About

The rose in the IALE 2025 Congress logo honors Prof. Milan Ružička’s contributions to landscape ecology. His surname, “Ružička,” meaning “rose” in Slovak, symbolizes his pioneering work in landscape ecology. In 1965, he founded the Institute of Landscape Biology, one of the first research institutions in the world dedicated to landscape ecology, a discipline that was emerging at the time.

Themes of the Congress

Theme 1: Understanding ongoing and emergent drivers and pressures of landscape change
Change is inherent to landscapes, either gradual or sudden. Some landscapes are more characterised by continuity and persistence. Yet, what drives these changes and persistence can vary greatly over space and time. In addition to widely recognised drivers like urbanisation, political and demographic changes, climate change, and intensification of agriculture, recent times have witnessed a rise in rapid and unpredictable events that are altering society and reflecting on the landscape. Examples include the COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts, the energy crisis and the economic recession. All these drivers operate at various spatial scales, from local to global and from individual to community, exerting direct or indirect pressures on landscapes. Understanding the driving forces and the pressures exerted on landscapes is crucial for managing and planning for landscape changes effectively. Within landscape ecology, these issues can be addressed in several ways, including, for example, investigating emergent drivers and developing new conceptual approaches to studying drivers and pressures.

Theme 2: Monitoring the landscape conditions and impact of landscape change
This theme relates to the role of landscape ecology in addressing the conditions and states that characterise landscapes. Changes in these conditions have been seen to impact landscape patterns and processes, the provision of landscape services, human well-being and the overall quality of the landscapes. Such conditions could be investigated as they have been in the past, as they are now, or as we predict they will unfold in the future. In this regard, approaches such as historical landscape research or the study of landscapes in conjunction with palaeoecological and archaeological investigations provide glimpses of the past, while landscape visions and scenarios help us address the upcoming challenges. Conditions that characterize landscapes can include and are not limited to landscape patterns, processes, and interactions, including biodiversity, habitats and species distribution, human-nature interactions, provision of landscape and ecosystem services.

Theme 3: Responding to changing landscapes
The recent rapidly changing world brought a greater degree of uncertainty in predicting future landscape developments and challenges. The study of the interactions between different elements of the environment and how they respond to different stress factors can provide valuable insights into how landscapes can be managed to better cope with new challenges. Examining the intricate interplay between ecological functions, cultural values, socio-economic factors, and technology allows for better appreciation and protection of our landscapes, ensuring they continue to provide vital services and benefits. For instance, there are increasing efforts in nature and landscape restoration, and approaches such as greening agricultural landscapes, can help steer the future of our landscapes. The theme addresses approaches to improve the efficiency of landscape responses to ongoing challenges, to better plan and manage the response of ecosystems and landscapes to ongoing challenges, as well as the role of policies, planning and emergent governance contexts in promoting sustainable land use practices.

Theme 4: Advancing with new data, tools and methods in landscape ecology
This theme highlights the importance of integrated, data-driven approaches to address the challenges faced by landscapes and societies in a changing world. Advances in landscape ecology research demand and integration of new data, tools, methods, and knowledge sources. For example, many types of Earth observations in different spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions can be analysed using new digital technologies such as artificial intelligence. Advances in environmental-DNA allow us to study the impact human activities have on landscape processes and even detect endangered species that were otherwise unseen. The rise in big data facilitated a better understanding of human-nature interactions. Newly developed policy and management tools have helped translate scientific findings into practical actions, supporting evidence-based policies that promote environmental sustainability and social well-being. Finally, the integration of artificial intelligence, including machine learning techniques, into landscape ecology research presents itself with both opportunities and challenges. This theme highlights the importance of engagement within the landscape ecology community with forward-looking data, tools and methods to better understand and manage landscapes in the face of rapid environmental change.

HISTORY

Bratislava has long been a strategically important city in Central Europe. December 2, 1291, is not the date of the city’s founding, but rather its “school leaving certificate,” marking the moment its citizens were granted the right to become free citizens of a royal borough. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the city experienced rapid trade development, and the founding of the Academia Istropolitana in 1467 cemented Bratislava’s importance as a cultural and educational center of the Kingdom of Hungary.
After the Ottoman Turks advanced deeper into the Kingdom of Hungary, Bratislava became the capital of the kingdom. It was the seat of the Hungarian Diet, the central administration, and the coronation town of Hungarian Kings and Queens. Between 1563 and 1830, eleven kings and eight royal wives were crowned in Bratislava.
The counter-Turk wars and the Rebellions of Estates in the 16th and 17th centuries interrupted the city’s development, but by the 18th century, particularly under the reign of Queen Maria Theresa, Bratislava’s significance increased again. Many splendid palaces and buildings from this period still stand today.
In the 19th century, the city emerged as a center of cultural life, and it was here that Slovak national emancipation was born. The revolutionary events, the workers’ movement, and the First World War left their mark on the city, but Bratislava ultimately became the political, economic, and cultural heart of Slovaks after 1918.
Today, Bratislava is a modern city and the seat of the country’s most important political, economic, social, and scientific institutions.

MONUMENTS

One of the city’s most prominent landmarks is The Castle of Bratislava, visible from afar. The Old Town, with its charming narrow streets, is the most attractive area of the city, housing the majority of historical sights and cultural institutions. The Old Town’s romantic alleys provide the perfect atmosphere for those wishing to experience history amidst the modern world.
Significant structures in the historic center are part of the Monument Town Reserve, preserving the city’s cultural and architectural heritage.