiversity. For biodiversity study were selected indication groups of vegetation, invertebrates (spiders, dragonflies) and vertebrates (amphibians, birds). Studied will be sites from which exist data from previous research, wetlands and newly evolved biotopes in AL. The final phase will be synthesis of current state and changes in AL and biodiversity.
Duration: 1.1.2016 - 31.12.2019
Hodnotenie stavu a dynamiky biotopov s využitím modelovania a diaľkového prieskumu Zeme
Assessment of status and dynamics of habitats using combination of modelling and remote sensing
Program: VEGA
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The main objective of the project is to develop consistent approaches and methods for assessment of status and dynamics of habitats using combination of gradient analysis of ecological data and remote sensing. Proposed methods will be thoroughly tested through case studies at different scales in order to demonstrate their possibilities in habitat mapping, detection of changes, identification of trends and assessment of the response of habitats to land use change and climate anomalies.
Duration: 1.1.2013 - 31.12.2016
Obnova a budovanie technickej infraštruktúry výskumu a vývoja Ústavu krajinnej ekológie Slovenskej akadémie vied
Renovation and construction of technical infrastructure for research and development of the Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
Program: EU Structural Funds Research & Development
Project leader: Ing. Mojses Matej, PhD.
Annotation: The project aims to modernize and complete technical infrastructure of the Institute of Landscape Ecology - the branch in Nitra for research in the landscape ecology, landscape planning, landscape management and the long-term ecological research of ecosystems. The project has two major themes: 1) building and upgrading of local infrastructure supporting research and development in information technologies based on GIS technology to support research activities in the field of landscape ecology, through the server and mobile GIS application equipment and a comprehensive information system for the purpose of environmental planning and landscape management, 2) building and upgrade of the infrastructure for ecosystem research. Objectives of the project:1) Development of a system, consisting of technical infrastructure, standard and specialized software and spatial database, enabling a new quality of the landscape research for needs of the landscape planning and land management2) Addition of the equipment of institute in such way that will support and expand the possibilities of the ecosystem research focusing on the ecosystems of mountain meadows and forest ecosystems, including the impact of global change.
Duration: 1.11.2012 - 31.5.2015
Socio-ekologický výskum zmien krajiny a biodiverzity v horskom území NP Poloniny v kontexte globálnych zmien
Socio-ecological research of landscape and biodiversity change in mountain area of the NP Poloniny in context of global changes
Program: VEGA
Project leader: Mgr. Bezák Peter, PhD.
Duration: 1.1.2011 - 31.12.2014
Vplyv experimentálne zvýšenej teploty a zvýšenej depozície dusíka na zraniteľné ekosystémy alpínskych lúk
Effect of experimental warming and nitrogen deposition on sensitive alpine meadow ecosystem
Program: VEGA
Project leader: Mgr. Halabuk Andrej, PhD.
Annotation: In the proposed project, we focus on the effect of warming and nitrogen (N) deposition on carbon (C)sequestration, vegetation and N leaching in the model ecosystem of alpine meadows that are very sensitive tomentioned global change. Warming can exert a complex effect on microbial activity, nutrient availability and netecosystem production (NEP). Increased N deposition can further contribute to a complex interaction amongecosystem processes leading to many discrepancies in ecosystem responses and uncertain contribution to Csequestration. We would like to enrich the knowledge of warming and N deposition effects on key components ofNEP including net primary production, litter decomposition rates, soil respiration, N mineralization, N availability,plant N uptake as well as individual plant species response and impact on vegetation structure. The studiedeffects will be simulated using open top chambers and N fertilization in the field conditions.
Duration: 1.1.2009 - 31.12.2012
- - Zhodnotenie prínosu agro-environmentálnych programov k ochrane a udržaniu diverzity polnohospodárskej krajiny
Assessment of the agro-environment programs contribution to conservation and maintenance of rural landscape
Program: VEGA
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Annotation: The assessment of the (AEP) influence on biodiversity, selected natural resources and character of the agricultural landscape represents the main focus of the project. The consequences of AE measures will be interpreted and quantified for respective species and habitats. In the case studies, the field research, preparation and realisation of the first phase of AEP monitoring represent the crucial issues. The sociological research will beperformed both in level of country and case studies The map of ecologically important agricultural regions of Slovakia will be prepared.The methodology for monitoring of AEP impact will be developed and tested; the methodology will be further developed into monitoring program of AEP for Slovakia. The project should result in proposal of measures and changes of the AEP and the Rural Development Programme and in development of the prognosis of futurebiodiversity of the study areas as well as prognosis for selected species and habitats in Slovakia.
Project webpage: -
Duration: 1.1.2008 - 31.12.2010
Zmena biodiverzity a štruktúry lesného ekosystému za 30 rokov: výskumná plocha Báb
Changes in the biodiversity asnd the structure of the forest ecosystem after 30 years: The research site of BAB
Program: VEGA
Project leader: RNDr. Gajdoš Peter, CSc.
Annotation: The restoration of the ecosystem research in research site Báb represents the theme of the proposed project, aiming in resumption of research that was performed in this site in the framework of Interantional Biological Programme (IBP, 1967-1974) and Man and Biosphere Programme (MaB). Identification and evaluation of biodiversity, structure and ecological processes changes after more than 30 years is the main objective of the project. To the partial target belong: revitalisation of the research site and ecosystem research; re-establishment of research teams; detection of changes in selected parameters during more than 30 years; preparation of partial syntheses; and development of concept of complex long-term ecological research in this ILTER site. The research will be based on the functional ecology with accent to structure-functional and quantitatiev-ecological approach. Following fields will be studied primary production; animals and the secondary production; distribution of elements and substances in the ecosystem; soil complex and microbes; structure and dynamics of plant populations; landscape structure. The project should bring a new knowledge in all scientific disciplines included in the thematic fields.
Duration: 1.1.2007 - 1.12.2009
ASTRALE A - Administratívna a technická podpora pri úlohách súvisiacich s implementáciou projektov v rámci programov LIFE III a LIFE+
ASTRALE A - Technical and administrative assistance for tasks related to implementation of projects under the LIFE+ and under the LIFE III programme
Program: SRDA
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: The contract was focused on monitoring of quality and professional correctness of the EU co-funded projects of the LIFE programme in categories NAT, ENV and TCY. These projects support the development of Natura 2000 network through concrete conservation actions or deal with various environmental issues. The contracted personnel regularly checked whether the administration and field actions of the projects follow the approved project proposals and the rules of sound professional and financial management. Experts of the Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS monitored the LIFE NAT projects (nature conservation category) in Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary and Romania
Project webpage: www.astrale.org
Duration: 1.1.2009 - 30.6.2009
ALTER-Net - Výskumná sieť pre dlhodobý výskum biodiverzity, ekosystému a vedomia
A Long-Term Biodiversity, Ecosystem and Awarness Research Network
Program: SRDA
Project leader: Ing. Oszlányi Július, CSc.
Annotation: Institute of Landscape Ecology Slovak Academy of Sciences participated in collaboration with other 23 partners from 16 European countries on the work of all 14 workpackages. In the year 2008, staff of ILE SAS has been worked on broad spectrum of tasks of the project ALTER-Net and attended actively all important workshops. Work was focused on 4th and 5th Reporting Period of the project. The most important results and outcomes: establishing of the Slovak LTER Committee, implementation of Slovak LTER sites, preparation of publication „LTER European book“, completing of InfoBase database, reinvestigation of task “Multi-site experiment”, preparation of database 2008 and analysis of data; preparation of Slovak LTSER platform.
Project webpage: www.alter-net.info
Duration: 1.4.2004 - 31.3.2009
POINT - Vplyv indikátorov na environmentálnu politiku
Policy influence indicators
Program: Podpora MVTS z prostriedkov SAV
Project leader: Prof. RNDr. Izakovičová Zita, PhD.
Duration: 1.4.2008 - 30.12.2008
Vidiecka poľnohospodárska krajina a jej biodiverzita v meniacich sa socio-ekonomických podmienkach
The rural agricultural landscape and its biodiversity in transforming socio-economic environment
Program: VEGA
Project leader: RNDr. Halada Ľuboš, CSc.
Duration: 1.1.2005 - 1.12.2007