The IALE-D Annual Conference 2026 is dedicated to the question of how traditional and modern cultural landscapes in Central Europe can be designed sustainably under the conditions of climate change. The interactions between societal change and landscape dynamics are gaining increasing importance. Against the backdrop of current urban and rural challenges, concepts of resilience and transformation are moving into the central focus of landscape ecology.

The central questions of the conference are:

• How can transformation and adaptation processes in cultural landscapes be methodically recorded?
• How can scientific findings be translated into operational planning and management?
• To what extent do existing research and planning models need to be further developed in light of climate change, biodiversity loss and changing land use?

The conference focuses on traditional and modern cultural landscapes in Central Europe, explicitly including urban landscapes. It is aimed at researchers in landscape ecology and related disciplines, as well as stakeholders in planning, nature conservation, and practice. 

The annual conference takes place at the University of Hildesheim and is organised by the Geography Working Group.