Eastern Europe

Drivers, constraints and trade-offs associated with recultivating abandoned cropland in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan
Further cropland expansion might be unavoidable to satisfy the growing demand for land-based products and ecosystem services. A crucial …
DOI
Forest management impacts on capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) habitat distribution and connectivity in the Carpathians
Context
Distribution and connectivity of suitable habitat for species of conservation concern is critical for effective conservation …
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Legacy effects of past land use on current biodiversity in a low-intensity farming landscape in Transylvania (Romania)
Context
Ecological impacts of past land use can persist for centuries. While present-day land use is relatively easy to quantify, …
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Recultivation of abandoned agricultural lands in Ukraine: Patterns and drivers
The recent rise in agricultural commodity prices and the expectation that high price will persist have triggered a wave of farmland …
DOI
The dynamics of beef trade between Brazil and Russia and their environmental implications
Changes in the production or consumption of agricultural commodities in one place can drastically affect land use and the environment …
DOI
Understanding unexpected reintroduction outcomes: Why aren't European bison colonizing suitable habitat in the Carpathians?
Reintroductions are an important tool for re-establishing or reinforcing populations of threatened species, and thus to restore …
DOI
Forest transitions in Eastern Europe and their effects on carbon budgets
Forests often rebound from deforestation following industrialization and urbanization, but for many regions our understanding of where …
DOI
Incorporating anthropogenic effects into trophic ecology: predator-prey interactions in a human-dominated landscape
Apex predators perform important functions that regulate ecosystems worldwide. However, little is known about how ecosystem regulation …
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Legacies of 19th century land use shape contemporary forest cover
Historic land use can exert strong land-use legacies, i.e., long-lasting effects on ecosystems, but the importance of land-use …
DOI
Long-term agricultural land-cover change and potential for cropland expansion in the former Virgin Lands area of Kazakhstan
During the Soviet Virgin Lands Campaign, approximately 23 million hectares (Mha) of Eurasian steppe grassland were converted into …
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