Dr. rer. nat. Johannes Förster
MSc.
in Global Change Ecology
Department of Environmental Politics
UFZ Science-Policy Expert Group
Helmholtz Centre
for Environmental Research − UFZ
Permoserstraße 15
D-04318 Leipzig
fon +49 (0)341 235 1932
fax +49 (0)341 235 45 1932
johannes.foerster@ufz.de
Areas of Expertise & Research
- Ecosystem services and sustainable development
- Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies
- Science-policy processes (UNFCCC, CBD, IPBES)
- The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)
- Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+)
Curriculum Vitae
since 2022
BioNET – Multi-level Assessment of Bio-based Negative Emission Technologies. Financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
since 2021
Bio-Mo-D: Appreciating biodiversity − Modernising economic accounting in Germany (UFZ lead person). Financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
since 2017
Lecturer: Economics of Global Environmental Change, MSc Programme in Global Change Ecology, University of Bayreuth
2020 – 2021
Member of the Helmholtz-Climate-Initiative (HI-CAM); Assessing the feasibility of negative emission technologies
2019 − 2022
Project: Supporting decision making and building capacity to support IPBES through national ecosystem assessments. Project lead: UNEP WCMC. Financed by the BMUB International Climate Initiative (IKI).
2015 − 2018
Researcher (UFZ lead person). Project: Enabling Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in Melanesia and Micronesia (Small Island States). Project lead: The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Financed by the BMUB International Climate Initiative (IKI).
2015 − 2016
Researcher (UFZ lead person). Project: Methodenkonvention 3.0 – Weiterentwicklung und Erweiterung der Methodenkonvention zur Schätzung von Umweltkosten. Sachstandsbericht AP 2: Schätzung der Umweltkosten infolge Schädigung oder Zerstörung von Ökosystemen und Biodiversitätsverlust. Project lead: INFRAS. Financed by the Umweltbundesamt (UBA).
2013 − 2018
Researcher. Project: ValuES − Methods for integrating ecosystem services into development practice. Project lead: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Financed by the BMUB International Climate Initiative (IKI).
2011 − 2018
PhD candidate. “Assessing ecosystem services for supporting decision making”. Project: Global assessment of land use dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem services (GLUES). Financed by the BMBF Sustainable Land Management Programme. Completed.
since 2009
Researcher. Project: scientific coordination of TEEB – The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Project lead: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Financed by European Union, Germany, Norway, and other donors. Continuous involvement including TEEB-follow up activities.
2007 − 2008
Junior Professional Associate, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Gland, Switzerland.
2004 − 2006
Research assistant at Abisko Scientific Research Station (ANS), Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Sweden.
2003
Intern at Fundacion Curiquingue (rainforest conservation), Ecuador.
2000
Volunteer in nature conservation projects, Costa Rica.
Education
2006 − 2009
Global Change Ecology (MSc), University of Bayreuth, Germany. MSc thesis: "The Potential for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) in Western Ghana".
2004 − 2006
Physical Geography (MSc) and Biology (BSc), Umea University, Sweden
2001 − 2003
Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation (including Environmental Economics), Undergraduate/Vordiplom, University of Greifswald, Germany
Membership
- Member of the Ecosystem Service Partnership (ESP)
- Member of IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM)
- Alumnus – Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (German Academic Scholarship Foundation)
- 2010 – 2011: Member of review panel providing guidance on ecosystem services assessment and valuation of wetlands to the Government of Alberta, Canada. Project: Ecosystem Services Approach Pilot on Wetlands. Operationalizing an Ecosystem Service Approach within the Government of Alberta
Projects
Biodiver_CITY − Creating interurban bio-corridors in the region of San José, Costa Rica
Integrating multiple values of nature in environmental decisions and policy
Enabling Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in Melanesia and Micronesia (Small Island States)
ValuES − Methods for integrating ecosystem services into development practice.
TEEB − The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity
GLUES: Global assessment of land use dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem services
Publications and Conferences
2023 (3)
- Förster, J., Wildner, T.M., Hansjürgens, B. (2023):
Bedeutung des Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework für die Rolle von Biodiversität in der Wirtschaftsberichterstattung
Zeitschrift für Umweltpolitik und Umweltrecht 46 (1), 88 - 99
full text (url) - Khan, S. J., Förster, J., Brenck, M., Raab, K., Garcia Rangel, S., Wittmer, H. (2023):
Guidebook on national biodiversity platforms: Connecting nature and people
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany and the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), Cambridge, 70 pp.
full text (doi) - Köhnke, F., Steuri, B., El Zohbi, J., Görl, K., Borchers, M., Förster, J., Thrän, D., Mengis, N., Oschlies, A., Jacob, D. (2023):
On the path to net-zero: Establishing a multi-level system to support the complex endeavor of reaching national carbon neutrality
Front. Clim. 5 , art. 1056023
full text (doi)
2022 (10)
- Berghöfer, U., Rode, J., Jax, K., Förster, J., Berghöfer, A., Wittmer, H. (2022):
'Societal relationships with nature’: A framework for understanding nature-related conflicts and multiple values
People Nat. 4 (2), 534 - 548
full text (doi) - Borchers, M., Thrän, D., Chi, Y., Dahmen, N., Dittmeyer, R., Dolch, T., Dold, C., Förster, J., Herbst, M., Heß, D., Kalhori, A., Koop-Jakobsen, K., Li, Z., Mengis, N., Reusch, T.B., Rhoden, I., Sachs, T., Schmidt-Hattenberger, C., Stevenson, A., Thoni, T., Wu, J., Yeates, C. (2022):
Scoping carbon dioxide removal options for Germany–What is their potential contribution to Net-Zero CO2?
Front. Clim. 4 , art. 810343
full text (doi) - Förster, J. (2022):
Linkages between biodiversity and climate change and the role of science-policy-practice interfaces for ensuring coherent policies and actions. Thematic Paper 2
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), 21 pp. - Förster, J., Beck, S., Borchers, M., Gawel, E., Korte, K., Markus, T., Mengis, N., Oschlies, A., Schaller, R., Stevenson, A., Thoni, T., Thrän, D. (2022):
Framework for assessing the feasibility of carbon dioxide removal options within the national context of Germany
Front. Clim. 4 , art. 758628
full text (doi) - Förster, J., Wildner, T.M., Hansjürgens, B. (2022):
Verlust von Biodiversität als wirtschaftliches Risiko: Forderung nach mehr Transparenz zur Rolle von Biodiversität und Ökosystemleistungen in Unternehmen und Wirtschaft
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ, Leipzig, 8 S.
full text (url) - Förster, J., Wildner, T.M., Hansjürgens, B. (2022):
Biodiversity loss as an economic risk: Call for more transparency on the role of biodiversity and ecosystem services in businesses and the economy
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ, Leipzig, 8 pp.
full text (url) - Mengis, N., Kalhori, A., Simon, S., Harpprecht, C., Baetcke, L., Prats, E., Schmidt-Hattenberger, C., Stevenson, A., Dold, C., El Zohbi, J., Borchers, M., Thrän, D., Korte, K., Gawel, E., Dolch, T., Heß, D., Yeates, C., Thoni, T., Markus, T., Schill, E., Xiao, M., Köhnke, F., Oschlies, A., Förster, J., Görl, K., Dornheim, M., Brinkmann, T., Beck, S., Bruhn, D., Li, Z., Steuri, B., Herbst, M., Sachs, T., Monnerie, N., Pregger, T., Jacob, D., Dittmeyer, R. (2022):
Net-zero CO2 Germany - A retrospect from the year 2050
Earth Future 10 (2), e2021EF002324
full text (doi) - Perino, A., Pereira, H.M., Felipe-Lucia, M., Kim, H., Kühl, H.S., Marselle, M.R., Meya, J.N., Meyer, C., Navarro, L.M., van Klink, R., Albert, G., Barratt, C.D., Bruelheide, H., Cao, Y., Chamoin, A., Darbi, M., Dornelas, M., Eisenhauer, N., Essl, F., Farwig, N., Förster, J., Freyhof, J., Geschke, J., Gottschall, F., Guerra, C., Haase, P., Hickler, T., Jacob, U., Kastner, T., Korell, L., Kühn, I., Lehmann, G.U.C., Lenzner, B., Marques, A., Motivans Švara, E., Quintero, L.C., Pacheco, A., Popp, A., Rouet-Leduc, J., Schnabel, F., Siebert, J., Staude, I.R., Trogisch, S., Švara, V., Svenning, J.-C., Pe'er, G., Raab, K., Rakosy, D., Vandewalle, M., Werner, A.S., Wirth, C., Xu, H., Yu, D., Zinngrebe, Y., Bonn, A. (2022):
Biodiversity post-2020: Closing the gap between global targets and national-level implementation
Conserv. Lett. 15 (2), e12848
full text (doi) - Terton, A., Tsioumani, E., Förster, J., Morchain, D. (2022):
Synergies between biodiversity and climate policy frameworks and their implementation – A series of thematic papers
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), 10 pp.
full text (url) - Wildner, T.M., Förster, J., Hansjürgens, B. (2022):
Sustainable Finance – Die Berücksichtigung von Biodiversität und Ökosystemleistungen: Bestandsaufnahme, vorläufige Bewertung und Handlungsempfehlungen. Studie im Auftrag des NABU
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ, Leipzig, 92 S.
full text (url)
2021 (6)
- Castellari, S., Zandersen, M., Davis, M., Veerkamp, C., Förster, J., Marttunen, M., Mysiak, J., Vandewalle, M., Medri, S., Picatoste, J.R. (2021):
Nature-based solutions in Europe: policy, knowledge and practice for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction
EEA Report 01/2021
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg, 162 pp.
full text (doi) - Förster, J., Mengis, N., Schill, E., Xiao, M., Thrän, D. (2021):
Avoided and removed emissions. Project Briefing #3
Version #2
Helmholtz Climate Initiative (HI-CAM), Berlin, 10 pp.
full text (url) - Förster, J., Veerkamp, C. (2021):
Knowledge baseon nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction
Nature-based solutions in Europe: policy, knowledge and practice for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction
EEA Report 01/2021
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg, p. 43 - 73
full text (doi) - Veerkamp, C., Ramieri, E., Romanovska, L., Zandersen, M., Förster, J., Rogger, M., Martinsen, L. (2021):
Assessment frameworks of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction
ETC/CCA Technical Paper 2021/3
European Topic Centre on Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation (ETC/CCA), Bologna, 103 pp.
full text (doi) - Wittmer, H., Berghöfer, A., Büttner, L., Chakrabarty, R., Förster, J., Khan, S., König, C., Krause, G., Kreuer, D., Locher-Krause, K.E., Moreno Soares, T., Munoz, M., Neumann, M., Renner, I., Rode, J., Schniewind, I., Schwarzer, D., Tröger, U., Zinngrebe, Y., Spiering, S. (2021):
Es geht um unsere Lebensgrundlage: Wie wir jetzt handeln können, um die globalen Gemeingüter Biodiversität, Wälder und Meere für eine lebenswerte Zukunft zu erhalten
UFZ-Bericht 2/2021
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ, Leipzig, 15 S. - Wittmer, H., Berghöfer, A., Büttner, L., Chakrabarty, R., Förster, J., Khan, S., König, C., Krause, G., Kreuer, D., Locher-Krause, K., Moreno Soares, T., Muñoz Escobar, M., Neumann, M., Renner, I., Rode, J., Schniewind, I., Schwarzer, D., Tröger, U., Zinngrebe, Y., Spiering, S. (2021):
Transformative change for a sustainable management of global commons — biodiversity, forests and the ocean. Recommendations for international cooperation based on a review of global assessment reports and project experience
UFZ-Bericht 3/2021
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ, Leipzig, 154 pp.
full text (doi)
2020 (3)
- Berghöfer, A., van Zyl, H., Förster, J., Rode, J., Mitlacher, G., Schröter-Schlaack, C. (2020):
Natural Capital in international environmental cooperation: Concepts and application
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig; WWF Germany, Berlin, 96 pp.
full text (doi) - Thoni, T., Beck, S., Borchers, M., Förster, J., Görl, K., Hahn, A., Mengis, N., Stevenson, A., Thrän, D. (2020):
Deployment of Negative Emissions Technologies at the national level: A need for holistic feasibility assessments
Front. Clim. 2 , art. 590305
full text (doi) - Washbourne, C.-L., Dendoncker, N., Jacobs, S., Mascarenhas, A., de Longueville, F., Van Oudenhoven, A.P.E., Schröter, M., Willemen, L., Campagne, S., Jones, S.K., Garcia-Llorente, M., Iniesta-Arandia, I., Baró, F., Fisher, J., Förster, J., Jericó-Daminelo, C., Lecina-Diaz, J., Lavorel, S., Lliso, B., Montealgre Talero, C., Morán-Ordóñez, A., Roces-Díaz, J.V., Schlaepfer, M.A., van Dijk, J. (2020):
Improving collaboration between ecosystem service communities and the IPBES science-policy platform
Ecosyst. People 16 (1), 165 - 174
full text (doi)
2019 (4)
- Förster, J., Mcleod, E., Bruton-Adams, M.M., Wittmer, H. (2019):
Climate change impacts on small island states: ecosystem services risks and opportunities
In: Schröter, M., Bonn, A., Klotz, S., Seppelt, R., Baessler, C. (eds.)
Atlas of ecosystem services : drivers, risks, and societal responses
Springer International Publishing, Cham, p. 353 - 359
full text (doi) - Förster, J., Schmidt, S., Bartkowski, B., Lienhoop, N., Albert, C., Wittmer, H. (2019):
Incorporating environmental costs of ecosystem service loss in political decision making: A synthesis of monetary values for Germany
PLOS One 14 (2), e0211419
full text (doi) - Mcleod, E., Bruton-Adams, M., Förster, J., Franco, C., Gaines, G., Gorong, B., James, R., Posing-Kulwaum, G., Tara, M., Terk, E. (2019):
Lessons from the Pacific Islands – Adapting to climate change by supporting social and ecological resilience
Front. Mar. Sci. 6 , art. 289
full text (doi) - Schröter, M., Kuhlicke, C., Förster, J., Baessler, C., Bonn, A. (2019):
The risk to ecosystems and ecosystem services: a framework for the Atlas of ecosystem services
In: Schröter, M., Bonn, A., Klotz, S., Seppelt, R., Baessler, C. (eds.)
Atlas of ecosystem services : drivers, risks, and societal responses
Springer International Publishing, Cham, p. 3 - 6
full text (doi)
2017 (1)
- Cumming, T.L., Shackleton, R.T., Förster, J., Dini, J., Khan, A., Gumula, M., Kubiszewski, I. (2017):
Achieving the national development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through investment in ecological infrastructure: A case study of South Africa
Ecosyst. Serv. 27 (Part B), 253 - 260
full text (doi)
2015 (2)
- Förster, J., Barkmann, J., Fricke, R., Hotes, S., Kleyer, M., Kobbe, S., Kübler, D., Rumbaur, C., Siegmund-Schultze, M., Seppelt, R., Settele, J., Spangenberg, J.H., Tekken, V., Václavík, T., Wittmer, H. (2015):
Assessing ecosystem services for informing land-use decisions: a problem-oriented approach
Ecol. Soc. 20 (3), art. 31
full text (doi) - Vohland, K., Doyle, U., Albert, C., Bertram, C., Biber-Freudenberger, L., Bonn, A., Brenck, M., Burkhard, B., Förster, J., Fuchs, E., Galler, C., von Haaren, C., Ibisch, P.L., Kaphengst, T., Klassert, C., Klenke, R., Klotz, S., Kreft, S., Kühn, I., Marquard, E., Mehl, D., Meinke, I., Naumann, K., Reckermann, M., Rehdanz, K., Rüter, S., Saathoff, W., Sauermann, J., Scholz, M., Schröder, U., Seppelt, R., Thrän, D., Witing, F. (2015):
Ökosystemleistungen, Biodiversität und Klimawandel: Grundlagen
In: Hartje, V., Wüstemann, H., Bonn, A. (Hrsg.)
Naturkapital Deutschland – TEEB DE: Naturkapital und Klimapolitik - Synergien und Konflikte
Technische Universität Berlin ; Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung – UFZ, Berlin, Leipzig, S. 66 - 99
full text (url)
2014 (2)
- Berghöfer, A., Manns, F., Förster, J., Schmidt, S. (eds., 2014):
ValuES Methods Database. Finding suitable methods for assessing ecosystem services
full text (url) - Berghöfer, A., Wittmer, H., Emerton, L., van Zyl, H., Rode, J., Förster, J. (2014):
ValuES Methods Navigator. How to choose suitable assessment methods?
full text (url)
2013 (1)
- Russi, D., ten Brink, P., Farmer, A., Badura, T., Coates, D., Förster, J., Kumar, R., Davidson, N. (2013):
The economics of ecosystems and biodiversity for water and wetlands
Institute for European Policy (IEEP), Brussels/London, 84 pp.
full text (url)
2012 (3)
- Wissel, S., Berghöfer, A., Jordan, R., Oldfield, S., Stellmacher, T., Förster, J. (2012):
Certification and labelling
In: Wittmer, H., Gundimeda, H. (eds.)
The economics of ecosystems and biodiversity in local and regional policy and management
Earthscan, London, p. 263 - 278 - Wittmer, H., Berghöfer, A., Förster, J. (2012):
Appendix: Practical advice, FAQs, tools and databases
In: Wittmer, H., Gundimeda, H. (eds.)
The economics of ecosystems and biodiversity in local and regional policy and management
Earthscan, London, p. 301 - 313 - Wittmer, H., Berghöfer, A., Keune, H., Martens, P., Förster, J., Almack, K. (2012):
The value of nature for local development
In: Wittmer, H., Gundimeda, H. (eds.)
The economics of ecosystems and biodiversity in local and regional policy and management
Earthscan, London, p. 7 - 32
2011 (1)
- Wittmer, H., Förster, J. (2011):
Die TEEB-Studie - The economics of ecosystems and biodiversity
Nat. Landschaft 86 (4), 148 - 150
full text (doi)