Climate Change Management (M. Sc.)
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Forest ownership worldwide is gradually shifting from public to private hands, and this growing, fragmented private ownership has fuelled demand for Forest Owners' Organisations (FOOs) that help owners overcome scale disadvantages, access markets, and achieve sustainable forest management. While FOOs are widely acknowledged in the literature, existing research is largely country-specific, leaving forest owners and institutional investors without a systematic basis for comparing associative structures across regulatory and geographical contexts. This thesis addresses that gap through a comparative case study of FOOs in seven countries spanning four continents: Germany, Finland, Sweden, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Chile, selected because the study partner, MEAG, holds forest assets in these countries. Using a qualitative approach combining a literature and document review, semi-structured expert interviews, and the researcher's own observations, each country was analysed against a six-dimensional framework covering ownership context, governance structure, membership eligibility, service provision, financing, and institutional constraints, before findings were synthesised across countries.
The study identifies two dominant governance patterns driven by land tenure. In countries with fragmented private ownership, such as Germany, Finland, and Sweden, bottom-up, multi-tier models prevail. These organizations offer integrated operational services, including timber marketing, silviculture, and forest caretaking through power-of-attorney arrangements. Conversely, in Chile, New Zealand, and Australia, where plantation ownership is highly concentrated, top-down, industry-led models dominate. These entities focus primarily on national policy advocacy and industry-wide representation, often leaving small-scale owners with limited local support. The United States exhibits a hybrid model where state-level FOOs maintain grassroots through County Forestry Associations; at the same time, national organisations split along ownership lines, with some prioritising PFOs and IFOs.
The findings highlight significant structural challenges facing FOOs globally, including a loss of political influence due to shifting governmental priorities, power asymmetries (elite capture) favouring industrial actors, and declining participation driven by urbanization and aging demographics. Furthermore, FOOs must navigate complex social license issues related to Indigenous rights and environmental legitimacy. The resulting country profiles and cross-country patterns provide MEAG and other investors with a practical, comparative basis for engaging with FOOs and support broader efforts to close the sector's communication gap between forest owners and the organisations meant to serve them.
There is a growing need for Near-Term Climate Prediction (NTCP) in order to develop adaptation strategies and provide better risk management to cope with the consequences of climate change. NTCP emerged to fill the gap between short-term weather forecasts and long-term climate projections. This approach aims to provide actionable information on a timescale of one to ten years by combining observed initialization conditions of the current climate state with external forcing scenarios. Since the pioneering work of Smith et al. (2007), NTCP has become an operational product through the World Meteorological Organization Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update (WMO GADCU) reports. However, scientific maturity alone does not guarantee practical impact. How this information reaches and is understood by target users is a critical and insufficiently explored question in climate science communication.
Kushnir et al. (2019). Done et al. (2021) argue that scientifically reliable near-term climate predictions often fail to achieve a level of use-relevance among practitioner communities. To examine, more empirical research is needed. This exploratory study aims to examine this gap based on how practitioners understand the WMO GADCU reports and the challenges they face when working with them. Data were collected via survey after the Hackathon session, organized as part of the Green Futures project. Fourteen participants were divided into groups focusing on Zambia and Tunisia and directly interacted with two consecutive 5-year WMO reports, the 2024–2028 and 2025–2029 WMO GADCU reports.
Participants interpreted global temperature and precipitation anomaly maps, compared 2024 observational data with predictions and summarized their findings on a shared whiteboard. Following this structured interaction, participants were given a 15-item questionnaire that measured their prior knowledge level, changes in understanding, perceptions of differences between reports, perceived accuracy, recall level of probabilistic information, confidence in explaining climate predictions and the practical usability of the reports.
Due to the small sample size (n=14), 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the Wilson score method. The findings indicate that participants' prior familiarity with the WMO 5-year forecasts was limited and variable but that understanding improved for the majority after structured interaction.
Participants generally found the reports and session useful and identified the change in the probability of exceeding 1.5°C as the most significant difference between the two editions. Most participants remembered the value of 70% for this difference from the WMO GADCU 2025–2029 report. This suggests that incremental updates between successive editions were effectively communicated. Confidence in explaining the climate forecast was higher for Australia which is more affected by ENSO dynamics and was explicitly named in the reports compared to Zambia and Tunisia.
The temperature and precipitation anomaly predictions reported by participants on the whiteboard were based on the interpretation of global anomaly maps in WMO GADCU reports. They also mostly coincided with the observed regional assessments published by WMO. While all participants found the reports useful or very useful for agricultural and water planning, understanding technical terms and relating global predictions to local realities were identified as the main challenges.
These findings suggest that while the WMO GADCU reports are considered scientifically reliable, they have not yet reached full relevance in use particularly in communicating incremental probabilistic updates and localizing global forecasts to specific national contexts. It is given that this is an exploratory study and the findings should be considered preliminary conducted with a small convenience sample.
Still, the study provides empirical evidence regarding the comprehensibility of WMO GADCU reports by practitioners in regional context and offers actionable recommendations for improving the communication design of future WMO GADCU editions.
Biodiversity loss is becoming increasingly relevant for companies because it can create environmental risks and affect long-term business viability. At the same time, new sustainability reporting requirements in the EU, especially ESRS E4 under the CSRD, are expected to influence how companies address biodiversity. This master’s thesis examines how companies deal with biodiversity in this regulatory context, focusing on (1) corporate perception, (2) opportunities and drivers for action, and (3) barriers that hinder implementation.
The study uses a qualitative research design based on 11 semi-structured expert interviews from agriculture (n=4) and industry (n=7). The interview material was analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis following Mayring. By combining cross-sector expert interviews with a structured qualitative content analysis, this study provides practice-relevant insight into how biodiversity is translated into corporate priorities, governance routines, and reporting readiness under ESRS E4. The findings show a heterogeneous picture: while some interviewees frame biodiversity as a strategic topic linked to long-term continuity and resilience, others treat it mainly as part of broader environmental themes or as a reporting-related category. Regulatory expectations can function as an internal lever for prioritization, while concrete site-based measures and external cooperation support implementation. However, major barriers remain, especially limited measurability, missing baselines, unclear indicators, regulatory uncertainty, and resource constraints. An exploratory Fisher’s exact test is reported as a descriptive verification of frequency differences; results are interpreted as hypothesis-generating due to small sample sizes. Overall, the findings indicate a heterogeneous corporate understanding of biodiversity that ranges from a strategic principle embedded in risk management and value creation to a narrowly framed reporting category, with substantial variation in perceived drivers and organizational traction.
Klimaanschauungsgarten
(2026)
Climate change has become one of the most pressing global challenges. Almost daily, media reports highlight events and developments illustrating its consequences. Climate adaptation and mitigation are therefore essential tools not only on a global scale but on a local level. In this context, questions arise regarding the future management of gardens, parks and green spaces: Which climate-change-related variations can already be quantified? Where can reliable data be obtained? And how can this knowledge be translated into practical measures enhancing the resilience of the affected gardens and parks?
Using the Oberdieckgarten and the Weihenstephaner South Terraces of the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf in Freising, Bavaria, as case studies, this master thesis investigates available data sources on soil characteristics and dominant soil types, trends in average annual precipitation and temperature, and changes in the annual phenological cycle over the last decades. Combined with an analysis of the historical development and current situation of the two gardens, a methodological approach for adapting them to the impacts of climate change and for fostering a climate-resilient future will be developed.
After examining the effects of climate change and potential adaptation strategies, the role and responsibilities of a climate demonstration garden are discussed. Based on the collected data and analyses, a conceptual design for the partial remodeling of the Oberdieckgarten and the Weihenstephaner South Terraces is proposed, aiming to enhance their function as climate-adapted and educational gardens.
Orchard meadows are culturally evolved structures and relevant habitats for biodiversity. Due to abandonment and climate change, these structures are in danger, as pests are also increasing on the land and putting the harvest and thus the benefit of the structures at risk. (Henle et al., 2024)
This study investigates the influence of habitat structures on the occurrence and severity of pest infestations in traditional orchard meadows, particularly in the context of climate change and is embedded in the project StreuWiKlim (“Streuobstwiesen im Klimawandel”), conducted by Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
First, beneficial arthropods and their habitat requirements were identified through an extensive literature review. Field surveys were then carried out in three different climate regions of Bavaria to map relevant habitat structures.
These structural parameters – grouped into categories such as deadwood, forest edges, treebased microhabitats, meadow care, tall herbaceous vegetation, and wooded areas – were statistically analysed in relation to pest infestations and weather data from 2024. Significant correlations between individual habitat structures and pest pressure confirm the regulatory effect of habitats that are favourable to beneficial species.
For all study regions, the main parameter categories of deadwood, structure on fruit trees, tall herbaceous vegetation, meadow care, forest edge and wooded areas are relevant for influencing pest infestation.
Climate projections suggest shifts in pest dynamics, emphasizing the importance of adaptive management. As a conclusion, this study proposes nature-based habitat management strategies – such as deadwood management, meadow care adjustments, or enhancing tall herbaceous vegetation structures – to strengthen beneficial organisms and support resilient, ecologically balanced orchard systems under future climate conditions.
Diese Arbeit untersucht das Energieholzpotenzial in der Region Oberland und stellt dieses dem aktuellen Holzeinschlag sowie dem Energieholzverbrauch gegenüber. Ziel ist es, das vorhandene Potenzial zu quantifizieren und zu bewerten, inwieweit zusätz-liche Nutzungsmöglichkeiten bestehen. Die Studie stellt dabei eine Aktualisierung früherer Untersuchungen zum Energieholzpotenzial des Privat- und Körperschafts-waldes in den Landkreisen Miesbach, Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen und Weilheim-Schongau dar und erweitert diese um den Staatswald sowie den Landkreis Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Auf Grundlage von Daten der vierten Bundeswaldinventur, Einschlagsdaten sowie Geodaten wurden ein theoretisches, ein technisch-ökologisches und ein sozio-ökono-misches Potenzial ermittelt. Der Energieholzverbrauch wurde anhand der Kehrbuch-daten abgeschätzt.
Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass das jährliche Energieholzpotenzial bei rund 410.000 Fest-metern liegt, wenn von einem Energieholzanteil am Einschlag von 47% im Privat- und Körperschaftswald und von 27% im Staatswald ausgegangen wird. Damit liegt das Po-tenzial leicht über dem aktuellen Verbrauch (ca. 370.000 fm im Jahr 2023) sowie dem Energieholzeinschlag (ca. 350.000 fm). Daraus ergibt sich ein zusätzliches Potenzial von etwa 40.000 bis 60.000 Festmetern pro Jahr. Die Höhe dieses Potenzials hängt je-doch maßgeblich vom Energieholzanteil am Holzeinschlag ab, der durch Marktbedin-gungen und das Sortierverhalten beeinflusst wird.
Zusätzlich wurde das Potenzial eines moderaten Vorratsabbaus untersucht, der zur Be-schleunigung des Waldumbaus und zur Reduzierung des Risikos von Kalamitäten bei-tragen kann und gleichzeitig eine temporäre Erhöhung der nutzbaren Holzmenge er-möglichen würde. Bei einer Reduzierung der Holzvorräte um 10% über einen Zeitraum von 20 Jahren ergäbe sich ein zusätzliches Nutzungspotenzial von rund 265.000 fm pro Jahr, das bei den zugrunde gelegten Energieholzanteilen einer Energieholzmenge von etwa 100.000 fm entspricht.
Insgesamt zeigt die Studie, dass im Oberland ein begrenztes zusätzliches Energieholz-potenzial vorhanden ist, dessen Nutzung jedoch mit Unsicherheiten behaftet ist und unter Berücksichtigung von Klimaschutzaspekten erfolgen sollte.
Fens and Water Buffaloes
(2025)
Peatland drainage results in peat degradation and CO2 emissions, therefore, peatland
rewetting is recommended. However, this leads to CH4 emissions due to anoxic
conditions, and loss of long standing economic land use. Paludiculture can potentially
overcome the economic loss, and grazing by water buffaloes is one such promising
approach for wet management of peatlands. However, water buffaloes also produce
CH4, and it is important to understand how they influence the CH4 flux in a wet peatland. For this reason, to develop a scientific understanding the current study has been conducted. The study employs eddy covariance measurements coupled with GPS
tracking data for extensive grazing by buffaloes in the year 2024. With the help of
modelled flux footprint, GPS data was used to establish two scenarios for CH4 flux. These were, grazing and non-grazing time periods by buffaloes inside the footprint area. This helped in investigating any differences that occurred in the CH4 emissions for both the scenarios. Visual analysis and statistical testing showed that CH4 emissions were higher when buffaloes grazed within the footprint area. It accounts to an yearly mean CH4 flux of 0.138 g m-2 day-1, against 0.091 g m-2 day-1 of yearly mean CH4 flux during the nongrazing period. This is a 52% increase in overall CH4 emissions from the wet management of peatland. Moreover, under the same environmental conditions as the counter scenario, buffalo grazing reported in higher mean monthly emissions, except in June. An additional key observation was that buffalo grazing caused a shift in CH4 emissions toward higher ranges relative to the counter scenario. Thus, concluding a scientific basis that, grazing by water buffaloes lead to higher CH4 emissions in a wet fen. Nevertheless, the climatic significance of this observed increase demands further research.
Rapid urbanization in tropical cities is intensifying the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. The results of which are extreme thermal discomfort, high building-energy demands, and public health risks. Accra, the capital of Ghana, exemplifies these challenges. Over the past decades the region has seen the use of impervious materials in construction projects, and a decline in vegetation cover. This is contributing to rising land surface and air temperatures. This study evaluates the potential of green roofs and tree planting to mitigate UHI effects and improve thermal comfort in Accra’s Central Business District.
The evaluation process combines remote sensing analysis in Google Earth Engine with ENVI‑met microclimate simulations. Green roofs, tree planting and a combined mitigation strategy scenarios are modelled to assess changes in three key indicators: outdoor air temperature at pedestrian level, Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET)/ Thermal comfort, and roof surface temperature. Given the limited spatial extent Envi-met can simulate in a single run, R‑based spatial interpolation is used to extend results across the study area.
Results show that tree planting only produced the most improvements in thermal comfort. Green roofs significantly reduced roof surface temperatures, with maximum reductions exceeding 30 °C compared to conventional rooftops. Green roofs also influence the ambient air temperature, though more localized. The combined intervention shows complementary benefits, simultaneously improving thermal comfort and potentially reducing building-energy demands.
Two different tree species are also evaluated to test how species choice influences air temperature and thermal comfort. Neem (Azadirachta indica) outperforms African Mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) in reducing PET, but both perform similarly in impacts on air temperature.
It should also be mentioned that these UHI mitigation strategies produced negative effects i.e. increasing air temperature or thermal comfort at certain periods of time. The findings highlight the benefits and in some cases the downsides of integrating vegetation‑based strategies into Accra’s urban planning framework. By quantifying the microclimatic effects of green roofs and trees, this research provides evidence‑based guidance for policymakers and urban planners to reduce heat stress and promote sustainable urban development.
Despite having abundant solar energy, moderate wind potential, and enabling policies in place for the last decade, Ghana’s energy transition continues to face challenges stemming from gaps in implementation, institutional silos, and a disconnect between financing and policy in the region. The long-standing dominance of hydropower, impacted by climate change (warming trends coupled with diminishing rainfall), has resulted in thermal energy generation (gas and oil) dominating instead of fostering non-hydro renewables, leaving solar and wind with a share of less than five percent. This thesis examines secondary data such as policy documents, national statistics, and stakeholder reports, as well as making cross-comparisons with Germany’s
Energiewende policy. The findings reveal six interrelated bottlenecks: (i) lack of implementation of key policy components, including: (i) net metering, tax incentives and the Renewable Energy Fund; (ii) a lack of enforcement hierarchy at ECM, GRIDCo, VRA and ECG; (iii) off-taker and currency risks causing private funding to shy away, coupled with high local interest rates and delays in acquiring licences; (iv) deepening fuel dependence coupled with mounting losses in the transmission and distribution network, which is capped at 15% of generation; (v) insufficient infrastructure upgrades to meet demand driven by new EV technologies; and (vi) minimally competent grid deployment compounded by scarce storage and climate-related stresses on hydro resources. When scenario modelling is applied to the findings, the results show a significant difference between policy-driven and market-driven pathways for renewable energy penetration up to 2050. Current financing, grid enhancement and storage frameworks are insufficient to meet ambitious capacity targets of 1,095 MW by 2030 and 7,200 MW by 2050. The research proposes a comprehensive reform strategy that includes legally binding interim renewable energy targets, a one-stop shop for permits, a combination of risk guarantees and results-based incentives, mandatory storage integration for utility-scale projects, accelerated grid modernisation with a focus on reducing losses and increasing flexibility, and governance of the climate-hydrology system. Without these changes, tailoring Ghana’s 2030 and 2050 goals will undermine credibility and investor confidence.
This study aimed to investigate preferred habitat and climate attributes of the forest
pest antagonist Calosoma sycophanta and Calosoma inquisitor. in terms of activity
over the last 187 years, activity during the year, location, tree species, the impact of
summer temperature and winter precipitation, legal protection status and the relevance of various caterpillar prey species. 55 observations of Calosoma syophanta and 34 of Calosoma inquisitor reported in Bavaria via citizen science or gathered from historic reports for the years 1836 to 2023 were analysed in terms of time, tree species, type of location, mean summer temperature, mean winter precipitation data obtained from the DWD and overlaps in terms of time and location with the occurrence of the potential prey species which are moth caterpillar species that benefit from the changing climate. The results show both species to prefer forest habitats dominated by Oak but also do not avoid mixed forests and habitats outside of the forest species and no benefit was concluded for a higher tree species diversity or legal protection status. Calosoma sycophanta (significantly) and Calosoma inquisitor appear to benefit from higher. Rising temperatures appear to have a positive effect, while a slightly negative is
concluded due to less precipitation in the winter. Lymantria dispar and Thaumetopoea
processionea appear to be the current preferred prey species of Calosoma sycophanta. The study’s findings indicate a positive prognosis in particular for Calosoma sycophanta in the context of the changing climate, habitat and food source, but further research including the gathering of more observations and field work is needed to gather more conclusive insights.
