EO4CAM Expert Dialogue in the Rhoen Region
On February 18, EO4CAM hosted the expert dialogue “Rhoen Biosphere Reserve – A Pilot Region in EO4CAM” in Hausen-Roth, located in the Rhoen-Grabfeld district of Lower Franconia. Representatives from science, public administration, and practice came together to discuss how Earth observation can support the planning and implementation of climate adaptation measures in the Bavarian Rhoen region. The event was opened by Dr. Doris Pokorny, Head of the Bavarian Administration of the UNESCO Roehn Biosphere Reserve, and Prof. Dr. Tobias Ullmann, EO4CAM Project Lead at the University of Wuerzburg.
The UNESCO Rhoen Biosphere Reserve, located at the border of Bavaria, Hesse, and Thuringia, covers more than 2,400 square kilometers, making it the fourth-largest biosphere reserve in Germany. It not only aims to protect the region’s unique low mountain range landscape and natural heritage but also promotes the sustainable use of natural resources by humans as part of UNESCO’s “Man and the Biosphere” programme. With over 200,000 residents, the area has a well-established network of local stakeholders and decision-makers. Its special status as a UNESCO reserve made it a natural choice as a pilot region for EO4CAM.
The impacts of climate change are already visible in the Rhoen, with rising heatwaves and intense rainfall events posing increasing challenges to agriculture, forestry, nature, and the local population.
During the expert dialogue, participants explored how EO4CAM can contribute to climate change adaptation. Ideas included developing a sponge landscape to retain water during heavy rainfall and release it during droughts; evaluating where hedgerows could help reduce wind speed and surface runoff, thereby decreasing evaporation and soil erosion; or using Earth observation to identify suitable areas for water retention. Remote sensing-based modeling and scenario analysis can also support the planning and monitoring of adaptation or conservation measures—for example, to protect soil, which plays a vital role in biodiversity, water retention, and food production.
Participants in the expert dialogue included representatives from the Bavarian Administration of the UNESCO Rhoen Biosphere Reserve, the climate protection managers of Bad Brueckenau and Bad Kissingen, staff from the Rhoen-Grabfeld Environmental Office (Lower Nature Conservation Authority) and the Bad Kissingen District Office (Environmental Protection Department), the Landscape Conservation Association, the Bavarian Farmers' Association (Bad Neustadt), Agrokraft GmbH, the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry (AELF) in Bad Neustadt, and the Government of Lower Franconia (Water Management Division).
The EO4CAM project is funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.
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