Research projects (on-going)

Beyond the ice: Bridging inter- and transdisciplinary gaps to achieve positive proglacial futures (BeyondIceFutures)

In our “BeyondIceFutures” project, funded as synthesis activity by the Mountain Research Initiative (https://mountainresearchinitiative.org/), we will identify key knowledge gaps and nature’s services to people (NCPs) in recently deglaciated areas using surveys and workshops. By integrating scientific, stakeholder and practitioners’ perspectives, we hope to be able to formulate attractive visions and guidelines to achieve positive ‘beyond ice’ futures.

Project members: Jana Eichel (lead), Anais Zimmer (co-lead; IRD), Michele Freppaz (University of Torino), Arnaud Temme (University of Innsbruck)

Funding: Mountain Research Initiative; 01.01.2026 - 31.12.2026

GRAIT2: Understanding of impacts mountain greening on hydrology from a plant trAITs and ecological perspective

In our “GRAIT2” project, PhD student Leon Duurkoop uses a trait-based ecohydrological approach to quantify the impact of different mountain plant species, greening trends and mechanisms and mountain hydrology. To assess trait-related effects on hydrology, he combines field research with experiments, remote sensing and modelling.

Project members: Leon Duurkoop (PhD student), Philip Kraaijenbrink (lead), Jana Eichel (lead), Walter Immerzeel, Rike Wagner (Utrecht University) 

Funding: Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University; 01.09.2024 - 31.08.2028

Go or grow? Moving mountain slopes meet migrating mountain plants

Climate change forces plants to migrate upslope and mountain slopes to move downslope. Will migrating plants stabilize moving slopes, or will slope movement limit plant migration? My “Go or grow” project unravels feedbacks between slope movements and migrating plants to protect mountain communities, infrastructure and ecosystems from natural hazards and biodiversity loss.

Project members: Jana Eichel (lead), collaborators: Dov Corenblit (University of Toulouse), Daniel Draebing (Utrecht University), Teja Kattenborn (University of Freiburg), Jonas Lembrechts (Utrecht University), Markus Stoffel (University of Geneva), Sonja Wipf (Luzula Biodiversität Wissen GmbH, WSL)

Funding: Dutch Research Council NWO (Vi.Veni.212.125); 01.06.2022 to 31.05.2026