Patrick T. Augenstein is a filmmaker and scientist. Focusing on researching and communicating the lessons of ecosystem restoration for almost a decade, he has worked in more than 25 countries with distinct socio-ecological settings across the globe. This includes investigations into the rehabilitation of agricultural lands on the Loess Plateau in China, water catchment regeneration surrounding Port Elizabeth in South Africa, reforestation efforts in North Korea, quarry rehabilitation in Kenya, and community afforestation in the Peruvian Andes.
Currently, he is an associated scientist at the Development Geography Department – Bonn University, Germany, contributing to the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Center (228) “Future Rural Africa”. He obtained his PhD at the artec – Sustainability Research Center of Bremen University, Germany.
While holding the position of the Science Research Director at the Environmental Education Media Project in China (EEMP, 2009-2015), the organization received the Communications Award from the Society of Ecological Restoration. Numerous of his films on ecosystem restoration were nominated and won at international film festivals.
Together with UNCCD, UNEP and IUCN, among other multinational organizations, he has produced and directed films like: Miyun – Watershed Restoration for China’s Capital (2013), The Promise of the Commons (2014), Forest for the Future (2015), The re-discovery of humanity – ecosystem restoration & migration (2016), When the skies ran dry (2018) and The End of Famine (2019). He is currently working on various communication strategies in preparation for the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030).