The rapidly growing world population is placing increasing pressures on agricultural and forestry production systems. However, conventional intensification of production systems to increase the yield of food and biomass has led to many negative environmental and social consequences such as soil degradation, eutrophication, decline in fresh water resources, loss of biodiversity, land-use conflicts, and loss of employment. Against this background, %E2%80%9CIntegrated Land Use Systems (ILUS)%E2%80%9D, which combine different types of land uses and integrate several management goals in the same patch or landscape mosaic, are gaining more and more importance. It is assumed that these systems provide a higher level of ecosystem goods and services, are less vulnerable to the risks of global change and markets, and are better suited to the livelihood systems of local populations.This summer school will introduce participants to important ILUS (e.g., agroforestry systems) by analysing their ecological, social and economic dimensions, management options and the historical context from which they developed.

Course leader
The Chair of Silviculture on behalf of the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Freiburg in co-operation with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides scholarships to participate in the programme (see below).

Target group
The summer school is designed for international Master and PhD Students as well as for young scientists working in the field of forest, agricultural, and environmental sciences, geography, rural development, landscape ecology and other related fields of natural resource management. The programme is open for applications from all countries but the summer school encourages especially interested students and young scientists from Latin America, China, Southeast-Asia, India, Nepal and Africa to apply for the programme.

Course aim
One goal is to familiarize participants with different ILUS by gaining up to date expert knowledge. The second major goal is to train competencies in the analysis of ecological, social and economic foundations and effects of ILUS. Participants will be guided to develop research proposals to study selected ILUS and will be given opportunities to explore graduate student research projects and other collaborations with members of the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources as well as with other German universities, government institutions and NGOs.The first phase of the Summer School will consist of expert lectures, tutorials, seminars with different representatives of various organizations, and student presentations of ILUS. Based on this input, participants will develop research proposals for interdisciplinary analyses of selected ILUS. Further, the programme will include excursions to regional ILUS and provide a cultural and social programme to introduce participants to Freiburg, the Black Forest and wider region.

Credits info
5 ECTS Upon successful completion, a certificate of participation (5 ECTS) will be provided.

Fee info
EUR 500: programme fee

Scholarships
- subsidy for international travel (according to country of origin, will be paid in Freiburg) - 750 for accommodation and food during the course (20 nights: May 31st - June 20th )- 500 for programme fee (incl. transport, study material,



Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg
Address: Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Tennenbacherstr. 4
Postal code: 79085
City: Freiburg
Country: Germany
Website: http://www.waldbau.uni-freiburg.de/news_events-en/ILUS_sumschool_2015_en?set_language=en
E-mail: julia.sohn@waldbau.uni-freiburg.de
Phone: 0049 761 203 3676