Mon 14th September 2026 in News

Call for abstracts: IUFRO Conference – Beyond Stability: Forest Assessment, Modelling and Management for an Uncertain Future

The IUFRO conference (https://www.iufro.org/events/all-division-4-conference-beyond-stability-forest-assessment-modelling-and-management-for-an-uncertain-future) is bringing together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from all fields in the Division 4 to address the evolving challenges forests are facing worldwide. The conference explores how advances in forest measurement, ecological modelling, decision-support, and emerging technologies can inform adaptive management under accelerating climate, land-use, and socio-economic change. Through integrated perspectives on biophysical processes, socio-ecological systems, and future-oriented forest design this event aims to foster innovation, collaboration, and actionable knowledge for resilient and multifunctional forests in an unpredictable future.

The COST Action DSS4ES ( https://www.dss4es.com/en/) is inviting therefore the submission of abstracts to a special DSS4ES Session at the conference in Göttingen to show case new methodological approaches in DSS, focusing on holistic planning to enhance sustainable forest management and address ecosystem services, risks, and uncertainties. Forests and landscapes form interconnected socio-ecological systems, requiring multi-stakeholder management to support livelihoods and ecosystem services. Integrated Decision Support Systems (DSS) are essential for addressing ecosystem services holistically, combining data, models, and expert knowledge. Managing forests under climate change requires shifting from static planning procedure to flexible strategies that account for environmental and social uncertainties. The session will explore innovative examples of DSS approaches for integrated landscape management and decision-making.

Important Dates

October 1, 2026 – Abstract Submission Deadline
November 15, 2026 – Notification of Abstract Acceptance
March 1, 2027 – Registration Deadline
May 24, 2027 – Workshops and Conference Reception

Abstract Submission:

https://naturalresources.tennessee.edu/beyond-stability-forest-assessment-modelling-and-management-for-an-uncertain-future/#tab-abstractsubmission

Tue 9th June 2026 in News

DSS4ES is having an online session at the GLP (Global Land Programme) Week of Land System Science on June 18, 2026, 10:00–11:15 AM CEST, titled "Supporting Decisions in Complex Forest Systems: Tools, Approaches, and Lessons from Practice." The session will showcase applications of DSS in the forestry context. Participation is for free.

Meeting link: https://uni-halle.webex.com/uni-halle-en/j.php?MTID=m3e5ffa529472168be14ec94754deb017

The program to the online session: HERE

Mon 1st June 2026 in News

The writing retreat at BOKU University helped to further shape the ongoing work on the review papers on the role of data, models and methods for decision support systems. Through intensive discussions and knowledge exchange, participants worked on identifying the current state-of-the-art, key methodological approaches, and remaining research challenges in the field of DSS development and application. A big thank to Janina Kleemann, Ulrike H., Jos Van Orshoven and all colleagues involved for the productive atmosphere, inspiring discussions, and excellent collaboration throughout the retreat. A special thanks to Harald Vacik for hosting us at BOKU University and for creating such a productive and inspiring working environment.

See also https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7458378453566816256/ or https://www.linkedin.com/company/dss4es/posts/?feedView=all

Mon 1st June 2026 in News

Computerized decision support systems (DSS) are know to support planning and decision making in semi- and unstructured decision problems. In that context database systems are often linked with analytical models and expert knowledge to take informed and data-driven decisions and allow managers visualizations by various graphical and tabular means. The EGU26 session "Decision Support Systems for Ecosystem Services" organised by DSS4ES provided an opportunity to showcase the state of the art in DSS for the management of natural resources for the provision of Ecosystem Services. The session had very nice contributions from different parts of the world showing the scientific advances in the field of decision support tools, by presenting frameworks of integrated DSS and advandced combinations of methods, models and data to support decison making: https://lnkd.in/ew2Czh3W

Thanks to all the authors that have contributed to the session with an oral or poster presentation.

Mon 1st June 2026 in News

During May 2026, the DSS4ES Training School, held in Brașov, Romania, brought together PhD students and researchers from across Europe to strengthen their knowledge of decision support for forest ecosystem services in the context of climate resilience and decarbonisation. Organized in collaboration with the OptFor-EU project, the event featured expert lectures and hands-on training in DSS tools, scenario analysis, and participatory methods, while also providing valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange and international networking.