PLUS Changers in the Spotlight 7: UKF Nitra

In the seventh edition of our series, PLUS Changers in the Spotlight, we introduce the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Constantine the Philosopher University (UKF Nitra), located in Slovakia.

About 

The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at UKF Nitra consists of a team of researchers with experience in landscape planning and ecology, nature protection, stakeholder engagement and education. Since its establishment in 1994, the department has been continuously involved in research and applied projects to deliver knowledge and evidence for better decision-making in the fields of sustainable planning and landscape management. Biodiversity values and ecosystem health are at the heart of their work, as well as the aim to spread knowledge about the importance of nature to the wider society. 

Project Role

Within PLUS Change, the role of UKF Nitra is twofold. In terms of their technical contribution, the UKF Nitra team leads research on political economies of land use change and collaborates on the research of historical land use change and decision-making. They also act as coordinators of the Practice Case, Nitra, Slovakia, in close collaboration with the Nitra city office and other key actors engaged in local planning and decision-making. 

Expectations

As researchers, UKF Nitra hopes to generate new evidence and clarify which practices can lead us as a society to a more sustainable land planning and management strategies. 

“We are excited to work closely between research and practical decision-making as a part of networked case studies in Europe.”