New EORC Project Launch: Assessing Ecosystem Sensitivity to Climate Change in Rhineland-Palatinate’s Protected Areas

New EORC Project Launch: Assessing Ecosystem Sensitivity to Climate Change in Rhineland-Palatinate’s Protected Areas

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August 5, 2025

The Earth Observation Research Cluster (EORC) at the University of Würzburg is pleased to announce the launch of a new research project that addresses one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time: the impact of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

The project, titled “Assessment and Localization of Ecosystem Sensitivity to Climate Change in Protected Areas of Rhineland-Palatinate,” aims to identify and map areas within nature reserves that are particularly vulnerable to climate-induced changes. This initiative is funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate State Office for the Environment and is being carried out in close collaboration with the State Agency for the Environment.

Project Objectives

The core goals of the project include:

  • Developing a spatially explicit sensitivity index for ecosystems based on climate and vegetation data.
  • Identifying climate-sensitive zones within protected areas using Earth observation and geostatistical methods.
  • Providing actionable insights for conservation planning and climate adaptation strategies.

By integrating long-term satellite data, climate projections, and ecological indicators, the project will deliver high-resolution maps and tools to support evidence-based environmental management.

 

 

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