Sustainable resource management in Latin America and Spain ● Red de Gestión Sostenible de Recursos Naturales de Alemania, América Latina y España ● Nachhaltiges Ressourcenmanagement Lateinamerika und Spanien

The network is a transhemispheric forest research and education network dedicated to improving the understanding of how climate change and other stressors affect temperate and tropical forests, to identify strategies for sustainable forest management, fostering dialogue among stakeholders, and enhancing forest-based production systems.

A multidimensional gradient analysis along catenas forms the backbone of our methodology. This approach allows for the estimation of bioclimatic factors that may significantly impact vegetation within evolving landscapes.

GRADIENT ANALYSIS IN FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

Drawing from extensive research experience on temperate forests in both hemispheres, we identified several critical patterns.

In western and central Europe, the European beech (Fagus sylvatica) exhibits a clear longitudinal gradient, moving from the oceanic Atlantic towards the more continental interior. This pattern is influenced by the expansive landmass of Eurasia. By contrast, in northern Patagonia, Nothofagus forests are shaped by a steep longitudinal humidity-aridity gradient. This gradient is driven by the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountains, which act as a barrier, directing aridity towards the Patagonian steppe.

Latitudinal gradients also differ markedly between the hemispheres. In Central Europe, increasing warmth and aridity are observed as one moves from north to south. In Patagonia, however, these conditions intensify when moving in the opposite direction - from south to north - reversing the hemispheric pattern.

A third dimension, the elevational gradient, reveals a consistent trend across regions. As one descends from mid-elevation mesophytic forests to lower elevations, conditions become progressively warmer and more arid. This vertical gradient highlights the interplay of temperature and moisture availability with elevation, shaping vegetation and ecosystem dynamics.

By using this approach, we aim to identify strategies for sustainable forest management, fostering dialogue among stakeholders, and enhancing forest-based production systems to adapt to long-term changes. 

Furthermore, the gradients are evaluated by multitemporal analysis to understand time-dependent changes along the spatial gradients. We refer to our spacetime approach as 3Dt approach, a three-dimensional approach, extended by a time dimension, which is represented as the exponent ‘t’.

This methodology is now being extended to tropical forests and other temperate ecosystems to deepen our understanding of ecosystem functionality and to promote sustainable local value chains in a rapidly changing environment.

The network’s activities are guided by commitments to the United Nations Development Goal 17, the G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration on Sustainable Development, Energy Transitions, and Climate Action (2024), as well as the objectives of the Paris Agreement under the framework of the COPs.

Our vision is to develop a globally recognized network that leads scientific, technological, and knowledge-transfer initiatives. By providing forest-related knowledge through 3Dt gradient research on temperate and tropical forests, the network will contribute to the transhemispheric development of innovative and sustainable value chains.

The mission of the network is to improve transhemispheric understanding of climate change and other stressors on temperate and tropical forests. It aims to strengthen the capacity for adaptive, sustainable forest management strategies while fostering innovative and sustainable local value chains.

The network fosters an environment of collaboration, diversity, and inclusivity. It promotes intercultural respect among researchers, field technicians, stakeholders, and local communities. Diversity of experience, culture, and ideas is valued, with a commitment to advancing equity in research and publishing. The network also emphasizes the rapid transfer of knowledge and innovations to stakeholders while ensuring data accessibility and usability. These efforts aim to support development across economic, environmental, social, and cultural dimensions.

The network operates through strong partnerships between scientific and academic organizations and local forest administrations and communities. These collaborations ensure lasting impact through interdisciplinary research, capacity-building initiatives, and fostering a synergistic environment for large-scale research projects. By integrating scientists and young researchers into international exchanges and discussions in German, Spanish, and English, the network addresses global forest challenges from a transhemispheric perspective.

Through this work, we aim to enhance the functionality of ecosystems, shorten timelines for understanding stressor impacts, and drive innovation for sustainable value chains.

Prof. Dr. Helge Walentowski [Research and Development Manager] - send an email

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Rohe [Research and Development Manager] - send an email

Dr. José Daniel Lencinas [Coordinator] - send an email