Archives

  • Cover of Christian Helmreich, Development of an independent protoindustry of iron smelting in the Barbaricum? Geoarchaeological, archaeometallurgical and systems-theoretical considerations of a technological change in iron smelting in northern Central Europe during the early Roman Imperial period; PhDThesis, Hildesheim Geographical Studies, Vol. 17

    Vol. 17 (2026)

    Christian Helmreich
    Hildesheim: Hildesheim University Press, 2026. - 126 p.
    Hildesheim, Univ., PhD thesis, 2026

    language: english

    Free online publication: 10.18442/higs-17

    ISBN 978-3-96424-055-2

  • Cover of Sandeep Joshi, Hildesheim Geographical Studies, Vol. 16

    Vol. 16 (2026)

    Sandeep Joshi
    Hildesheim: Hildesheim University Press, 2026. - 90 p.
    Hildesheim, Univ., PhD thesis, 2026

    language: english

    Free online publication: 10.18442/higs-16

  • Vol. 15 (2024)

    Michelle Wrede
    Hildesheim: Universitätsverlag Hildesheim, 2024. - 200 p.
    Zugl. Hildesheim, Univ., Diss., 2024

    DOI 10.18442/higs-15    

    Despite its potential for education for sustainable development and the interdisciplinary competence of selfdetermined learning, which is important for the lifelong learning of all learners, the educational trail currently takes a back seat in the research discourse. The present work is dedicated to this desideratum with the primary research objectives of recording and systematizing the Lower Saxony educational trail jungle as well as the implementation of the educational trail as an extracurricular place of learning for education for sustainable development for self-determined learning of different socio-economic statuses. For this purpose, the work follows the buttom-up principle, whereby the sequential mixed-methods design with the quantitative cross-sectional study for the first-time Lower Saxony educational trail inventory and systematization as well as the subsequent qualitative-criterial potential analysis on the measure of potentials for education for sustainable development of a specifically selected educational trail sample is fundamental. Ultimately, the analysis aims to identify a educational trail as an example of good practice. The cross-sectional study highlights the 426 educational trails recorded as a nationwide informal educational tool. The educational trails are concentrated inside and outside of large protected areas on the one hand, and on the other hand are occasionally found in urban centers or near cities. The prevalence of classic educational trails can be seen, which, with a few exceptions, continues at the district level. As a result, the descriptive form of communication dominates the educational trails. In addition, there are mainly botanicalzoological and nature-related trail themes as well as forest and woodland themes. The degree of potential for education for sustainable development assigns the educational trails examined the role of a useful educational tool for education for sustainable development. The Zweidorfer Holz forest adventure trail is an example of good practice in this respect and differs from the other educational trails mainly in terms of ist outstanding educational presentation. Some educational trails show little potential in terms of regional products and trail information content. Furthermore, all of the educational trails examined have some catching up to do in terms of the linguistic complexity of information preparation and the provision of trail information.

    This baseline study is followed by the qualitative observational study with semi-structured participant observation of the subject groups of low, medium and high socioeconomic status, exemplified on the Zweidorfer Holz forest adventure trail. This aims to highlight the existence and extent of self-determined learning of test persons with different socio-economic status as well as the similarities and differences of socio-economic status in self-determined learning on the forest adventure trail. For this purpose, observation protocols are analyzed with the qualitative structuring content analysis according and an evaluative category-based comparison of the self-determined learning of the different socioeconomic statuses is carried out via case presentations. This resulted in the key finding that the low socioeconomic status clearly differentiates itself from the medium and high socioeconomic statuses, particularly in the organizational strategy of the cognitive component and the planning strategy of the metacognitive component of self-determined learning, via non-observable or only minimal observable procedural strategy knowledge. This results in the central finding that the low socioeconomic status clearly differentiates itself from the medium and high socioeconomic statuses, particularly in the organizational strategy of the cognitive component and the planning strategy of the metacognitive component of self-determined learning, through non-observable or only slightly observable procedural strategy knowledge. This results in recommendations for action for the implementation of the educational trail as an extracurricular learning venue for Education for Sustainable Development for self-determined learning of all socio-economic statuses, such as the creation of a common knowledge base for self-determined learning and conceptual knowledge, the adaptation of the instructional part in the introductory phase of the trail walk, the direct stimulation of the use of learning strategies and the internal differentiation of the learning material, the cooperation as well as the feedback and the formative assessments of the use of learning strategies in the context of the learning process on the Zweidorfer Holz forest adventure trail, which address the teacher level, the learner level and the didactic-methodical learning environment design with the trail design level.

  • Vol. 14 (2024)

    Julia Althoff, Jessica Hase, Hannah Nolte, Sabine Panzer-Krause, Andres Stucke, Max Epping, Kai Hobritz und Martin Sauerwein

    Hildesheim: Universitätsverlag Hildesheim, 2024. - 116 p.

    DOI 10.18442/higs-14

  • Vol. 13 (2023)

    Sabine Panzer-Krause
    Hildesheim: Universitätsverlag Hildesheim, 2023. - 221 p.
    Zugl. Hildesheim, Univ., Habl., 2022

    DOI 10.18442/higs-13

    The discourse about pathways of sustainability transitions is dominated by two opposing approaches. On the one hand, the transition studies literature follows a green growth efficiency-driven approach and argues that technological innovations will pave the way to more sustainable modes of living. On the other hand, postcapitalist scholars reject the efficiency paradigm and advocate an alternative, sufficiency-driven turn to sustainability characterized by degrowth-oriented downscaling and rightsizing.
    This habilitation thesis contributes to this field of research and investigates how transitions towards more sustainable paths can be initiated and fostered. It focuses on tourism in rural regions that have been growing intensely in recent years and are characterized by mass tourism causing ecological and socio-cultural pressure. The thesis thus analyses what influence particularly tourists and tourism businesses have on the production of rural space regarding sustainability and rural tourism resilience and what role rural regions may generally play in sustainability transition processes.
    The study recognizes that tourists and tourism businesses have a strong influence on the production of rural space while their sustainability orientations are heterogeneous. Rural tourism resilience and sustainable change are challenged by the growing popularity of rural tourism and the still dominantly growth-oriented rural tourism sector. Future rural development paths will be positioned within a spectrum of green growth-oriented mass tourism on the one hand and degrowth-oriented tourism on the other hand. With respect to shared responsibilities of urban and rural regions, this thesis pleads for financial compensation as a degrowth-oriented incentive for those rural tourism regions that are willing to follow a concept of reduced use of economic resources for the sake of greater ecological and socio-cultural goals that are of value for our societies on different geographical scales.

  • Vol. 12 (2022)

    Sarah Matheis-Kist
    Hildesheim: Universitätsverlag Hildesheim, 2022. - 263 p.
    Zugl. Hildesheim, Univ., Diss., 2022

    DOI 10.18442/207

    ISBN 978-3-96424-063-7

    The majority of preserved fens in Germany are showing changed hydrological conditions, a fen-untypical inventory of species and a heavily degraded peat body. Revitalization measures are being implemented to improve the state of the severely degraded fen ecosystems. Until now there is no existing concept for success control that can be specifically applied to the rating of revitalization measures in severely degraded fen ecosystems.
    For the case study of the severely degraded fen with varied changes in hydrological conditions Bergen-Weißacker Moor (South of Brandenburg), success control was implemented for an observation period of two years to evaluate the effect of a rewetting measure. The foundation of the success control consists of a set of biotic and abiotic parameters. In order to build a fundamental understanding of the ecosystem, the set of parameters is larger than the area influenced by the measure. For the classification of recorded results, a basis for the evaluation is established.
    The recorded findings in the Bergen-Weißacker Moor show that even after rewetting the area influenced by the measure, no stable near surface water tables are present. Based upon the findings, further boundaries and potentials as well as additional suggestions for further modification of the concept are being formed. Furthermore, considerations for the transferability are being established. This proves that specific requirements have to be present in order to implement the concept with little adaptions in other severely degraded minerotrophic mires. Concluding, the monitoring results are used to formulate recommendations as an action plan to improve the conditions of fens prospectively.
    Under the framework of the present report the obtained findings are being used to define principles for success controls in severely degraded fen ecosystems. This includes for example the inclusion for fen internal areas, the recording of side effects and long-term monitoring.

  • Vol. 11 (2021)

    Christopher Poeplau
    Hildesheim: Universitätsverlag Hildesheim, 2021. - 353 p.
    Zugl. Hildesheim, Univ., Habl., 2021

    DOI 10.18442/198

    ISBN 978-3-96424-055-2

    Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the largest terrestrial carbon pool, holding a manifold of atmospheric carbon. The agricultural management of soils exerts a strong influence on this pool and thereby also on carbon fluxes between biosphere and atmosphere. Historically, land-use changes have caused large CO2 emissions from soils, which significantly contributed to global warming. The latter is expected to cause strong fluxes of CO2 from soils, due to enhanced microbial activity – the climate-carbon cycle feedback loop. This cumulative habilitation thesis focuses on the two major anthropogenic impacts on soil organic carbon as the largest terrestrial carbon pool: land use and global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions. Both have been steadily increasing with the expansion of human population and activity on the planet and are thus considered specific for the ‘Anthropocene’ as a synonym for the period in world history in which human activity leaves irreversible traces. Due to the importance of SOC and its management for climate change, but also for soil fertility and ecosystem resilience, it is crucial to understand i) which management options can maintain and increase SOC, ii) what are the mechanisms leading to SOC losses and stabilization, iii) how shall global net primary production (NPP) as a resource be used in a climate-smart and sustainable way, iv) how will global warming affect SOC dynamics. Together with several methodological aspects related to measuring, calculating and modelling SOC, the research presented in this thesis focuses on those four key questions.

  • Vol. 10 (2021)

    Robin Stadtmann
    Hildesheim: Universitätsverlag Hildesheim, 2021. - 315 p.
    Zugl. Hildesheim, Univ., Diss., 2021

    DOI 10.18442/179

    ISBN 978-3-96424-044-6

    Soils are the basis of life for humans and other organisms. Despite this fact, this non-renewable resource is being destroyed worldwide, whereby humans degrade this basis of life more and more. The concept of Ecosystem Services is intended to help contain the worldwide destruction of ecosystems by recording and evaluating the services provided by nature and their loss, and thus making them visible to decision-makers. The environmental medium soil, in which different spheres of the ecosystem overlap and various interactions and processes take place, offers essential contributions to Ecosystem Services. In many studies, however, these various contributions are only insufficiently considered, so that the manifold services of soils remain hidden.
    In this study, the contributions of soils to Ecosystem Services are shown exemplarily for the Asinara National Park (Sardinia). For this purpose, a transferable evaluation scheme for provisioning, regulating and cultural Soil-Ecosystem Services is designed, based on field-survey data and physicochemical laboratory analytics. An economic evaluation of the services is not intended. Using soil-geographic models and a digital soil mapping approach, a soil information system is developed, on the basis of which the evaluation scheme is implemented. In the factorial approach, the clearly relief-dependent soil distribution is mapped by a high-resolution digital relief analysis. Results of vegetation ecology are included in order to implement a digital land cover classification using remote sensing techniques. In addition, an analysis of historical land use is carried out in order to map the anthropogenic soil changes recorded in the area and to visualize cultural Soil-Ecosystem Services. The spatio-temporal changes in the use of Soil-Ecosystem Services on the Mediterranean National Park Island is examined. With the acquired soil information a high-resolution contribution to the management of the protected area is provided, which can be used for the planning of management and ecological restoration measures as well as for the execution of habitat analyses.
    In order to promote the transfer of Soil-Ecosystem Services in planning and decision-making processes and to ensure a non-anthropocentric perspective, a piggyback approach is proposed in which a soil function assessment forms the basis for the designation of Soil-Ecosystem Services. Using a broad interdisciplinary approach, the case study documents the complete process of a highresolution evaluation of all categories of Soil-Ecosystem Services based on primary data collection for the Mediterranean landscape on a regional scale. The results illustrate the significant potential of digital mapping approaches, but also underline the need for a minimum of field survey, especially for the assessment of the cultural services of soils.

  • Vol. 9 (2019)

    Nico Herrmann, André Kirchner, Sarah Matheis-Kist, Sabine Panzer-Krause, Annabell Ringel, Moritz Sandner und Toni Schirdewahn
    Hildesheim: Universitätsverlag Hildesheim, 2019. - 138 S.

    DOI 10.18442/082

  • Vol. 8 (2018)

    Frank Nico Herrmann
    Hildesheim: Universitätsverlag Hildesheim, 2018. - 465 S.
    Zugl. Hildesheim, Univ., Diss., 2018

    DOI 10.18442/019

  • Vol. 7 (2017)

    Ines Mareen Gudjons
    Hildesheim: Universitätsverlag Hildesheim, 2017. - 186 S.
    Zugl. Hildesheim, Univ., Diss., 2017

    DOI 10.18442/670

  • Vol. 6 (2016)

    Hevin Taha Basch, Sabine Panzer-Krause, Robin Stadtmann, Moritz Sandner, Tim Drissen, Julia Treitler, Rebecca Winter, Martin Sauerwein, Annabell Ringel, Johanna Dobberkau
    Hildesheim: Universitätsverlag Hildesheim, 2016. - 125 S.

    DOI 10.18442/691

  • Vol. 5 (2015)

    Hannah Graen, Robin Stadtmann, Martin Sauerwein, Sarah Matheis, Nico Herrmann, Jan-Philip Dieck, Julia Jaquemotte, Lars Germershausen, Sabine Panzer-Krause, Jasmin Karaschewski
    Hildesheim: Universitätsverlag Hildesheim, 2015. - 140 S.

    DOI 10.18442/526

  • Vol. 4 (2014)

    Sara Dannemann, Nico Herrmann, Moritz Sandner, Jasmin Karaschweski, Jan-Philip Dieck, Svenja Elfers, Sabine Panzer-Krause, Lien Lammers, Judith Lübcke
    Hildesheim: Selbstverlag des Instituts für Geographie, Universität Hildesheim, 2014. - 105 S.

    DOI 10.18442/348

  • Vol. 3 (2014)

    Ann-Christin Schock
    Hildesheim: Selbstverlag des Instituts für Geographie, Universität Hildesheim, 2014. - XVIII, 255 S.
    Hildesheim, Univ., Diss. 2014

    DOI 10.18442/347

  • Vol. 2 (2013)

    Robin Stadtmann, Christine Jung-Dahlke, Martin Sauerwein, Hannah Graen, Christin Gawert, Sabine Panzer-Krause
    Hildesheim: Selbstverlag des Instituts für Geographie, Universität Hildesheim, 2013. - 118 S.

    DOI 10.18442/346

  • Vol. 1 (2013)

    Lars Germershausen
    Hildesheim: Selbstverlag des Instituts für Geographie, Universität Hildesheim, 2013. - XII, 123 S.
    Hildesheim, Univ., Diss. 2013

    DOI 10.18442/345