Geoecology is the main research and teaching specialization of our department. We understand geoecology as an interdisciplinary socio-biophysical science dealing with spatio-temporal changes in the environment as a complex geographically-differentiated ecosystem – geoecosystem. Thus, geoecology merges approaches and methods of holistic ecosystem science with geomatics techniques – geographic information systems and digital geoteledetection. Terrestrial geoecology of a local scale is widely known as landscape ecology.
Physical geography is our traditional teaching specialization. We concentrate on climatology and hydrology, as well as on regional physical geography in its “classic” meaning.
We have worked on several research projects:
Geoecological factors of land use adaptation to regional and global changes. We study how physical, biotic, and societal landscape properties can be optimized for more efficient land use and ecosystem services under climate change as well as evolving societal conditions – implementation of EU environmental management standards, agricultural land reform, post-war reconstruction of Ukraine (e.g., Smaliychuk et al, 2016; 2021).
Modelling of management strategies for forest landscapes of the Carpathians according to climate change scenarios. We use LANDIS-II simulator to model impact of traditional and adaptive forestry on the volumes of harvested timber and residual carbon stocks for several climate change scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP6.0, RCP8.5) with intensifications of windthrow and spruce bark beetle invasions (e.g., Kruhlov et al, 2018).
Urban blue-green infrastructure in Europe’s East and West. We use on-line surveys and face-to-face interviews to study social, biophysical and geographical context of how people in Armenia, Georgia, Sweden, and Ukraine use and value urban green areas and water objects (e.g., Elbakidze et al, 2022).
Our department offers Bachelor, Master, and Ph.D. level courses, but only in Ukrainian.
Bachelor program “Geoecology and Applied Geomorphology” has been developed together with the Department of Geomorphology and Paleogeography. This interdisciplinary course deals with the study of geomorphic and biotic processes in complex geoecosystems under climate and societal change. The emphasis is made on a holistic approach and geomatics techniques. Detailed information in Ukrainian is available here.
Master program “Geoecological Management” merges geoecology, ecological economics, management and geomatics. It concentrates on the sustainable management of forest and urban landscapes, as well as protected areas. Detailed information in Ukrainian is available here.
Ph.D. program deals with organization and management of landscapes as dynamic geoecosystems.
