Prof. Dr. Helge Walentowski | Forest Management | Best Research Article Award

Prof. Dr. Helge Walentowski | Forest Management – HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Germany

Prof. Dr. Helge Walentowski is a renowned forest ecologist and environmental scientist with over 30 years of experience in sustainable forest management, forest biodiversity, and climate change adaptation. He currently holds the position of Chair of Forest Geobotany, Pedology and Nature Conservation at a prominent German university and is globally recognized for his contributions to forest ecology in both temperate and montane forest ecosystems. His work spans Europe, Latin America, and Asia, focusing on interdisciplinary and applied ecological research. He has led major international research collaborations and has been deeply involved in education, editorial work, and conservation outreach.

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Education:

Prof. Walentowski completed his doctoral degree at the University of Freiburg, Germany, where he specialized in Silviculture and forest ecology. His academic foundation combines ecological theory with practical conservation strategies. Over the years, he has supervised multiple doctoral dissertations and currently advises eight PhD candidates in programs such as GAUSS and CIPDES. He is also involved in curriculum development and academic advisory roles within forest-related degree programs, especially in Forest Ecology and Forest Bioeconomy.

Experience:

His professional career spans academia, research institutions, and applied environmental science. From 1999 to 2015, he was a senior researcher and project manager at the Bavarian State Institute of Forestry, playing a key role in the Natura 2000 conservation initiative. Since 2015, he has served as the Chair of Forest Geobotany, leading research and education in the Faculty of Resource Management. He was also Dean of the faculty from 2019 to 2023. His extensive international work includes field research and workshops in South America, Southeastern Europe, and the Mediterranean.

Research Interest:

Prof. Walentowski’s main research interests lie in climate-resilient forest management, ecological restoration, forest biodiversity, and carbon dynamics. He focuses on how land use and climate change affect forest ecosystems and develops ecological strategies for sustainability. His research often combines field ecology, microclimate modeling, and soil science to address forest degradation and promote biodiversity. He has a strong interest in interdisciplinary science, working at the crossroads of ecology, geobotany, conservation policy, and forest soils.

Awards:

Prof. Walentowski has received several distinguished honors throughout his career. In 2023, he was awarded Docente Honorario and Personalidad Ilustre by the Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas (UNTRM), Peru, recognizing his contributions to forest research and education in Latin America. He also received a certificate from Elsevier for research linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Earlier in his career, he was awarded the Hanskarl Goettling Research Prize for achievements in applied forestry research. These honors reflect his global impact and academic leadership in forest sustainability.

Selected Publications:

🌳 “Climate vulnerability of Nothofagus pumilio, N. dombeyi and Austrocedrus chilensis in northern Patagonia” – Forest Ecology and Management, 2024 (Cited by 12)

🪵 “Unravelling the pedogenetic development of forest soils in Northern Patagonia” – Catena, 2025 (Cited by 5)
🌱 “Soil redistribution and seed availability after fire in Austrocedrus forests” – Fire Ecology, 2025 (Cited by 7)

🌎 “Microclimatic variation of temperate forests in Northern Patagonia” – International Journal of Biometeorology, 2024 (Cited by 9)

📉 “Assessing uncertainty in bioclimatic modelling in Patagonia” – Regional Environmental Change, 2024 (Cited by 4)
🌲 “Carbon density and sequestration in Patagonian temperate forests” – Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 2024 (Cited by 10)

🌾 “A 50-year perspective on conservation challenges in Patagonian forests” – Biological Conservation, 2025 (Cited by 3)

Conclusion:

Prof. Dr. Helge Walentowski exemplifies a rare combination of academic excellence, global collaboration, and applied environmental impact. With a solid foundation in ecological research and decades of practical experience, he has significantly contributed to our understanding of how forests respond to environmental change. His research has direct implications for climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable land use planning. He is not only a prolific scientist but also a mentor, leader, and international advocate for forest conservation. Based on his consistent and influential contributions, Prof. Walentowski is highly deserving of the Best Research Article Award.

Assoc Prof. Dr. Azita Farashi | Biodiversity Conservation | Women Researcher Award

Associate professor at Ferdowsi university of mashha, Iran

Dr. Azita Farashi is an accomplished associate professor at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, specializing in biodiversity conservation and environmental science. With a robust academic background and an impressive portfolio of research, her work primarily focuses on ecological modeling, species distribution, and conservation efforts in response to climate change. Her contributions have garnered international attention, and she is actively involved in collaborations with leading institutions worldwide to further her research. Dr. Farashi’s passion for environmental preservation and her dedication to advancing ecological science make her a notable figure in the field of biodiversity conservation.

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Education:

Dr. Farashi holds a Ph.D. in Natural Resources Engineering – Environmental Science from the University of Tehran, completed in 2014. Her thesis focused on the habitat and genetic diversity of the endemic Iranian cavefish (Iranocypris typhlops), a study initiated due to a lack of information about the species in Iran. This research resulted in the publication of two ISI journal articles and two national journal papers, as well as the submission of 11 genetic sequences to GenBank. She also earned her Master’s degree in Natural Resources Engineering from the University of Tehran in 2010, where her research on the invasive raccoon species (Procyon lotor) in Iran contributed to further journal publications. Dr. Farashi completed her Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Engineering at Isfahan University of Technology in 2007, focusing on habitat modeling of wild goat (Capra aegagrus) in the Kolah-Ghazi national park.

Experience:

Dr. Farashi has been involved in extensive international collaborations and environmental research. Her expertise lies in developing models to predict species distribution and assessing conservation strategies under the impact of climate change. She has worked on projects with the University of Oxford, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, University of Twente, and Canadian Museum of Nature, where she contributed to the conservation of threatened species, biodiversity hotspot identification, and land use management. Her long-standing role as a board member of the Biodiversity Conservation Society further highlights her leadership and commitment to environmental conservation.

Research Interest:

Dr. Farashi’s research interests are centered around ecological modeling and conservation planning. She applies Species Distribution Models (SDMs) to estimate the current and future geographic distributions of species and to identify biodiversity hotspots. Her work focuses on systematically designating conservation areas to protect habitat quality and ecosystem services, especially under the threat of climate change. Additionally, Dr. Farashi investigates the risks of biological invasions and land use zoning to mitigate these risks. Her predictive models help assess areas prone to invasion and guide conservation efforts toward effective biodiversity preservation.

Awards:

Dr. Farashi has been recognized for her groundbreaking research in environmental science. Her publications in high-impact journals and contributions to biodiversity conservation have earned her accolades in both national and international research circles. While details about specific awards are not available, her work’s significant influence on ecological research and conservation highlights her as a strong candidate for awards recognizing women in science and environmental research.

Publications:

Dr. Farashi has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, many of which are cited by leading experts in environmental science. Her most notable publications include studies on species distribution, climate change impacts on ecosystems, and invasive species risk assessments. Below are some of her key publications:

Farashi, A., & Alizadeh-Noughani, M. (2023). Global distribution modeling and spatial invasion risk of Asian pied starling under climate change. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 69(4), 83.
[DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-023-01713-y]
Cited by 5
Yadollahvandmiandoab, R., Farashi, A., & Ebrahimi, A. (2023). Species distribution modeling of Spalerosophis diadema: Fragmentation in the Zagros Mountains. Geology, Ecology, and Landscapes.
[DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/24749508.2023.2254007]
Cited by 2
Fekrat, L., & Farashi, A. (2022). Climatic changes and dispersal of the leopard moth. Global Ecology and Conservation, 34, e02050.
[DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02050]
Cited by 7
Farashi, A., & Alizadeh-Noughani, M. (2021). Invasion risk of non-native reptiles in the Middle East. Global Ecology and Conservation, 31, e01818.
[DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01818]
Cited by 10
Moghadam, Z. R., Farashi, A., & Rashki, A. (2021). Climate change impact on birds. Ecological Complexity, 47, 100952.
[DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecocom.2021.100952]
Cited by 8
Karimian, Z., & Farashi, A. (2021). Predicting the potential habitat of Russian-Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) in urban landscapes. Italian Journal of Agrometeorology, (1), 3-19.
[DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/ijam-1071]
Cited by 3
Erfani, M., Farashi, A., & Alizadeh, M. (2021). Simulating the state of jungle cat (Felis chaus) using cross-impact analysis in Sistan, Iran. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, 7(2), 783-793.
[DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-020-00980-x]
Cited by 4
Farashi, A., & Karimian, Z. (2021). Assessing climate change risks to the geographical distribution of grass species. Plant Signaling & Behavior.
[DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2021.1913311]
Cited by 6
Karimian, Z., Farashi, A., Samiei, L., & Alizadeh, M. (2020). Predicting potential sites of nine drought-tolerant native plant species in urban regions. Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality, 93, 84-94.
[DOI: https://doi.org/10.5073/JABFQ.2020.093.011]
Cited by 3
Farashi, A., & Alizadeh-Noughani, M. (2019). Niche modeling of the potential distribution of the Egyptian Vulture during summer and winter in Iran. Bird Conservation International, 29(3), 423-436.
[DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270918000278]
Cited by 12

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dr. Azita Farashi is a distinguished researcher whose work in species distribution modeling, habitat connectivity, and climate change impacts on ecosystems makes her a strong contender for the Women Researcher Award. Her scientific contributions are substantial, and her ongoing international collaborations highlight her influence in the global scientific community. With her strong foundation in biodiversity conservation, expanding the practical and interdisciplinary applications of her research could elevate her profile further, making her even more deserving of this prestigious recognition.