There are many people who encouraged me and helped me along the way. Completing this thesis without their support would certainly not have been possible, and I am deeply grateful to all of them. In addition to the people that are thanked in the individual chapters, I would like to express my special gratitude to a few persons:
Patrick Hostert and Volker Radeloff whose ideas, patience, encouragement, and time were invaluable. Thank you for inspiring and guiding me while giving me the freedom to follow my own interests, for countless scientific and non-scientific advice, and for creating a unique environment to learn and grow. Patrick, I am deeply grateful for your ongoing motivation, for supporting the Carpathian project wherever possible, for numerous hours in front of the screen and in the field, and in general for your admirable commitment as a supervisor. It has been great to participate in the developments of the last years! Volker, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to spend time in Madison, for sharpening my scientific thinking and writing, for encouraging me to think a little bit bigger, and most importantly for reviving my ecological and biogeographical roots. I have been truly privileged to have both of you as supervisors.
Jacek Kozak and Martin Schlerf, for valuable comments and for being available as referees for this thesis.
Kajetan Pezanowski and Ivan Kruhlov, for collaborating, for sharing data, providing me with precious advice, and for reviewing my manuscripts.
Per Angelstam, Oleh Chaskovskyy, and Marine Elkabidze, for sharing your knowledge of Carpathian land use change and landscape ecology.
My colleagues Alexander, Ellen, Frank E., Frank S., Jan, Katja, Magdalena, Oli, Ruth, Sebastian, Simone, and everybody else at the Geomatics Department for their continuing support, helpful discussions, and for creating a motivating and fun working environment. I really enjoyed these years with you! Special thanks are due to the student collaborators, particularly Patrick, Theresa, Thomas, and Tom, who contributed at various stages of this thesis.
The people at SILVIS Lab and the Forest Landscape Ecology Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, especially Camilo, Grego (my Belgian twin-brother), Jordan, Maxim, Nick, Patrick, Sasha, Todd, and Véro.I learned so much from being in Madison and I am grateful to all of you for valuable discussions, for reviewing my manuscripts, and most importantly for your warm hospitality, potlucks, nights at the terrace, and, of course, the Russian-Latin telenovela. Sara, Todd, Véro, and James: I am sincerely grateful for your generosity and for letting me stay with you! Sasha and Camilo: thank you for a well-organized and adventurous trip to the Carpathians.
Wilfried Endlicher, for discussions and for establishing links with collaborators in Ukraine.
Joachim Hill, Samuel Bärisch, Henning Buddenbaum, Achim Röder, Johannes Stoffels, and Thomas Udelhoven, for all their support, especially in the first phase of this thesis, and for much appreciated data processing tips.
Doris Dransch, for continuing support and for allowing me to assign research the highest priority from the start.
Bogdan, Marcin, and Magda, for helping in the data acquisition and for insightful advice. Magda, you were an invaluable help in the field and during your stay in Berlin!
Daniel Müller and Wolfgang Schwanghart. for fruitful discussions in Friedrichshain’s coffee shops and for friendship.
Pära, for sharing all your bitterness and for giving me hope that bitter will eventually become (bitter-)sweet.
My Berlin friends, Utan der Orangene, René, Jens, Angelika, Matilda, Frank, Oli, Anja, for your company in the last years and for reminding me every now and then that at the end of the day, science is rather unimportant.
My family, for their love, care and support, Lena and Rolle for providing a triplett of harmony, jazz, and köttbullar during my stays in Sweden.
Alma, soulmate – there are no words to describe the help you have been. Thank you for your love and for giving us Bowet.
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