Prof. Dr. Joern Fischer
Vita
Prof. Dr. Joern Fischer is Professor of Sustainable Landscapes at Leuphana's Social-Ecological-Systems-Institute (SESI), which he co-directs with Prof. Berta Martín-Lopez. His research interests include sustainability science, landscape ecology, social-ecological systems, conservation science, and conservation biology. Working on three different continents (Australia, Europe, Africa), Joern Fischer has published more than 200 journal articles to date and has made both empirical and conceptual contributions to social-ecological systems science, most recently in research projects on the intersection of food security and biodiversity conservation in southwestern Ethiopia. With his blog "Ideas for Sustainability", Joern Fischer also targets a lay audience.
Academic Positions
- since 2010: Professor of Sustainable Landscapes, Social-Ecological-Systems-Institute (SESI), previously at the Institute of Ecology, Leuphana
- 2014-2019: ERC Consolidator Grantee ("Identifying Social-Ecological System Properties Benefiting Biodiversity and Food Security (SESyP)")
- 2010-2015: Sofja Kovalevskaja-Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
- 2009-2010: The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Fellow (Level C)
- 2007-2009: The Fenner School of Env. and Society, Australian National University, Research Fellow (Level B)
- 2005-2006: Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National University, Postdoctoral Fellow
- 2000-2001: Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National University, Research Assistant
Academic Training
- 2001-2004: PhD, Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National University (Primary Supervisor: Professor David B. Lindenmayer)
- 1997-2000: Department of Geography, Australian National University: BSc, First Class Honours, University Medal, (Bachelor of Science with focus on resource and environmental management)
Selected Awards and Activities
- 2023: Beijer Fellow (Beijer Intitute of Ecological Economics, Sweden)
- since 2020: Elected Fellow, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
- 2017-2022: Member of the advisory board of the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics (Royal Swedish
Academy, Sweden) - 2014: ERC Consolidator Grant, single PI excellence scheme (€ 1,800,000)
- 2010: Sofja Kovalevskaja Award (€ 1,500,000, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation)
- On the Editorial Boards of: Conservation Letters, Diversity & Distributions, Ecology & Society
Projects
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Wert tradition.Durian-Agroforstplantagen
Joern Fischer (Project manager, academic)
→Project: Research
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Agriculture and Farm Systems in Wartime from a Social-Ecological Systems Perspective: Evidence from Colombia
Joern Fischer (Project manager, academic)
→Project: Research
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Internationale wissenschaftliche Veranstaltung: „Zwölfte internationale Konferenz über das Monitoring und das Management von Besuchern in Erholungs- und Schutzgebieten“
Joern Fischer (Project manager, academic)
→Project: Scientific event
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DFG Research Unit 5501: A social-ecological systems approach to inform ecosystem restoration in rural Africa
Joern Fischer (Project manager, academic)
→Project: Research
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DFG Research Unit 5501: A social-ecological systems approach to inform ecosystem restoration in rural Africa. Sub Project SP8: Synthesis: Social-ecological restoration in western Rwanda
Joern Fischer (Project manager, academic)
→Project: Research
Publications
Books and anthologies
- Harmonising biodiversity conservation and food security in southwestern Ethiopia
Tolera Senbeto Jiren (Author) , David Abson (Author) , Joern Fischer (Author) , Aisa O. Manlosa (Author) , Patrícia Rodrigues (Author) , Kristoffer Hylander (Author) , Jannik Schultner (Author) , Ine Dorresteijn (Author) , Milena Mausbach (Author) , Feyera Senbeta (Author) , Girma Shumi (Author) , Jan Hanspach (Author) , 2020 1 ed. Sofia , 166 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Book › Research
- Envisioning the future for southwestern Ethiopia / Egeree kibba lixa Itoophiyaa agarsiisuu: A book by The Sustainable Landscapes Group with contributions by local experts
Joern Fischer (Author) , Tolera Senbeto Jiren (Author) , Feyera Senbeta (Author) , Ine Dorresteijn (Author) , Jannik Schultner (Author) , Jan Hanspach (Author) , 2018 Sofia , 86 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Book › Research
- Sustainable Landscapes in Central Romania: A social-ecological study on the future of Southern Transylvania
Jacqueline Loos (Author) , David Abson (Author) , Ine Dorresteijn (Author) , Andra Ioana Horcea-Milcu (Author) , Friederike Mikulcak (Author) , Joern Fischer (Author) , Tibor Hartel (Author) , Jan Hanspach (Author) , 2016 Sofia , 99 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Monographs › Transfer
- The future of people and nature in Southern Transylvania
Joern Fischer (Author) , Andra Ioana Horcea-Milcu (Author) , Friederike Mikulcak (Author) , Tibor Hartel (Author) , Jan Hanspach (Author) , 2015 Sofia , 60 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Monographs › Transfer
- Habitat fragmentation and landscape change: An ecological and conservation synthesis
Joern Fischer (Author) , David Lindenmayer (Author) , 2006 Washington DC , 346 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Monographs › Research
Journal contributions
- Participatory mapping of local people's values in restoration landscapes in Western Rwanda
Gaelle Ndayizeye (Author) , Laura Kmoch (Author) , Matthias Baumann (Author) , Venuste Nsengimana (Author) , Joern Fischer (Author) , Tobias Plieninger (Author) , 01.01.2026 , in: Restoration Ecology, 34, 1 , 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Resilience and regeneration for a world in crisis
Joern Fischer (Author) , Steffen Farny (Author) , Manuel Pacheco-Romero (Author) , Carl Folke (Author) , 01.01.2026 , in: Ambio, 55, 1 , p. 24-34 , 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Leveraging change in ecosystem restoration: from planting trees to regenerating people-nature systems
Marina Frietsch (Author) , Beth A. Kaplin (Author) , Athanase Mukuralinda (Author) , Donath Nkurikiyimana (Author) , Appollinaire William (Author) , Jean Damascene Bariyanga (Author) , Dula Wakassa Duguma (Author) , Cecile Kayitanirwa (Author) , Myriam Mujawamariya (Author) , Venuste Nsengimana (Author) , Pierre Nshimyumuremyi (Author) , Verene Nyiramvuyekure (Author) , Jean Nduwamungu (Author) , Shema Serge (Author) , Ezechiel Turikunkiko (Author) , Diogene Tuyizere (Author) , Joern Fischer (Author) , 01.01.2026 , in: Trees, Forests and People, 23 , 5 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Five Frontiers for Science and Practice of Ecosystem Restoration in East African Forest Landscapes
Dula Wakassa Duguma (Author) , Katharina Löhr (Author) , Vicky Temperton (Author) , William Apollinaire (Author) , Matthias Baumann (Author) , Beth A. Kaplin (Author) , Verene Nyiramvuyekure (Author) , Susanne Vögele (Author) , Laura Kmoch (Author) , Tobias Plieninger (Author) , Jacqueline Loos (Author) , Tsinda Aime (Author) , Nzamukosha Beatrice (Author) , Sophia Bohn (Author) , Uwayezu Ernest (Author) , Marina Frietsch (Author) , Callixte Gatali (Author) , Ndahiriwe Innocent (Author) , Angelique Kangondo (Author) , Bulonvu Franklin (Author) , Leonidas Maniraho (Author) , Berta Martín-López (Author) , Drocelle Mukaneza (Author) , Valery Ndagijimana (Author) , Gaelle Ndayizeye (Author) , Martin Nizeyimana (Author) , Elias Nyandwi (Author) , Venant Nzibaza (Author) , Stefan Sieber (Author) , Ping Sun (Author) , Jeffrey L. Ullman (Author) , Gloriose Umuziranenge (Author) , Meike Wollni (Author) , Joern Fischer (Author) , 01.12.2025 , in: Integrative Conservation, 4, 4 , p. 534-545 , 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- ‘Chains of leverage’ as way to identify and foster transformative potential
Laura Pereira (Author) , Jacqueline Loos (Author) , Joern Fischer (Author) , Maraja Riechers (Author) , Tamara Schaal-Lagodzinski (Author) , 01.11.2025 , in: People and Nature, 7, 11 , p. 2731-2742 , 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Contributions to collected editions/anthologies
- The resilience of Australian agricultural landscapes characterised by land-sparing versus land-sharing
David Abson (Author) , Joern Fischer (Author) , Kate Sherren (Author) , 01.05.2019 Cambrige , p. 232-252 , 21 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
- Challenges for postdocs in Germany and beyond:: a personal perspective
Joern Fischer (Author) , 01.01.2014 , p. 25-26 , 2 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Article in conference proceedings › Transfer › peer-review
- Forest Islands in an Agricultural Sea
Joern Fischer (Author) , Jürgen Bauhus (Author) , M. Jahi Chappell (Author) , Stacey M. Philpott (Author) , Alexandra-Maria Klein (Author) , Virginie Elsa Boreux (Author) , 01.01.2014 Wallingford , p. 79-95 , 17 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Chapter › Research › peer-review
- Biodiversity-friendly farming
Joern Fischer (Author) , Claire Brittain (Author) , Alexandra-Maria Klein (Author) , 01.01.2013 2 ed. New York , p. 418-429 , 12 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Chapter › Research › peer-review
- Land sparing versus land sharing: moving forward
Joern Fischer (Author) , David Abson (Author) , Henrik von Wehrden (Author) , Van Butsic (Author) , M Jahi Chappell (Author) , Johan Ekroos (Author) , Tobias Kuemmerle (Author) , Henrik G. Smith (Author) , Jan Hanspach (Author) , 01.01.2013 , p. 105-107 , 3 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Published abstract in conference proceedings › Research › peer-review
Activities
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Towards a sustainable Southern Transylvania: Recognizing existing contributions to reach sustainable visions and empowering stakeholders
Andra Ioana Horcea-Milcu (Speaker) , Joern Fischer (Speaker) , David Lam (Speaker) , Daniel J. Lang (Speaker)
→Activity: Conference Presentations › Research
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Rural sustainability transitions in Southern Transylvania: Scaling sustainability initiatives from local non-governmental organizations
Andra Ioana Horcea-Milcu (Coauthor) , Joern Fischer (Coauthor) , Daniela Peukert (Coauthor) , David Lam (Speaker) , Daniel J. Lang (Coauthor)
→Activity: Presentations (poster etc.) › Transfer
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PECS working group on social-ecological dynamics of ecosystem services
Albert Norström (Speaker) , Elena M. Bennett (Speaker) , Erik Anderson (Speaker) , María R. Felipe-Lucia (Speaker) , Joern Fischer (Speaker) , Marina García-Llorente (Speaker) , Maike Grace Turner (Speaker) , Christina Hicks (Speaker) , Sander Jacobs (Speaker) , Sandra Lavorel (Speaker) , Andreas Dittrich (Speaker) , Berta Martín-López (Speaker) , Megan Meacham (Speaker) , Bruno Locatelli (Speaker) , Tobias Plieninger (Speaker) , Jiangxiao Qiu (Speaker) , Cibele Queiroz (Speaker) , Bob Scholes (Speaker) , Ralf Seppelt (Speaker) , Monica Turner (Speaker) , Garry Peterson (Speaker) , Jan Hanspach (Speaker)
→Activity: Conference Presentations › Research
Prizes
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Herausragende Leistungen in der Forschung
Vicky Temperton (Recipient) Joern Fischer (Recipient) Berta Martín-López (Recipient) ,Prize: Leuphana internal Prize, Scholaships, distinctions, appointments › Research
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Sofja Kovalevskaja Award of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Joern Fischer (Recipient) ,Prize: external Prizes, scholarships, distinctions, appointments › Research
Courses
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The course will be taught through a combination of lectures and student-led discussion. For the discussions, students will organise in groups, select a current 'hot' topic, provide relevant literature for the other students to read before the class, and facilitate a structured discussion including a short presentation. Students will also write individual research papers on the significance of conservation biology for a specific sustainability topic.
A particular highlight will be three guest lectures and discussions that will be presented via zoom and in-person, focusing on: (1) conservation case studies around global amphibian declines driven by a fungal disease affecting many species worldwide; (2) land use change and biodiversity conservation in the Chaco ecoregion; and (3) the contribution of forestry to biodiversity conservation in Sweden.