Biography

Pierre L. Ibisch is a Professor at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (2004-2024 Professor for Nature Conservation, 2024 onwards Professor for Socioecology of Forest Ecosystems), where he also holds a Research Professorship for Ecosystem-based Sustainable Development (2009 onwards).

He began his career as a biologist and devoted a part of his research to botany, especially in the tropics, focussing more and more on conservation science and ecology. He has a strong background in international research with projects and missions in Europe, Asia, Africa, and especially Latin America, where he lived and worked for about a decade. Since 2011, he is co-founding director of the Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management at the Faculty of Forest and Environment. From 2019 to 2023 he was scientific co-chair and from 2023-2024 Co-Director of the Biosphere Reserves Institute established at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development. In the 1990s he dealt with questions of vegetation development and reforestation in South America. There he also contributed to biodiversity and nature conservation research within the framework of development cooperation. Doctorate on a forest ecology topic (diversity of epiphytes) and postdoctoral thesis on ecoregional and national nature conservation planning. Scientific work on global patterns and mechanisms of ecosystem functioning and stressors.

Since the mid-2000s with an important focus on ecosystem-based sustainable development, including ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change and adaptive risk management, ecosystem functionality and learning from ecosystems for sustainability (econics), the importance of roadless areas, as well as the effectiveness of conservation strategies such as sustainability certification. He was actively involved in establishing the transboundary UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe’ and setting up the first Asian transboundary Biosphere Reserve in the Altai mountains. Worldwide experience in participatory analysis of ecosystems, risks and vulnerability (development of a methodology based on systemic visualisation and knowledge co-production).

Voluntary work: Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the federal Ministry of Environment of Germany for 'Natural climate protection'. Member of several NGO advisory boards / boards of trustees (e.g., NABU, Oroverde, Naturwald Akademie, Michael Succow Foundation). Formerly, he served as a vice chair on the board of the Deutsche Umweltstiftung (German Environment Foundation). He was co-editor of the periodically published JAHRBUCH ÖKOLOGIE as well as leading editor and author of a textbook on sustainable development.