Lennart Olsson is professor of physical geography and the founding director of LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies) since 2000. Lennart is also the Coordinator for a Linnaeus programme, LUCID, sponsored by The Swedish Research Council for the period

Lennart holds a Ph.D. in Physical Geography (1985) specialising in desertification and particularly the use of GIS, remote sensing and spatial modelling to study the interaction of nature and society in semi-arid Africa.

His recent research focuses on climate change adaptation and mitigation issues in the context of agriculture and food security in dry lands. He was recently Lead Author on the IPCC report on Good Practice Guidance for LULUCF and Lead Author on the GEO-4 Global Environmental Outlook.

He has supervised several Ph.D. candidates and is currently Director of the newly established Research School in Sustainability Science and the Programme Director of  the LUMES programme,  Lund University International Master’s Programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science.

He is also member of several editorial boards, such as Geographical Review, International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, and Global Environmental Change. He is also one of the executive editors of the AAAS Forum on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development.

Publications

Fully Refereed Papers

Oldfield, F., Hunt, A., Jones, M.D.H., Chester, R., Dearing, J.A., Olsson L., & Prospero J.M., 1985: Magnetic Differentiation of Atmospheric Dusts. Nature Vol. 317, pp 516-518.

Olsson L., 1987: Continuing the commitment: agriculture in the Sahel. Environment No. 29, pp. 25-27

Olsson L., 1989: Integrated resource monitoring by means of remote sensing, GIS and spatial modelling in arid environments. Soil Use and Management, Vol. 5, No. 1

Olsson L., 1993: On the Causes of Famine - Drought, Desertification and Market Failure in the Sudan. Ambio Vol. 22, 6 September 1993, pp. 395-404

Olsson L., 1993: Desertification in Africa - Critique and an Alternative Approach. GeoJournal Vol. 31 No. 1, pp. 23-32

Olsson, L. & Eklundh, L., 1994: Fourier Transformations for the Analysis of Temporal Sequences of Satellite Imagery. Int. J. of Remote Sensing, Vol 15, No. 18, pp 3735-3741

Seaquist, J. and Olsson, L., 1998: A simple method to account for off-nadir-scattering in the NOAA/NASA pathfinder AVHRR land Data Set. Int. J. of Remote Sensing Vol. 19, No. 7, pp. 1425-1431

Seaquist, J., and Olsson, L., 1999: Rapid generation of PAR fields over the West African Sahel using PAL CLAVR. Int. J. of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation Vol 1:3/4, pp. 205-213

Olsson, L., Warren, A. & Ardö, J., 2001: The potential benefits of dryland agricultural soils as carbon sinks. Arid Lands Newsletter, #49

Olsson, L., and Ardö, J., 2002: Soil carbon sequestration in degraded semiarid agro-ecosystems – perils and potentials. Ambio 31: No 6, pp 471-477.

Ardö, J. and Olsson, L., 2003: Assessment of soil organic carbon in semi-arid Sudan using GIS and the CENTURY model. Journal of Arid Environments Vol 54(4), 633-51

Seaquist, J., Olsson, L., 2003: A remote sensing-based primary production model for grassland biomes. Ecological Modelling Vol. 169, pp 131-155.

Eklundh, L. and Olsson, L., 2003: Vegetation index trends for the African Sahel 1982-1999. Geophysical Research Letters paper: 10.1029/2002GL016772, 2003

Ardö, J., Olsson, L., 2003: Soil carbon sequestration in traditional farming in Sudanese drylands. Environmental Management DOI: 10.1007/s00267-003-9141-2

Poussart, J.N., Ardö, J., Olsson, L., 2004: Effects of data uncertainties on estimated soil organic carbon in the Sudan. Environmental Management DOI:10.1007/s00267-003-9148-8

Poussart, J.N., Ardö, J., Olsson, L., 2004: Verification of soil carbon sequestration – sample requirements. Environmental Management. DOI: 10.1007/s00267-003-9149-7

Warren, A. and Olsson, L., 2004: Desertification: Loss of credibility despite the evidence. Annals of Arid Zone

Elmqvist B., Olsson L., Elamin E. and Warren A. (2005) A traditional agroforestry system under threat: an analysis of the gum arabic market and cultivation in the Sudan, Agroforestry Systems, 64: 211-218

Runnström, M., Brogaard, S. and Olsson, L., 2005: Estimation of photosynthetic active radiation over Inner Mongolia using cloud information sensed by daily NOAA satellite overpasses. GeoCarto International.

Olsson, L., Eklundh, L., Ardö, J., 2005: A Recent Greening of the Sahel – trends, patterns and potential causes. Journal of Arid Environments. Vol 63, pp 556-566

Tschakert, P. and Olsson, L., 2005: EU Climate Action in the Broad Framework of Sustainable Development Policies. Climate Policy Vol 5, pp 329.348

Hickler, T., Eklundh, L., Seaquist, J., Smith, B., Ardö, J., Olsson, L., Martin T. Sykes, M. and Sjöström, M. 2005: Precipitation controls Sahel greening trend. Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2005GL024370, 2005

Runnström, M., Brogaard, S. and Olsson, L., 2006: Estimation of photosynthetic active radiation over Northern China from daily NOAA AVHRR cloud cover classifications. GeoCarto International, 21(1) 51-60.

Seaquist, J., Olsson, L., Ardö, J., Eklundh, L., 2006: Broad-scale increase in NPP Quantified for the African Sahel, 1982-1999. International Journal of Remote Sensing. Vol 27, pp 5115-5122

Farage, P.K., Ardo, J., Olsson, L., Rienzi, E.A., Ball, A.S. Pretty, J.N. 2006: The potential for soil carbon sequestration in three tropical dryland farming systems of Africa and Latin America: A modelling approach. Soil & Tillage Research, In Press published online: doi:10.1016/j.still.2006.09.006

Elmqvist, B. and Olsson, L., 2007: Livelihood diversification: Continuity and Change in the Sahel. GeoJournal (published on-line 10.1007/s10708-007-9043-6)

Ness, B., Urbel-Piirsalu, E., Anderberg, S., Olsson, L., 2007: Categorising tools for sustainability assessment. Ecological Economics. Vol 60, pp 498-508.

Van Ittersum, M., Ewert, F., Alkan Olsson, J., Andersen, E., Bezlepkina, I., Brouwer, F., Donatelli, M., Flichman, G., Heckelei, T., Olsson, L., Rizzoli, A., van der Wal, T., Wery, J.,  Wien, J-E., 2007: Integrated Assessment of Agricultural and Environmental Policies – A Modular Framework for the EU (SEAMLESS). Accepted for publication in Agricultural Systems.

Olsson, L., and Jerneck, A.: Adaptation and the Poor – Development, Resilience, Transition. In Press in Climate Policy 2008

Manuscripts

Bai, Z., Dent, D., Olsson, L. and Shaepman, W.: Global assessment of land degradation. Under review in Nature Geosciences.

Books and book chapters by Lennart Olsson:

Olsson L., 1985: An Integrated Study of Desertification. Lund Studies in Geography, Ser. C, No. 13. Lund University Press. (Ph.D. Thesis)

Olsson, L., 1985: Integration of Physical and Human Geography in a Geographical Information System. In "Land Management and Survival" Edited by Hjort, A.

Olsson, L., 1997: Desertification and Regional Climate Change – impact on food security. The Erice Book, 1997, Published by the World Federation of Scientists, Geneva

Olsson, L., 1998: Why is the received wisdom on desertification so difficult to change? The Erice Book, 1998, Published by the World Federation of Scientists, Geneva

Olsson, L., 1999: Använding av geografiska data. 25p. In: Geografisk informationsbehandling – metoder och tillämpningar. Edited by L. Eklundh, Published by The Swedish Council for Building Research.

Pilesjö, P., Eklundh, L., and Olsson, L., 1999: Metoder för rumslig dataanalys. 56 p. In: Geografisk informationsbehandling – metoder och tillämpningar. Edited by L. Eklundh, Published by The Swedish Council for Building Research.

Olsson, L. and Pilesjö, P., 2002: Approaches to spatially distributed hydrological modelling in a GIS environment. Ch 9 (pp. 166-200) in Skidmore & Basiansson 2002: Environmental Modelling with GIS and Remote Sensing, Taylor & Francis, London, 268 p.

Olsson, L., 2002: GIS och studiet av globala miljöproblem. Ch. 8 in Olsson & Olander 2002: GIS-tillämpningar inom geografi; svensk geografisk årsbok vol 77.

Olsson, L., 2002: Avgiftsfrihet på Öresundsbron – Miljökonsekvenser. Chapter 8 (pp 127-141) in: Söderström, L. (editor) 2002: Öresundsförbindelse med ett hinder mindre – effekter på integrationen med avgiftsfrihet. Öresundsuniversitetet 2002, 175 p.

Milne, R. Jallow, B.P., Arrouays D., Drichi, P., Beets, P., Harun, I.B., Hrubovcak, J., Huffman, T., Irving, W., Koehl, M., Lin E., Olsson, L., Penman, J., Shibasaki, R., Turner, B., Vargas, J.C., Viglizzo, E.F. (2003): Basis for consistent representation of land areas. Ch. 2 in: IPCC National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme, report on Good Practice Guidance for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry.

FAO 2004: Carbon Sequestration in Dryland Soils. World Soil Resources Report # 102. Written jointly by Farage, P., Ball, A, Pretty, J. (University of Exeter) and Olsson, L., Ardö J., Tschakert P. and Warren, A.(Lund University) 132 p.

Olsson, L. and Olander, L-O., 2005: GIS-tillämpningar inom geografi; Svensk geografisk årsbok, vol. 77

Olsson, L., and Stripple, J., 2006: Defining and Identifying Environmental Limits for Sustainable Development – A Scoping Study, Edited by Haines-Young, R., and Potschin, M., DEFRA report (180p). Chapter 10, Climate Change (plus appendix, pp 142-149)

UNEP 2007: Global Environmental Outlook 4 (Lead Author, Chapter 3, Land Issues).

Olsson, L., 2008: Greening of the Sahel. Commissioned article for Encyclopedia of the Earth (www.eoearth.org).  Boston University.

Papers at International Symposia and Research Reports

Olsson, L., & Stern M., 1981: Large Area Data Sampling for Remote Sensing Applications and Statistical Analysis of Environment. Lund University, Dept. of Physical Geography, Report No: 49, 50 p.

Olsson,L.,1982: Monitoring Land Use and Land Use Appropriateness in  the Central Sudan - A Combination of Landsat Data and Statistical Analysis of Climatic Data. -Proc. International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Arid and Semi Arid Lands, Cairo. 

Hellden, U., Olsson, L. & Stern M., 1982: Approaches of Desertification Monitoring in the Sudan. Proc. of EARSeL - ESA symposium, Igls, Austria.

Olsson L., 1983: Desertification or Climate? Investigation regarding the relationship between land degradation and Climate in the central Sudan. Lund Studies in Geography, Ser. A, No. 60

Olsson,L.,1984: Monitoring Rangeland Conditions Using a Geographical Information System. -Proc. Third Australasian Remote Sensing Conference, Brisbane, Australia, pp. 339-349

Olsson L., 1984: DIAPAC - Digital Image Analysis Package, Users Manual. Lund University, Dept. of Physical Geography.

Olsson L., 1984: Monitoring the Impact of Rainfed Agriculture and Grazing on Desertificaiton in the Central Sudan. In "Rangelands: a Resource under Siege" edited by Joss, P.J., Lynch, P.W. and Williams, O.B., Australian Academy of Science, Canberra., pp. 533-534

Hall, K, & Olsson L., 1985: Empirical Studies of the Relationship Between Landsat MSS-data and Topography. Proc. of the 18th Int. Symp. on Remote Sensing of Environment, Paris.

Olsson, L., Olsson, K. & Stern, M., 1985: Remote Sensing, GIS and Spatial Models for Planning and Management of Natural Resources. Proc. 1st Scand. Research Conf. on GIS,  Linkoping.

Olsson L., 1987: Approaches to monitoring renewable resources using remote sensing and GIS. Invited paper, ISPRS/Commission VII Symposium. Submitted for publication in Photogrammetria.

Hellden, U. & Olsson, L., 1989: Fuelwood Assessment of the Kassala Province, The Sudan. Final report to the FAO on project. Fuelwood development for energy in the Sudan (GCP/SUD/033/NET), 30 pages plus 35 printed map sheets.

Olsson L., 1991: Desertification and Land Degradation in Perspective. Invited paper at the Sahel Conference, in Dryland Degradation - causes and consequences. (edited by Poulsen & Lawesson). Aarhus University Press.

Olsson L. & Ardö J., 1992: Deforestation in African Drylands - Assessment of changes in woody vegetation in semi arid Sudan. Proc. of the Central Symposium of the International Space Year Conference ISY-92, Munich, March 1992

Olsson, L., 1994: Globala och regionala ekosystemmodeller - en nödvändighet för att förklara globala klimatförändringar. Svensk Geografisk Årsbok 1993

Graetz, R.D., Olsson, L. and Wilson, M.A., 1995: Interpreting a 9 year time-series of satellite observations for the Australian continent. Proceedings of the International Colloquium on Photosynthesis and Remote Sensing. Tenth Int. Congress of Photosynthesis, Montpellier, France.

Ardö, J. and Olsson, L., 2001: Soil Carbon Sequestration by Extended Fallow Periods in Semiarid Agro-ecosystems in Kordofan, Sudan. Abstract and poster presented at the Global Change Open Science Conference, Amsterdam 10-13 July 2001.

Ardö, J. and Olsson, L., 2001: Distributed Assessment of Soil Organic Carbon in semiarid Sudan. Abstract and poster presented at the Global Change Open Science Conference, Amsterdam 10-13 July 2001.

Brogaard, S., Olsson, L., 2001: Land use, grain production and climatic variability – a case study from Eastern Inner Mongolia. Poster and abstract presented at Second International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS) Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, August 9–12, 2001

Olsson, L., Tschakert, P., Ardö. J. 2002: Indigenous knowledge in African drylands and the Kyoto Protocol - a systems analysis approach. Proceedings, The Berlin Conference on the Human Dimension of Global Environmental Change

Seaquist, J., Olsson, L. and Ardö, J., 2003: Testing a Satellite Data-based Light-use Efficiency Model for Mapping Primary Production. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, Honolulu, November 2003

Popular Science and Newspaper articles

Olsson, L., 1994: Naturresurser och miljöförändringar i Sahel. 14 p. Den ny Verden, 2:1994 Köpenhamn.

Olsson, L., 2003: The global water crisis – one reason for optimism and several for pessimism. In Vatten – en ödesfråga? Invited paper at Edbergseminariet, Karlstads universitet, January 2003.

Seaquist, J.W., Olsson, L., Ardö, J. and Eklundh, L., 2003: Remote Sensing and Modelling of Recent Historical Carbon Dynamics in the African Sahel. McGill University Newsletter, June 2003 pp141-145.

European Panel on Sustainable Development (EPSD) 2004: From Here to Sustainability – Is the Lisbon/Göteborg agenda delivering? Edited by: Begg, I., Larsson, A., Lindquist, O., Olsson, L., Strömberg, D.

Högskoleverket 2005: Perspektiv på hållbar utveckling – Erfarenheter från högskola och näringsliv. Edited by Forsberg, H. and Rurling, Å., contributions from L. Olsson (Hållbar utveckling – vad är det egentligen? Varför är det viktigt?)

European Panel on Sustainable Development (EPSD) 2006: Towards  a “Smart Growth” Strategy for Sustainable Development? Edited by: Allan Larsson and Fredrik Hedenus