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 

Publications

Books and anthologies

  1. Harmonising biodiversity conservation and food security in southwestern Ethiopia
    Girma Shumi Dugo (Author) , Jan Hanspach (Author) , Tolera Senbeto Jiren (Author) , David James Abson (Author) , Jörn Fischer (Author) , Aisa O. Manlosa (Author) , Patrícia Rodrigues (Author) , Kristoffer Hylander (Author) , Jannik Schultner (Author) , Ine Dorresteijn (Author) , Milena Mausbach (Author) , Feyera Senbeta (Author) , 2020 1 ed. Sofia , 166 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBookResearch

  2. Envisioning the future for southwestern Ethiopia / Egeree kibba lixa Itoophiyaa agarsiisuu: A book by The Sustainable Landscapes Group with contributions by local experts
    Jörn Fischer (Author) , Jan Hanspach (Author) , Tolera Senbeto Jiren (Author) , Feyera Senbeta (Author) , Ine Dorresteijn (Author) , Jannik Schultner (Author) , 2018 Sofia , 86 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBookResearch

  3. Sustainable Landscapes in Central Romania: A social-ecological study on the future of Southern Transylvania
    Jacqueline Loos (Author) , David James Abson (Author) , Ine Dorresteijn (Author) , Jan Hanspach (Author) , Tibor Hartel (Author) , Andra-Ioana Horcea-Milcu (Author) , Friederike Mikulcak (Author) , Jörn Fischer (Author) , 2016 Sofia , 99 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsTransfer

  4. The future of people and nature in Southern Transylvania
    Jörn Fischer (Author) , Andra-Ioana Horcea-Milcu (Author) , Tibor Hartel (Author) , Jan Hanspach (Author) , Friederike Mikulcak (Author) , 2015 Sofia , 60 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsTransfer

  5. Habitat fragmentation and landscape change: An ecological and conservation synthesis
    Jörn Fischer (Author) , David Lindenmayer (Author) , 2006 Washington DC , 346 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

Journal contributions

  1. 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) , Jörn Fischer (Author) , Tobias Plieninger (Author) , 01.01.2026 , in: Restoration Ecology, 34, 1 , 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Resilience and regeneration for a world in crisis
    Jörn 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 contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. 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) , Jörn Fischer (Author) , 01.01.2026 , in: Trees, Forests and People, 23 , 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Five Frontiers for Science and Practice of Ecosystem Restoration in East African Forest Landscapes
    Dula Wakassa Duguma (Author) , Katharina Löhr (Author) , Victoria Martine 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) , Jörn Fischer (Author) , 01.12.2025 , in: Integrative Conservation, 4, 4 , p. 534-545 , 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. ‘Chains of leverage’ as way to identify and foster transformative potential
    Maraja Riechers (Author) , Tamara Schaal (Author) , Laura Pereira (Author) , Jacqueline Loos (Author) , Jörn Fischer (Author) , 01.11.2025 , in: People and Nature, 7, 11 , p. 2731-2742 , 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Contributions to collected editions/anthologies

  1. The resilience of Australian agricultural landscapes characterised by land-sparing versus land-sharing
    David James Abson (Author) , Jörn Fischer (Author) , Kate Sherren (Author) , 01.05.2019 Cambrige , p. 232-252 , 21 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologiesContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  2. Challenges for postdocs in Germany and beyond:: a personal perspective
    Jörn Fischer (Author) , 01.01.2014 , p. 25-26 , 2 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologiesArticle in conference proceedingsTransferpeer-review

  3. Forest Islands in an Agricultural Sea
    Alexandra-Maria Klein (Author) , Virginie Elsa Boreux (Author) , Jörn Fischer (Author) , Jürgen Bauhus (Author) , M. Jahi Chappell (Author) , Stacey M. Philpott (Author) , 01.01.2014 Wallingford , p. 79-95 , 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologiesChapterResearchpeer-review

  4. Biodiversity-friendly farming
    Jörn 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/anthologiesChapterResearchpeer-review

  5. Land sparing versus land sharing: moving forward
    Jörn Fischer (Author) , David James Abson (Author) , Jan Hanspach (Author) , Henrik Wehrden (Author) , Van Butsic (Author) , M Jahi Chappell (Author) , Johan Ekroos (Author) , Tobias Kuemmerle (Author) , Henrik G. Smith (Author) , 01.01.2013 , p. 105-107 , 3 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologiesPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

Activities

  1. Towards a sustainable Southern Transylvania: Recognizing existing contributions to reach sustainable visions and empowering stakeholders
    David Lam (Speaker) , Andra-Ioana Horcea-Milcu (Speaker) , Jörn Fischer (Speaker) , Daniel Johannes Lang (Speaker)

    Activity: Conference PresentationsResearch

  2. Rural sustainability transitions in Southern Transylvania: Scaling sustainability initiatives from local non-governmental organizations
    David Lam (Speaker) , Andra-Ioana Horcea-Milcu (Coauthor) , Jörn Fischer (Coauthor) , Daniela Peukert (Coauthor) , Daniel Johannes Lang (Coauthor)

    Activity: Presentations (poster etc.)Transfer

  3. PECS working group on social-ecological dynamics of ecosystem services
    Albert Norström (Speaker) , Elena M. Bennett (Speaker) , Garry D. Peterson (Speaker) , Erik Anderson (Speaker) , María R. Felipe-Lucia (Speaker) , Jörn Fischer (Speaker) , Marina García-Llorente (Speaker) , Maike Grace Turner (Speaker) , Jan Hanspach (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)

    Activity: Conference PresentationsResearch

Prizes

  1. Herausragende Leistungen in der Forschung
    Victoria Martine Temperton (Recipient) Jörn Fischer (Recipient) Jacqueline Loos (Recipient) Berta Martín-López (Recipient) ,

    Prize: Leuphana internal Prize, Scholaships, distinctions, appointmentsResearch

  2. Sof­ja Ko­va­levs­ka­ja Award of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
    Jörn Fischer (Recipient) ,

    Prize: external Prizes, scholarships, distinctions, appointmentsResearch

Teaching