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9.03.03 - Historical ecology

Coordinator:

Alper Colak, Turkey

Deputies:

Péter Szabó, Czech Republic

Weiye Wang, China

About Unit

As part of the Forest History and Traditional Knowledge research group the unit Historical Ecology (9.03.03) advocates an historical approach to the study of wooded landscapes. In particular it deals with ecological aspects of trees, woods and forests and their modifications by human activity over time. The main scopes and objectives of the unit are to promote research on historical ecology and encourage the use of interdisciplinary research for the study of wooded landscapes, as well as to address the changing research needs and priorities relating to these habitats in different national and international contexts. It promotes the incorporation of documentary evidence, oral history and traditional knowledge into scientific methodologies for sustainable woodland management and nature conservation purposes. Individual trees, woods and forest of today are habitats resulting from a wide variety of management techniques. Historical knowledge is essential to an understanding of their current structures and distributions, as well as the wildlife supported by these cultural landscapes.

The Historical Ecology Working Party facilitates IUFRO's global network of forest research in order to effectively respond to current and future needs for the management of woodlands and the prospects of people who are dependent upon them. It supports quality research that strengthens academic capacity in the field of historical ecology and enhances intellectual cooperation of academic communities within and between regions.