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University of Bergen
Inger Elisabeth Måren's picture

Inger Elisabeth Måren

Professor, UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Heritage and Environmental Management
Department of Biological Sciences (BIO)
UNESCO Chair
  • E-mailinger.maaren@uib.no
  • Phone+47 55 58 49 03+47 41285126
  • Visitor Address
    BIO - Thormøhlensgt. 53A
    3rd floor
    5007 Bergen
  • Postal Address
    Postboks 7803
    5020 Bergen

I hold a PhD in Plant Ecology from the Department of Biology, University of Bergen (2009). I am currently professor in applied ecology at the Department of Biological Sciences. In 2017 I was appointed UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Heritage and Environmental Management - Nature and Culture.

My research focuses on the dynamics in coupled human and natural systems, including sustainable development, natural resource management, agro-biodiversity, sustainable land use, ecosystem services, agroecology, and food security. I work with colleagues across the social and natural sciences to elucidate links between anthropogenic activities and the environment, in Europe, as well as in Asia, North-America and Africa. I seek to gain multifaceted knowledge within ecology and associated disciplines to investigate social-ecological complexities. In addition to a PhD in ecology I have completed a minor in Social Anthropology, and the cross-disciplinary courses Ecology and Development and Resource Management and Environmental Conservation.

As the UNESCO Chair at UiB, I'm working with several projects focusing on UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere  (MAB) programme. This includes following the establishment of Norway's very first Biosphere Area - Nordhordland UNESCO Biosphere.

I work mostly in cross- and trans-disciplinary projects, and have taken part in several collaborative research and education activities:

  • Co-founder and deputy leader of CeSAM - Centre for Sustainable Area Management
  • Member of Norway's UNESCO Commission
  • Member of the Norwegian MAB comittee
  • Member of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) (2015 - p.d.)
  • UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Heritage and Environmental Management - Nature and Culture, appointed 2017
  • Scientific coordinator of Bergen Summer Research School 2013 (www.uib.no/rs/bsrs) – organizing PhD courses on Food as a Global Development Challenge for 70 students, UiB Global
  • Lecturer and supervisor on the NOMA (NOrad MAster) Programme 2010-2014, Regional Master Program in Biodiversity and Environmental Management, lectured three cohorts and supervised 6 Master students
  • Scientific coordinator for the Nile Basin Research Programme 2009 (www.nile.uib.no) - working group on Biodiversity and Land Use Change, Uni Research
  • MNF 115 - Natural Science Perspectives on Sustainable Development (10 SP)
  • MNF 110 - Climate, Environment and Human History (10 SP)
  • BIOLOGY BIO 347 - Global Change Ecology (5 SP)
  • GEOGRAPHY GEO 100 – Examen facultatum - Introduksjon til geografi: Globale utfordringer og lokale svar (10 SP)
  • GEOGRAPHY GEO 131 – Ressursforvaltning og utvikling i Den tredje verden (10 SP) GEOGRAPHY GEO 212 – Terrestriske klima- og miljøendringer (10 SP)
  • GEOGRAPHY GEO 281 – Miljøforvaltning og planlegging (10 SP)
  • GEOGRAPHY GEO 282 – Kulturlandskap (10 SP)
  • GEOGRAPHY GEO 292 – Regionalgeografi, feltkurs (10 SP)
  • GEOGRAPHY GEO 326 – Geographic perspectives on food (10 SP)
  • FOREST ECOLOGY (5 SP) 
  • BOTANY BIO 112 (10 SP)
  • FOREST ECOLOGY AND REDD+ (5 SP)
  • ECOLOGY B 300 (15 SP)
  • BOTANY B 100 (15 SP)

 

  • Show author(s) (2023). More warm-adapted species in soil seed banks than in herb layer plant communities across Europe. Journal of Ecology. n/a-n/a.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Mapping stakeholder networks for the co-production of multiple ecosystem services: A novel mixed-methods approach. Ecosystem Services. 13 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Klimaendringer og virkninger på hovedøkosystem skog. 15. 15. .
  • Show author(s) (2022). Diversified Farming Systems: Impacts and Adaptive Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States, Norway and China. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 17 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Voices of young biosphere stewards on the strengths, weaknesses, and ways forward for 74 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves across 83 countries. Global Environmental Change. 10 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2021). The Spotlight on Youth: Young People as Key Stakeholders in Biosphere Reserves and the Man and the Biosphere Programme . International Journal of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Stewards of the Future: Accompanying the rising tide of young voices by setting youth-inclusive research agendas. . Sustainable Earth.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Seeing the wood for the trees: Carbon storage and conservation in temperate forests of the Himalayas. Forest Ecology and Management.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Recognize 727 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves for biodiversity COP15. Nature.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Participatory mapping reveals biocultural and nature values in the shared landscape of a Nordic UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. People and Nature. 365-381.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Buffering effects of soil seed banks on plant community composition in response to land use and climate. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 128-139.
  • Show author(s) (2020). Nordhordland UNESCO Biosfæreområde som arena for berekraftig utvikling . .
  • Show author(s) (2020). Lost in Translation? Multiple Discursive Strategies and the Interpretation of Sustainability in the Norwegian Salmon Farming Industry. Food Ethics.

More information in national current research information system (CRIStin)

Måren I.E. & Sharma L.N. Managing biodiversity: Impacts of Legal Protection in Mountain Forests of the Himalayas. In press. Forests.

Sharma L.N. & Måren I.E. 2018. Tree regeneration in gap-understorey mosaics in a subtropical Shorea robusta (Sal) forest. In press. Journal of Forestry Research.

DiCarlo J. Epstein K., Marsh R. & Måren I.E. 2018. Post-disaster agricultural transitions in Nepal. AMBIO.

Romm J., Conrad E. & Måren I.E. 2018. Resilient governance of water regimes in variable climates: Lessons from California’s hydro-ecological zones. Water, 10, 196, doi: 10.3390/w10020196.

Epstein K., DiCarlo J., Marsh R., Adhikari B., Paudel D., Ray I. & Måren I.E. 2018. Adaptation and recovery after the 2015 Nepal earthquakes: a smallholder household perspective. Ecology & Society.

Måren I.E., Kapfer J., Grytnes J.A., Vandvik V. & Aarrestad P.A. 2018. Changing species co-occurrences over a post-fire succession. Ecology. 99(1):148-157. doi: 10.1002/ecy.2052

Epstein K., DiCarlo J., Marsh R., Ray I. & Måren I.E. 2017. Coping Strategies of Smallholder Farming Communities after the 2015 Nepal Earthquake: Insights into Post-Disaster Resilience and Social–Ecological Change. Case Studies in the Environment, University of California Press. doi: 10.1525/cse.2017.000612

Adhikari B., Pendry C.A., Måren I.E., Bhattarai K.R. & Chaudhary R.C. 2017. Distribution and preliminary conservation assessments of commonly used forest species in the Nepalese Himalayas. Banko Janakari - Journal for Forestry Information of Nepal. 27(1): 43-54.

Lundberg A., Kapfer J. & Måren I.E.* 2017. Reintroduced mowing can counteract biodiversity loss in abandoned meadows. Erdkunde 71(2): 127-142. doi: 10.3112/erdkunde.2017.02.03

Hudson L.N. et al. 2016. The database of the PREDICTS 1 (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) Project. Ecology & Evolution. 7(11): 145-188. doi: 10.1002/ece3.2579

Sharma L.N., Grytnes J.A., Måren I.E. & Vetaas O.R. 2016. Does canopy disturbance matter for diversity in a subtropical forest? Comparing woody species composition and richness in gaps and intact canopy. Journal of Vegetation Science. 27: 1129-1139. doi: 10.1111/jvs.12445

Behera R.N., Nayak D.K, Andersen H.P. & Måren I.E.* 2016. From jhum to broom: Agricultural land use change and food security implications on the Meghalaya Plateau, India. AMBIO. 45(1): 63-77. doi: 10.1007/s13280-015-0691-3

Vandvik V., Klanderud K., Meineri E.P.F., Måren I.E., Töpper J.P. 2016. Seed banks are biodiversity reservoirs: species–area relationships above versus below ground. OIKOS. 125: 218-228. doi: 10.1111/oik.02022

Måren I.E., Karki S., Prajapati C., Shrestha B.B. & Yadav R.K. 2015. In semiarid environments, does slope aspect matter to woody species composition, carbon stocks and soil properties? An example from a trans-Himalayan valley. Journal of Arid Environments. 121: 12-123. doi: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2015.06.004

Suwal A.L., Bhuju D. & Måren I.E.* 2015. Assessment of forest carbon stocks in the Himalayas: Does legal protection matter? Small-scale Forestry. 14(1): 103-120. doi: 10.1007/s11842-014-9276-4

Vandvik V., Måren I.E., Ndangalasi H.J., Talpin J. & Lovett J.C. 2014. Back to Africa: Post hydropower-project mitigation effects on wetland vegetation in relation to the conservation of an endemic amphibian. Ecosphere. 5(8): 95. doi: 10.1890/ES14-00093.1

Sharma L.N., Vetaas O.R., Chaudhary R.P. & Måren I.E. 2014. Ecological consequences of land use change: forest structure and regeneration across the forest-grassland ecotone in mountain pastures in Nepal. Journal of Mountain Science, 11(4): 838-849. doi: 10.1007/s11629-013-2849-4

Bargmann T.B., Måren I.E. & Vandvik V. 2014. Life after fire: smoke and ash as germination cues in ericads, herbs and graminoids of northern heathlands. Applied Vegetation Science, 17(4): 670-679. doi: 10.1111/avsc.12106

Bhattarai K.R., Måren I.E. & Subedi S.C. 2014. Biodiversity and invasibility: distribution patterns of invasive alien plant species in the Himalayas, Nepal. Journal of Mountain Science 11(3): 688-696.

Vandvik V., Spindelböck J.P., Cook Z., Daws M.I., Heegaard E., Måren I.E. & Velle L.G. 2014. Management-driven evolution in a domesticated ecosystem. Biology Letters 10: 20131082, doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2013.1082

Sharma L.N., Vetaas O.R., Chaudhary R.P. & Måren I.E. 2014. Pastoral abandonment, shrub proliferation and landscape changes: a case study from Gorkha, Nepal. Landscape Research 39(1): 53-69.

Måren I.E., Bhattarai K.R. & Chaudhary R.P. 2013. Forest ecosystem services and biodiversity in contrasting Himalayan forest management systems. Environmental Conservation 41: 73-83.

Spindelböck J.P., Cook Z., Daws M.I., Heegaard E., Måren I. E. & Vandvik V. 2013. Conditional cold avoidance drives between-population variation in germination behaviour of Calluna vulgaris. Annals of Botany 112: 801-810. Doi: 10.1093/aob/mct142

Shrestha K.B., Måren I.E., Arneberg E., Sah J.P. & Vetaas O.R. 2013. Effect of anthropogenic disturbance on plant species diversity in oak forests in Nepal, Central Himalaya. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management 2: 21–29. Doi: 10.1080/21513732.2012.749303

Bhattarai K.R., Måren I.E. & Chaudhary R.P. 2011. Medicinal plant knowledge of the Panchase region in the Middle Hills of the Nepalese Himalayas Banko Janakari - Journal for Forestry Information of Nepal 21: 31-39. Doi: 10.3126/banko.v21i2.9127

Måren I.E., Janovský Z., Spindelbock J., Daws M.I., Kaland P.E. & Vandvik V. 2010. Prescribed burning of northern heathlands: Calluna vulgaris germination cues and seed-bank dynamics. Plant Ecology 207: 245-256. Doi: 10.1007/s11258-009-9669-1

Måren I.E. & Vandvik V. 2009. Fire and regeneration: the role of seed banks in the dynamics of northern heathlands. Journal of Vegetation Science 20: 871-888. Doi: 10.1111/j.1654-1103.2009.01091.x

Måren I.E. & Vandvik V. 2009. Prescribed burning and the role of seed banks in post-fire succession of northern heathlands, Lygra and Lurekalven islands, Hordaland, Norway. Conservation Evidence 6: 48-56.

Måren I.E., Vandvik V. & Ekelund K. 2008. Restoration of bracken-invaded Calluna vulgaris heathlands: Effects on vegetation dynamics and non-target species. Biological Conservation 141: 1034-1044. Doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2008.01.012

Måren I.E., Vandvik V. & Ekelund K. 2008. Effectiveness of chemical and mechanical bracken Pteridium aquilinum control treatments in northern coastal heathlands on the island of Lygra, Hordaland, Norway. Conservation Evidence 5: 12-17.

Måren I.E. & Vetaas O.R. 2007. Does regulated land use allow regeneration of keystone forest species in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Central Himalaya? Mountain Research and Development Journal 27: 345-351. Doi: 10.1659/mrd.0893

Vandvik V., Heegaard E., Måren I.E. & Aarrestad P.A. 2005. Managing heterogeneity: the importance of grazing and environmental variation on post-fire succession in heathlands. Journal of Applied Ecology 42:139-149. Doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2005.00982.x

 

Måren I.E. 2014. Norwegian Water Management – a Good Example? ORAL TALK at the National River Summit Nepal, 20-23 Sep, Sunkoshi, Nepal.

 

Måren I.E., Kapfer J., Grytnes J.A., Aarrestad P.A. & Vandvik V. 2014.Changing species co-occurrences over a post-fire succession. ORAL TALK at the IAVS symposium 01-05 Sep, Perth, Australia.

 

Måren I.E., Andersen P & Aase T.H. 2014. Food security in the Himalayas. Stand at the Christie conference, UiB, 25 Apr, Bergen, Norway.

 

Måren I.E., Bargmann T., Töpper J. & Vandvik V. 2014. Management-driven evolution in a domesticated ecosystem; heathlands. POSTER at the UNESCO conference. 24-26 Mar, Bergen, Norway.

 

Måren I.E. & Kaland P.E. 2014. From traditional resource use to industrial production: Challenges for sustainable management of the west coast of Norway. POSTER at the UNESCO conference. 24-26 Mar, Bergen, Norway.

 

Bargmann T., Måren I.E. & Vandvik V. 2013. Life after fire: smoke and ash as germination cues in ericads, herbs and graminoids of northern heathlands. POSTER at the 13th European Heathland Workshop. Denmark, 23.06.-28.06.13.

 

Måren I.E. 2013. Man and forest: the Himalayan hill farming system. ORAL TALK at the Norwegian Ecological Society, Trondheim, Norway.

 

Nordtveit E., Måren I.E. & Vandvik V. 2012. Development of evidence based legal models for ecosystem and biodiversity protection and recovery. ORAL TALK at EcoSummit. 30 Sep–5 Oct, Ohio, USA.

 

 Måren I.E. & Kaland P.E. 2012. From local adaptation to industrial production: Loss of sustainability on the west coast of Norway.  POSTER at EcoSummit. 30 Sep–5 Oct, Ohio, USA.

 

Esaete J.,Eycott A., Måren I.E., Reinö J., Telford, Vandvik V. 2012. Plant groups respond differently to forest disturbance. POSTER at EcoSummit. 30 Sep–5 Oct, Ohio, USA.

 

Måren I.E. Vandvik V., Ndangalasi H.J., Taplin J., Mbaga F. & Lovett J.C. 2012. Back to Africa: Post hydropower-project mitigation effects on wetland vegetation in relation to the conservation of an endemic amphibian. ORAL TALK at the IAVS symposium 23-28 Jul, Mokpo, South Korea.

 

Måren I.E. 2012. Natural capital. Seminar on “The Conservation of Cultural Landscapes: from Traditional Heathland Management to ‘Man and the Biosphere’ “, Department of Biology, UiB. ORAL TALK 

 

Måren I.E. 2011. Can you see the forest for the trees? Seminar on Evidence Based Management of Ecosystems. September 14-16, 2011. The Heathland Centre, Lygra. ORAL TALK 

 

Måren I.E. 2010. HimaLines: Legal frameworks for Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Himalayas. At: International Symposium on Biodiversity, Livelihood and Climate Change in the Himalayas, December 12-14, 2010. Kathmandu, Nepal. ORAL TALK 

 

Nordtveit E., Måren I.E., Shelby, L. & Vandvik V. 2010. HimaLines: Legal frameworks for Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Himalayas. At: Global Change and the World's Mountains Conference, Perth, Great Britain 2010, organized by Mountain Research Initiative (MRI). POSTER

 

Nordtveit E., Måren I.E., Shelby, L. & Vandvik V. 2010. HimaLines: Legal frameworks for Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Himalayas. At: International Symposium on Biodiversity, Livelihood and Climate Change in the Himalayas, December 12-14, 2010. Kathmandu, Nepal.  POSTER

 

Spindelböck J., Daws M.I., Cook Z., Heegaard E., Måren I.E. & Vandvik V. 2009. Heather and germination – climate matters. POSTER at the conference Niche Evolution – a unifying concept for systematics, ecology, paleontology and conservation biology. University of Zürich, 03.07. – 04.07.2009.

 

 Spindelböck J., Daws M.I., Cook Z., Heegaard E., Måren I.E. & Vandvik V. 2009. Heather and germination – climate matters. POSTER at the 11th European Heathland Workshop, Natural England, Cornwall, UK, 13.09.-18.09.2009.

 

Spindelböck J., Daws M.I., Cook Z., Heegaard E., Måren I.E. & Vandvik V. 2009. Heather and germination – climate matters. POSTER at the NORKLIMA Researcher Conference, Bergen, Norway, 19.10.-20.10.2009.

 

Måren I.E., Janovský Z., Spindelböck J. Daws M.I., Kaland P.E. & Vandvik V. 2009. Prescribed burning of northern heathlands: Calluna Vulgaris and germination cues. POSTER at the 52nd International Symposium of the International Association of Vegetation Science (IAVS), Island of Crete, Greece, 30.05.-04.06.2009.

 

Vandvik V., Berge A., Klanderud K., Meineri E., Måren I.E. & Spindelböck J. 2009. Soil seed banks – biodiversity refuges or spillover from the extant vegetation? TALK at the 52nd International Symposium of the International Association of Vegetation Science (IAVS), Island of Crete, Greece, 30.05.-04.06.2009.

 

Måren, IE. 2009. How important is niche conservatism for creating global biodiversity patterns? Trial lecture for the degree of Philosophiea Doctor (PhD). 27.02.2009.

 

Måren I.E. 2008. Seed banks and fire - their role in north European heathlands. International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS) 51st Symposium. Stellenbosch, South Africa 07.09-12.09.2008.

 

 Måren I.E. 2008. Fire and regeneration: Seed bank analysis. National seminar for LYNGNETT; National Network for Heathland Science.  Lista 29.05-31.05.08.2008. 

 

 Måren I.E. & Nilsen L.S. 2007. (Eds.) 10th European Heathland Workshop. Threats, Management and Conservation of Heathlands. - Workshop, Excursion, and Symposium Guide. Department of Natural History, Bergen Museum & Department of Biology, University of Bergen. 161 pp.

 

Tveraabak U., Kaland P.E. & Måren I.E. 2007. Lofoten, Nordland. In: 10th European Heathland Workshop - Workshop, Excursion, and Symposium Guide. Måren I.E. & Nilsen L.S. (Eds.). Department of Natural History, Bergen Museum & Department of Biology, University of Bergen. 74-79.

 

Måren I.E. 2006. Seksuell regenerering av Calluna vulgaris langs en regional klimagradient: variasjon i frøspiring, vekst og genetikk fra Hidra i sør til Troms i nord. National seminar for LYNGNETT; National Network for Heathland Science. Tarva 22.05-24.05.08.

 

Ekelund, K., Måren, I.E., Vandvik, V. 2005. Effects of bracken control treatments on bracken performance, vegetation dynamics and non-target species in heathlands of Western Norway. The 9th European Heathland Workshop. Bredene, Belgium, 13.09.-16.09.05.

 

Måren I.E., & Vandvik V. 2005. Seed banks and fire; A study of west Norwegian heathlands. The 9th European Heathland Workshop. Bredene, Belgium, 13.09.-16.09.05.

 

 Måren I.E. 2005. Effects of Traditional Heathland Management and its Discontinuation on Vegetation at Lygra, Western Norway. National seminar for LYNGNETT; National Network for Heathland Science. 05.01.-07.01.05.

 

Måren I.E. 2005. Spring flora in the Appalachian Mountains, North America. The Norwegian Botanical Association, Bergen.

 

Grytnes J.A., Måren I.E. 2003.Biodiversity and human disturbance in the Himalayas. “Fragile Mountains Fragile People? Understanding “fragility” in the Himalayas”.Seminar, Bergen, UiB, 21.11-22.11.03.

 

Måren I.E. 1997. The flora of the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal. The Norwegian Botanical Association, Bergen.

 

 

Fields of competence 
Agro-ecological systems
Anthropogenic landscapes
Conservation biology
Food production
Forest ecology
Succession
Sustainable development
UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere programme

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