Tibor HARTEL

Dr. Tibor Hartel, Associate Professor at Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania, is a leading scholar in the field of socio-ecological systems, with a particular focus on human–carnivore relationships in traditional rural landscapes. His research critically examines the cultural, ecological, and institutional dimensions of coexistence with large carnivores, especially brown bears (Ursus arctos), within the Transylvanian wood-pastures and other semi-natural habitats. Integrating landscape ecology, environmental governance, and social anthropology, Hartel explores how traditional land-use systems and community-based knowledge foster long-standing patterns of human–nature connectivity. He currently leads the SESCARNIVORE project, which investigates the socio-ecological sustainability of human–carnivore coexistence in Eastern Europe. Central to this work is the analysis of how shifting land-use regimes, policy frameworks, and post-socialist transformations affect both biodiversity and cultural heritage. Hartel advocates for context-specific, inclusive conservation strategies that bridge ecological science with local traditions, emphasizing the co-production of knowledge across academic and stakeholder communities.