Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape and Land Use Research

Scientific Purpose of ZALF

The Centre for Agricultural Landscape and Land Use Research (ZALF) exists since the beginning of 1992. As a corporation registered in the Scientific Association Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (a file of high standard research facilities financed through both federal and state funds) it was founded in the town of Müncheberg following the recommendations of the German Scientific Council (Wissenschaftsrat).

The primary scientific objective of the ZALF is to analyze, evaluate andpredict processes (including their interactions) in agricultural landscapes of the Northeast-German lowlands. Based on the knowledge of functional relationships within ecosystems, concepts for the use, organization and rehabilitation of landscapes are worked out.

These objectives require four phases of scientific work:

• Survey of the properties, functions and interactions of subecosystems in agricultural landscapes
  
• Evaluation of the carrying capacity and the restoring potential of ecosystems
  
• Evaluation of the properties and the potentialities of landscapes with emphasis on ecological and economic aspects
  
• Development of sustainable land use systems including special measures of protection and rehabilitation

Thus, future developments depending on different boundary conditions can be assessed.

The ZALF follows the Concept of applied basic research. The research is directed to pressing current problems with the aim of working out decisionsupport tools. This approach requires the identification and quantification of biophysical and sociological parameters as well as taking into account political factors. This approach implicates an emphasis on interdisciplinary research.

Therefore, the ZALF research is done not only by seven predominantly disciplinary oriented institutes, but also by the common interdisciplinary research program "Sustainable Land Development - NorthCentralEurope 2020" with focus on the development of decision support tools.

Considerable need for further research exists in the field of developing adequate methods to describe and model complex systems. Based on the analysis of actual situations and processes, landscape models will be developed to provide estimates of further changes by computing scenarios. The consideration of different demands in the use of landscape results in visionary structures that may serve as objectives to implement sustainable land use systems.

The young pleistocene landscape of Northeastern Brandenburg (Uckermark -Oberbarnim - Lebus) and the extended peatland areas of the Rhinluch (west of Berlin) is the main research area of the ZALF. With respect to soils, topography, hydrology and land use systems this region is typical for Northeastern Germany as well as for Eastern Europe. In addition investigations are also done in similar regions of Eastern Central Europe by cooperation with lokal research facilities. To support the field research the ZALF maintaines a research station for agriculture at Dedelow with field stations in Paulinenaue and Müncheberg. Research projects are realized in close adjustment and cooperation with research institutions in Germany and abroad working on similar topics.

Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape and Land Use Research
Eberswalder Str. 84
15374 Müncheberg
Tel: +49 (0)33432 / 82 - 200
Fax: +49 (0)33432 / 82 - 212
E-Mail: zalf@zalf.de

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Further Information: www.zalf.de/