Tue 4th November 2025 in News

We invite you to submit an abstract to our session "Decision Support Systems for Ecosystem Services", that we organize at the EGU General Assembly 2026 conference from 3–8 May 2026 in Vienna. As forests and landscapes form interconnected socio-ecological systems, that require multi-stakeholder management to support livelihoods and ecosystem services we would like to learn from your experiences in supporting decision making in such contexts. Integrated Decision Support Systems (DSS) are essential for addressing ecosystem services holistically, combining data, models, and expert knowledge. This session will explore innovative DSS frameworks for landscape management and decision-making. The limited capabilities of current DSS for forest landscape management require new solutions, that can only be identified in bridging between different sectors and scientific disciplines. The current advances in computing and mathematical methods enable the development and implementation of next generation forest DSS, but there is a need to bring together the experiences and knowledge from different fields to stimulate that development. The urgency of finding forest landscape management strategies that contribute to the current challenges related to environmental and energy policies in the EU and its member states requires new forms of engagement and discussion. More details can be found here:

Session link: https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU26/session/57590

Session name: ITS3.8 / ERE6.6 “Decision Support Systems for Ecosystem Services”

Convener: Harald Vacik Co-conveners: Janina Kleemann, Ulrike Hiltner

Abstract submission deadline: 🗓️ 15 January 2026, 13:00 CET

General Information on the programme: https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU26/programme

Tue 4th November 2025 in News

Forests serve a multitude of purposes and address many different, often conflicting, goals to satisfy the needs of forest owners and society at large.The need for enhanced forest decision support systems (DSSs) is becoming more and more important related to the future role of European forests. The Training School on decision support in providing Forest Ecosystem Services for Climate Resilience and Decarbonisation in Brasov, Romania (19.04.-24.04.2026) intends to focus on several aspects related to the development and application of forest management DSS. The aim is to make applicants familiar with the challenges of DSS development, give insight to existing DSS cases and allow them to learn about projects focusing on decision support systems. The training school will concentrate on the theory of decision sciences, case studies and practical training examples. It will include topics related to the forest management for providing forest ecosystem services, in particular focusing on challenges related to spatial planning; predicting forest dynamics under climate change and modelling trade offs of different ecosystem services. Through interactive discussions, practical design workshops and modelling the students will be exposed to the interdisciplinary nature of developing DSS for forest management. There is the option that the COST Action DSS4ES will reimburse the costs for selected participants’ travel, accommodation and subsistence.

Please save the date (19.04.-24.04.2026), further information on the registration and application procedere will follow.

Wed 14th May 2025 in News

The University of Aveiro (UA), through the Department of Environment and Planning (DAO) and the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), hosted a working meeting and a stakeholder workshop on April 28 and 29, as part of the COST Action “DSS4ES – Decision Support Systems for Environmental Services.

This COST Action, which aims to promote the development of decision support systems for environmental services, is coordinated by CESAM, with researcher Sofia Corticeiro (CESAM/DAO) serving as the institutional representative at UA and coordinator of the “Governance (Implementation and Monitoring)” working group.

Over the course of the two-day meeting, 21 members of the COST network from various European countries took part. The stakeholder workshop on April 29 brought together 14 international stakeholders from sectors such as forestry, environmental management, public administration, and governance, enabling a rich exchange of experiences and perspectives on the needs and challenges of using decision support systems on the sustainable management of ecosystem services.

The workshop provided a rich platform for reflection and exchange, helping us to better understand both the needs and challenges involved in the development and application of Decision Support Systems. Participants emphasized the importance of delivering simplified, practical outputs that can be readily integrated into existing workflows and decision-making processes. There was a clear call for tools that are adaptable, aligned with legal frameworks, and capable of supporting well-defined objectives, such as climate targets or resource management. The discussion also highlighted the importance of showcasing real-world examples, addressing economic considerations, and investing in training and capacity-building.

At the same time, key challenges were identified, including limited awareness of available tools, difficulties in accessing or harmonizing relevant data, and resistance to training, especially within resource-constrained institutions. Building trust in DSS tools remains a critical issue, particularly when decisions are made under pressure or uncertainty.

 These insights will be essential as we refine our approach within the DSS4ES COST Action. More information can be found here:

University of Aveiro hosted meeting and workshop of the COST Action “DSS4ES” – Cesam

Mon 12th May 2025 in News

• INTUF – European Network for the Integrative Approach of Urban Forestry
• ARiF – Bringing Digital Data and Reality Together: Augmented Reality in Forestry

• DSS4ES – Integrated Decision Support Systems for Delivery of Ecosystem Services Based on EU Forest Policies
• PANGEOS COST – Pan-European Network of Green Deal Agriculture and Forestry Earth Observation Science

• CLEANFOREST COST Action – Joint Effects of Climate Extremes and Atmospheric Deposition on European Forests

• UB3Guard – Safeguarding Urban Trees and Forests Through Improved Biosecurity

• 3DForEcoTech – Three-Dimensional Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Using Terrestrial-Based Technologies

 🔗 Session Details | Programme Overview

Mon 12th May 2025 in News

We’re excited to announce that registration for the ICDSST 2025 Conference is now officially open – including credit card payments! You can register at the following link:
https://icdsst2025reg.fon.bg.ac.rs/

Key Updates:

• Early registration deadline extended to May 15, 2025 – don't miss out!

• Author registration is mandatory: Each accepted paper must have at least one registered author to be included in the conference proceedings.

•Accompanying people are welcome to register using the student registration category.

ICDSST 2025 will be help at distinct and historic venues:

• Day 1: Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary

• Days 2 & 3: Palace of Science

• Day 4: Viminacium Archaeological Site

And Featuring keynote talks by:

• Pascale Zaraté  –IRIT, France
• Fatima Dargam – SimTech, Austria
• Zoran Obradović – Temple University, USA
• Marko Bohanec –Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia
• Lily Xu – Oxford, UK / soon Columbia, USA

 We look forward to welcoming you to Belgrade for a great ICDSST 2025!