The focus of the AFE Group is to generate knowledge and develop state-of-the-art modeling tools to advance the scientific community and support policies that enable better understanding and management of global and regional agriculture, forestry, and natural land ecosystems.
The basis for improved assessment and management of natural resources is a deep understanding of complex and interacting biophysical processes within terrestrial ecosystems. The AFE Group aims to achieve a leading position in addressing research questions requiring integrated analyses of agriculture, forestry, and natural land ecosystems at global and regional levels.
The group’s strategic ambition of biophysical tool integration for, among others, the assessment of nature-based/climate solutions, landscape restoration options, agro-forestry, or future cropland management, is at the core of the IIASA research domain on biodiversity and ecosystem services. With sustainability and biodiversity aspects as cross-cutting environmental safeguards, the group is closely aligned with the strategic direction of its host program on Biodiversity and Natural Resources. This structural and strategic setup will ensure that AFE becomes a valuable research pillar and contributor to the overarching IIASA strategy.
Models, tools, datasets
Projects
Staff
News

13 September 2023
FLAM Sparks Interest and Conversation at the 2023 IBFRA Conference in Helsinki

05 September 2023
Spotlight on Johanna San Pedro: Newest Researcher in the FLAM Team

30 August 2023
The IIASA Summer Experience: A Blend of Learning and Experience in a nurturing atmosphere
Events
Focus

24 February 2022
The number of tree species on Earth
Since humans have walked this planet, we have loved categorizing things and ecology is no exception. One of the most basic ecological questions has always been the simple question of “how many?”
29 November 2021
An analysis of forest management in the Republic of Korea

29 November 2021
Improving fertilizer and water management practices in South Africa

Publications
Gvein, M.H., Hu, X., Næss, J.S., Watanabe, M.D.B., Cavalett, O., Malbranque, M., Kindermann, G. , & Cherubini, F. (2023). Potential of land-based climate change mitigation strategies on abandoned cropland. Communications Earth & Environment 4 (1) e39. 10.1038/s43247-023-00696-7. Yuwono, B., Yowargana, P., Fuss, S., Griscom, B.W., Smith, P., & Kraxner, F. (2023). Doing burden-sharing right to deliver natural climate solutions for carbon dioxide removal. Nature-Based Solutions 3 e100048. 10.1016/j.nbsj.2022.100048. Ippolito, T., Balkovič, J. , Skalský, R. , Folberth, C. , Krisztin, T. , & Neff, J. (2023). Predicting spatiotemporal soil organic carbon responses to management using EPIC-IIASA meta-models. Journal of Environmental Management 344 e118532. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118532. Rinke Dias de Souza, N., Palma Petrielli, G., Dourado Hernandes, T., Leduc, S., Di Fulvio, F. , de Souza Henzler, D., Ferreira Chagas, M., Lopes Junqueira, T., & Cavalett, O. (2023). Bioenergy-livestock integration in Brazil: Unraveling potentials for energy production and climate change mitigation. Journal of Cleaner Production 422 e138586. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138586. Lutz, W. & Pachauri, S. (2023). Systems Analysis for Sustainable Wellbeing. 50 years of IIASA research, 40 years after the Brundtland Commission, contributing to the post-2030 Global Agenda. IIASA Report. Laxenburg, Austria: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) 10.5281/zenodo.8214208. Lapin, K., Bindewald, A., Brundu, G., Marinšek, A., Chakraborty, D., Oettel, J., Konrad, H., Porta, N., Alagić, A., Berger, F., Detry, P., Shchepashchenko, D. , Kraxner, F., Hazarika, R., Wohlgemuth, T., & Braun, M. (2023). Transnational strategy on the sustainable management and responsible use of non-native trees in the Alpine Space. Central European Forestry Journal 69 (3) 142-151. 10.2478/forj-2023-0001.