Natural Resources

Biological diversity and the ecological processes bound to it are natural resources constituting the basis for the resilience of ecosystems which human existence and welfare depend on.
The Department of Natural Resources in ARO investigates biodiversity and its ecological functions in order to develop essential scientific knowledge to support sustainable management of open landscapes and the natural resources they inhabit for the benefit of humans and their environment.

The research covers various ecosystem types with an emphasis on agricultural landscapes, rangelands and forests and its goal is to develop strategies for optimal management of these ecosystems in water limited and heavily populated environments.

The management of open landscapes aims to maximize ecosystem services in these areas while preserving, nurturing and regenerating their natural resources for the future generations.

The specific research aims in the department include among others: the development of optimal management guidelines for conserving biological diversity in agricultural landscapes, rangelands and forests, the creation of ecological corridors and preservation of natural habitats within these landscapes; minimizing the ecological footprint of agricultural systems and livestock grazing, for example, by developing buffer zones to reduce the impact of agrochemicals and minimize the expansion of invasive species; reduction of harmful agricultural inputs such as pesticides by developing management practices to encourage natural enemies for pest control; maximizing the productivity and stability of agricultural production by developing integrated crop systems; preventing forest fires by developing management practices to reduce fuel materials; promoting the resilience of forest and rangeland ecosystems in the face of climate change, for example, by genetic improvement of forest tree species to increase drought resistance and by fostering genetic diversity of the forests.