Sylvia Tramberend

Sylvia Tramberend is a research scientist working on IIASA's interdisciplinary and policy oriented research, and is a member of the Water (WAT) Program. Her key research interests and main responsibilities include scenario development, identifying solution pathways until the 2050's in the food-water-energy-environment nexus and sustainable consumption in a globalized world, and studying linkages between the biophysical and socio-economic domain.

Her responsibilities as a land use and GIS expert have included the development of large spatial databases serving the modeling and analysis needs in the areas of food-environment-bioenergy-water linkages, food-system analysis, land use and water scenarios and environmental transition. She was involved in Agro-Ecological Zones Methodology assessments for agricultural development planning, worked on several assessments of biofuels and food security, and the mobilization of resources for the bio-economy. In sustainable consumption research she has been a principal investigator in analysis tracing embodied land use and deforestation in agricultural and forestry products from primary production to final utilization. The geographic focus of her research has been both global and regional (e.g. Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, China, and Brazil).

Dr. Tramberend graduated in 1994, from Vienna's University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences with principal subjects in land use planning, environmental sciences and ecology. In 2005 she received her PhD from the same University, based on research on "The impact of temperature and precipitation variability on potential agricultural production in China". In 1994, she was a participant in the IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) and has worked with a number of different programs at IIASA since then. She is engaged in and committed to capacity building.


Last update: 10 OCT 2017

Tramberend, S. (2021). Scenarios for sustainable biofuel development. In: UN Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions Network.

Tramberend, S. , Burtscher, R. , Burek, P. , Kahil, T. , Fischer, G., Mochizuki, J. , Greve, P., Kimwaga, R., et al. (2021). Co-development of East African regional water scenarios for 2050. One Earth 4 (3), 434-447. 10.1016/j.oneear.2021.02.012.

Stenzel, F., Greve, P., Lucht, W., Tramberend, S. , Wada, Y. , & Gerten, D. (2021). Irrigation of biomass plantations may globally increase water stress more than climate change. Nature Communications 12 (1), e1512. 10.1038/s41467-021-21640-3.

Fischer, G., Nachtergaele, F.O., van Velthuizen, H., Chiozza, F., Francheschini, G., Henry, M., Muchoney, D., & Tramberend, S. (2021). Global Agro-ecological Zones (GAEZ v4)- Model Documentation. FAO & IIASA

Tramberend, S. , Fischer, G., & van Velthuizen, H. (2020). RCP 8.5 Ghana. High-end climate change impacts on crop production. DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-8955. In: European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2020, 4-8 May 2020, Vienna, Austria.

Tramberend, S. , Burtscher, R., Burek, P., Kahil, T., Fischer, G., Mochizuki, J., Kimwaga, R., Nyenje, P., et al. (2020). East African Community Water Vision. Regional Scenarios for Human - Natural Water System Transformations. SSRN Electronic Journal 10.2139/ssrn.3526896. (Submitted)

Kahil, T. , Albiac, J., Fischer, G., Strokal, M., Tramberend, S. , Greve, P., Tang, T. , Burek, P. , et al. (2019). A nexus modeling framework for assessing water scarcity solutions. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 40, 72-80. 10.1016/j.cosust.2019.09.009.

Tramberend, S. , Burtscher, R. , Burek, P. , Kahil, T. , Fischer, G., Mochizuki, J. , Wada, Y. , Kimwaga, R., et al. (2019). East Africa Future Water Scenarios to 2050. IIASA

Burtscher, R. , Langan, S. , Tramberend, S. , & Burek, P. (2019). East Africa Future Water Scenarios to 2050 Consultation and Joint Learning Workshop December 4-6, 2018 Entebbe, Uganda. IIASA Research Report. Laxenburg, Austria: RR-19-002

Fischer, G. & Tramberend, S. (2019). South African agriculture towards 2030/50. IIASA Research Report. Laxenburg, Austria: RR-19-001

Tramberend, S. , Fischer, G., Bruckner, M., & van Velthuizen, H. (2019). Our Common Cropland: Quantifying Global Agricultural Land Use from a Consumption Perspective. Ecological Economics 157, 332-341. 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.12.005.

Bruckner, M., Häyhä, T. , Giljum, S., Maus, V. , Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , & Boerner, J. (2019). Quantifying the global cropland footprint of the European Union’s non-food bioeconomy. Environmental Research Letters 14, e045011. 10.1088/1748-9326/ab07f5.

Bole-Rentel, T., Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , & van Velthuizen, H. (2019). Understanding the Sustainable Aviation Biofuel Feedstock Potential in sub-Saharan Africa. World Wildlife Fund

Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , van Velthuizen, H., Bole-Rentel, T., & Reeler, J. (2019). Sustainable aviation biofuel potential in sub-Saharan Africa. A systems analysis investigation into the current and future potential for biofuel feedstock production. World Wildlife Fund

Kahil, T. , Parkinson, S. , Satoh, Y., Greve, P., Burek, P. , Veldkamp, T., Burtscher, R. , Byers, E. , et al. (2018). A continental-scale hydro-economic model for integrating water-energy-land nexus solutions. Water Resources Research 10.1029/2017WR022478.

Greve, P., Kahil, T. , Mochizuki, J. , Schinko, T. , Satoh, Y., Burek, P. , Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , et al. (2018). Global assessment of water challenges under uncertainty in water scarcity projections. Nature Sustainability 1, 486-494. 10.1038/s41893-018-0134-9.

Li, S., Li, X., Sun, L., Cao, G.-Y., Fischer, G., & Tramberend, S. (2018). An Estimation of the Extent of Cropland Abandonment in Mountainous Regions of China. Land Degradation & Development 29 (5), 1327-1342. 10.1002/ldr.2924.

Bruckner, M., Giljum, S., Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , & Borner, J. (2018). The global cropland footprint of the non-food bioeconomy. Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung (ZEF)

Burtscher, R. , Langan, S. , Tramberend, S. , & Burek, P. (2018). Solutions for a water secure East Africa in 2050 Workshop on mid- to long-term water resources management and planning in Eastern Africa December 4-6, 2017 Entebbe, Uganda. IIASA Report. Laxenburg, Austria: IIASA

Kanyerere, T., Tramberend, S. , Levine, A.D., Mokoena, P., Mensah, P., Chingombe, W., Goldin, J., Sumbul, F., et al. (2018). Chapter 6. Water Futures and Solutions: Options to Enhance Water Security in Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Systems Analysis Approach for Complex Global Challenges. Eds. Mensah, P., Katerere, D., Hachigonta, S. & Roodt, A., pp. 93-110 Heidelberg: Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-71485-110.1007/978-3-319-71486-8_6.

Bruckner, M., Giljum, S., Fischer, G., & Tramberend, S. (2017). Review of land flow accounting methods and recommendations for further development. Umweltbundesamt

Bruckner, M., Giljum, S., Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , Wunder, T., & Kaphengst, T. (2017). Development of consumption-based land use indicators. Umweltbundesamt

Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , Bruckner, M., & Lieber, M. (2017). Quantifying the land footprint of Germany and the EU using a hybrid accounting model. Umweltbundesamt

Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , van Velthuizen, H., Wunder, S., Kaphengst, T., McFarland, K., Bruckner, M., & Giljum, S. (2017). Extending land footprints towards characterizing sustainability of land use. Umweltbundesamt

Satoh, Y., Kahil, T. , Byers, E. , Burek, P. , Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , Greve, P., Flörke, M., et al. (2017). Multi-model and multi-scenario assessments of Asian water futures: the Water Futures and Solutions (WFaS) initiative. Earth's Future 5 (7), 823-852. 10.1002/2016EF000503.

Kahil, T. , Parkinson, S. , Burek, P. , Satoh, Y., Greve, P., Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , Langan, S. , et al. (2017). Economic costs of reducing unsustainable groundwater use: Application of IIASA global hydro-economic modeling framework. In: JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting 2017, 20-25 May 2017, Tokyo, Japan.

Yao, M., Tramberend, S. , Kabat, P., Hutjes, R.W.A., & Werners, S.E. (2017). Building Regional Water-Use Scenarios Consistent with Global Shared Socioeconomic Pathways. Environmental Processes 4 (1), 15-31. 10.1007/s40710-016-0203-x.

Fischer, G., Hizsnyik, E., Tramberend, S. , & van Velthuizen, H. (2017). Policy Support for Sustainable Development:Scarcity, Abundance and Alternative Uses of Land and Water Resources. In: IIASA Institutional Evaluation 2017, 27 February-1 March 2017, IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.

Wiberg, D., Satoh, Y., Burek, P. , Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , Kahil, T. , Flörke, M., Eisner, S., et al. (2017). Water Futures and Solutions: Asia 2050 (Final Report). Knowledge and Innovation Support for the Water Financing Program of the Asian Development Bank (RETA 6498). IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria (Submitted)

Burek, P. , Langan, S. , Cosgrove, W., Fischer, G., Kahil, T. , Magnuszewski, P., Satoh, Y., Tramberend, S. , et al. (2016). The Water Futures and Solutions Initiative of IIASA. In: IDRiM 2016 7th International Conference on Integrated Disaster Risk Management Disasters and Development: Towards a Risk Aware Society, October 1-3, 2016, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran.

Wada, Y. , Flörke, M., Hanasaki, N., Eisner, S., Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , Satoh, Y., van Vliet, M., et al. (2016). Modeling global water use for the 21st century: Water Futures and Solutions (WFaS) initiative and its approaches. Geoscientific Model Development 9, 175-222. 10.5194/gmd-9-175-2016.

Burek, P. , Satoh, Y., Fischer, G., Kahil, M.T. , Scherzer, A., Tramberend, S. , Nava, L.F. , Wada, Y. , et al. (2016). Water Futures and Solution - Fast Track Initiative (Final Report). IIASA Working Paper. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: WP-16-006

Burek, P. , Satoh, Y., Wada, Y. , Flörke, M., Eisner, S., Hanasaki, N., Tramberend, S. , Fischer, G., et al. (2016). Looking at the spatial and temporal distribution of global water availability and demand. In: European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2016, 17–22 April 2016, Vienna, Austria.

Prieler, S. , Fischer, G., & van Velthuizen, H. (2016). Land and the Food–Fuel Competition: Insights from Modeling (Chapter 29). In: Advances in Bioenergy: The Sustainability Challenge. Eds. Lund, P., Byrne, J.A., Berndes, G. & Vasolos, I., pp. 447-464 Chichester, UK: Wiley. ISBN 978-1-118-95787-5

Satoh, Y., Burek, P. , Wada, Y. , Flörke, M., Eisner, S., Hanasaki, N., Kahil, T. , Tramberend, S. , et al. (2016). Asian water futures - Multi scenarios, models and criteria assessment. In: European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2016, 17–22 April 2016, Vienna, Austria.

Lossau, S., Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , van Velthuizen, H., Kleinschmit, B., & Schomaeker, R. (2015). Brazil's current and future land balances: Is there residual land for bioenergy production? Biomass and Bioenergy 81, 452-461. 10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.07.024.

Bruckner, M., Fischer, G., Tramberend, S. , & Giljum, S. (2015). Measuring telecouplings in the global land system: a review and comparative evaluation of land footprint accounting method. Ecological Economics 114, 11-21. 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2015.03.008.

Cosgrove, W., Fischer, G., Floerke, M., Hizsnyik, E., Magnuszewski, P., Pahl-Wostl, C., Scherzer, A., Segrave, A., et al. (2015). Towards Innovative Solutions through Integrative Futures Analysis - Preliminary qualitative scenarios. IIASA Interim Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: IR-15-012

Fischer, G., Hizsnyik, E., Tramberend, S. , & Wiberg, D. (2015). Towards indicators for water security - A global hydro-economic classification of water challenges. IIASA Interim Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: IR-15-013

Magnuszewski, P., Wiberg, D., Cosgrove, W., Fischer, G., Floerke, M., Hizsnyik, E., Pahl-Wostl, C., Segrave, A., et al. (2015). Conceptual framework for scenarios development in the Water futures and Solutions project. IIASA Interim Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: IR-15-011

Tramberend, S. , Wiberg, D., Wada, Y. , Flörke, M., Fischer, G., Satoh, Y., Yillia, P., van Vliet, M., et al. (2015). Building global water use scenarios. IIASA Interim Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: IR-15-014

Bruckner, M., Giljum, S., Fischer, G., & Tramberend, S. (2015). Review of land flow accounting methods and recommendations for further development. Umweltbundesamt

Jonas, M. , Ometto, J.P., Batistella, M., Franklin, O. , Hall, M., Lapola, D.M., Moran, E.F., Tramberend, S. , et al. (2014). Sustaining ecosystem services: Overcoming the dilemma posed by local actions and planetary boundaries. Earth's Future 2 (8), 407-420. 10.1002/2013EF000224.

Prieler, S. , Fischer, G., & van Velthuizen, H.T. (2013). Land and the food-fuel competition: Insights from modeling. WIREs Energy and Environment 2 (2), 199-217. 10.1002/wene.55.

Cuypers, D., Geerken, T., Gorissen, L., Lust, A., Peters, G., Karstensen, J., Prieler, S. , Fischer, G., et al. (2013). The impact of EU consumption on deforestation: Comprehensive analysis of the impact of EU consumption on deforestation. European Commission, DG ENV

Devriendt, N., Lust, A., Lemeire, C., Cuypers, D., Prieler, S. , Fischer, G., Hizsnyik, E., De Smet, L., et al. (2013). The impact of EU consumption on deforestation: Proposal of specific Community policy, legislative measures and other initiatives for further consideration by the Commission. European Commission, DG ENV

Devriendt, N., Lust, A., Lemeire, C., Cuypers, D., Prieler, S. , Fischer, G., Hizsnyik, E., de Smet, L., et al. (2013). The impact of EU consumption on deforestation: Identification of critical areas where Community policies and legislation could be reviewed. European Commission, DG ENV

Ermolieva, T., Fischer, G., Hizsnyik, E., Prieler, S. , Sun, L., Toth, G., van Velthuizen, H.T., & Wiberg, D. (2012). Land Use Change and Agriculture Program: MetaData v.1.0 - Main models, databases, tools (covering period 2005-2011). IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria (March 2012)

Fischer, G., Hizsnyik, E., Prieler, S. , & van Velthuizen, H. (2012). Linking agricultural consumption, land use and deforestation. In: Worlds Within Reach: From Science To Policy - IIASA 40th Anniversary Conference, 24-26 October 2012, Hofburg Congress Center, Vienna and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.

Fischer, G., Hizsnyik, E., Prieler, S. , van Velthuizen, H., & Wiberg, D. (2012). Scarcity and abundance of land resources: competing uses and the shrinking land resource base. In: Worlds Within Reach: From Science To Policy - IIASA 40th Anniversary Conference, 24-26 October 2012, Hofburg Congress Center, Vienna and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.

Fischer, G., Nachtergaele, F.O., Prieler, S. , Teixeira, E. , Toth, G., van Velthuizen, H., Verelst, L., & Wiberg, D. (2012). Global Agro-ecological Zones (GAEZ v3.0)- Model Documentation. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria and FAO, Rome, Italy.

Toth, G., Fischer, G., Pisetta, M., Prieler, S. , van Velthuizen, H., & Wiberg, D. (2012). Linking carbon forest plantations on abandoned land with increased production of food. In: Worlds Within Reach: From Science To Policy - IIASA 40th Anniversary Conference, 24-26 October 2012, Hofburg Congress Center, Vienna and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.

Fischer, G., Hizsnyik, E., Prieler, S. , & Wiberg, D. (2011). Scarcity and abundance of land resources: Competing uses and the shrinking land resource base. SOLAW Background Thematic Report - TR02; FAO, Rome, Italy

Fischer, G., Prieler, S. , van Velthuizen, H.T., Berndes, G., Faaij, A., & de Wit, M. (2010). Biofuel production potentials in Europe: Sustainable use of cultivated land and pastures, Part II: Land use scenarios. Biomass and Bioenergy 34 (2), 173-187. 10.1016/j.biombioe.2009.07.009.

Fischer, G., Prieler, S. , van Velthuizen, H.T., Lensink, S.M., Londo, M., & de Wit, M. (2010). Biofuel production potentials in Europe: Sustainable use of cultivated land and pastures. Part I: Land productivity potentials. Biomass and Bioenergy 34 (2), 159-172. 10.1016/j.biombioe.2009.07.008.

Londo, M., Lensink, S., Wakker, A., Fischer, G., Prieler, S. , van Velthuizen, H.T., de Wit, M., Faaij, A., et al. (2010). The REFUEL EU road map for biofuels in transport: Application of the project's tools to some short-term policy issues. Biomass and Bioenergy 34 (2), 244-250. 10.1016/j.biombioe.2009.07.005.

Fischer, G., Hizsnyik, E., Prieler, S. , Shah, M., & van Velthuizen, H.T. (2009). Biofuels and Food Security: Implications of an Accelerated Biofuels Production. Summary of Final Report to Sponsor: OFID Pamphlet Series 38, The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Vienna, Austria (March 2009)

Fischer, G., Hizsnyik, E., Prieler, S. , Shah, M., & van Velthuizen, H.T. (2009). Biofuels and Food Security. Final Report to Sponsor: The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Vienna, Austria (March 2009)

Fischer, G., Prieler, S. , & van Velthuizen, H.T. (2005). Biomass potentials of miscanthus, willow and poplar: Results and policy implications for Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia. Biomass and Bioenergy 28 (2), 119-132. 10.1016/j.biombioe.2004.08.013.

Liu, S. & Prieler, S. (2002). Spatial Patterns and Dynamic Mechanisms of Urban Land Use Growth in China: Case Studies in Beijing and Shanghai. IIASA Interim Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: IR-02-005

Fischer, G., van Velthuizen, H.T., & Prieler, S. (2001). Assessment of Potential Productivity of Tree Species in China, Mongolia and the Former Soviet Union: Methodology and Results. IIASA Interim Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: IR-01-015

Anderberg, S. , Prieler, S. , Olendrzynski, K., & de Bruyn, S. (2000). Old Sins. Industrial Metabolism, Heavy Metal Pollution, and Environmental Transition in Central Europe. Tokyo: United Nations University Press. ISBN 9280810499

Tang, G.-P., Li, X.-B., Fischer, G., & Prieler, S. (2000). Climate change and its impacts on China's agriculture. Acta Geographica Sinica 55 (2), 129-138.

Prieler, S. (1999). Temperature and Precipitation Variability in China - A Gridded Monthly Time Series from 1958 to 1988. IIASA Interim Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: IR-99-074

Brogaard, S. & Prieler, S. (1998). Land cover in the Horqin Grasslands, North China. Detecting changes between 1975 and 1990 by means of remote sensing. IIASA Interim Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: IR-98-044

Prieler, S. , Lesko, A.P., & Anderberg, S. (1998). Three Scenarios for Land-Use Change: A Case Study in Central Europe. IIASA Research Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: RR-98-003

Prieler, S. & Anderberg, S. (1996). Assessment of Long Term Impacts of Cadmium and Lead Load to Agricultural Soils in the Upper Elbe and Oder River Basins. IIASA Working Paper. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: WP-96-143

Prieler, S. , Hamann, B., Anderberg, S. , & Stigliani, W.M. (1996). Land Use Change in Europe- Scenarios for a Project Area in East Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. IIASA Working Paper. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: WP-96-040

Prieler, S. , Smal, H., Olendrzynski, K., Anderberg, S. , & Stigliani, W.M. (1996). Cadmium, Zinc and Lead Load to Agricultural Land in the Upper Oder and Elbe Basins During the Period 1955-1994. IIASA Working Paper. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: WP-96-030