The International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE) is deeply troubled by the Russian government’s attack on Ukraine, the escalating violence, and the disastrous impact on people affected by the conflicts. Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine at this difficult time.
Global climate change, biodiversity loss and intensifying human activities have already caused the landscape changes to become a global threat. Warfare, besides tremendous suffering it brings to people, inexorably further harms both natural and cultural landscapes, with permanent direct consequences to landscape’s abilities to guarantee safe and healthy lives for nature and the peoples depending on it. It will bring cascading long-term and large-scale consequences to all humankind, also beyond those directly in contact with the conflict.
IALE is the worldwide organization for landscape ecologists, with a primary mission to promote global collaboration. In times of conflicts and crises, IALE as an organization will continue to support the landscape ecologist community. IALE encourages its members and chapters to separate individual scientists from the adverse actions of their home countries/governments, stay united, and treat each other with empathy and mutual respect. IALE is fully committed to global scientific collaboration and dialogues, especially those affected by conflicts and war anywhere in the world, to support a peaceful co-existence on Earth.
