Dr. Patrick Augenstein

Curriculum Vitae

ongoing:

2026 -
Geo-Ki/ Geography Department, University of Bonn

2018 - 
Associated Scientist - Development Geography / Collaborative Research Center (CRC), University of Bonn 

2016 -
Founder & CEO - Society for Enviromental for Education International (SEE Intl')/ Gesellschaft für internationale Umweltbildung gem. e.V., Germany 

2011 -
Science and Communications Advisor to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Secretariat (UNCCD), Bonn, Germany

2025 - 2026
Expert Consultant to the Intergovernmental Tafa'ul Process on Drought (UNCCD)

2024
Coordinator (BRD): GIZ Grant - A multi-dimensional assessment tool for risk analysis and mitigation in rural space.

2022 - 2024
Expert Consultant to the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought (IWG-UNCCD)

2021 - 2024
Head of Productions – Geo-Medial (University of Bonn) 

2020
Coordinator - TRA-6 Project - Contested futures under COVID-19 & drought, University of Bonn, Germany 

2019
Visiting Scholar (DAAD funded) University of Victoria, Canada

2018 - 2028
Associated Scientist - CRC 228 Future Rural Africa, University of Bonn, Germany 

2018
Co-Founder - Let's Plant gem.e.V., Bonn, Germany

2017/18
Visiting Lecturer (DAAD funded / Master student course) - Kathmandu Tribhuvan University, Nepal

2017
Visiting Lecturer (ReviTec funded / Master student course) - Ngaoundéré University, Cameroon

2015 - 2017
Associated Scientist University of Bremen (artec), Germany

2014 - 2016
Head of Film Productions - Commonland Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2013 - 2016
Doctoral Candidate (rer. pol.) University of Bremen, Germany
Reframing Restoration (summa cum laude)
Reviewers: 1. Prof. Dr. Michael Flitner, 2. Prof. Dr. Eric Higgs

2011 - 2013
First assistant to the IUCN ambassador for ecosystem restoration, John D. Liu, Beijing, China

2010 - 2012
Film production consultant to the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Kigali, Rwanda

2009 - 2015 
Research Director at the Environmental Education Media Project (EEMP), Beijing, China

2008
Research Assistant at the Haller Foundation, Mombasa, Kenya

2007
Graduation (State Examination) in Geography, Philosophy and English, University of Freiburg, Germany

2005
Practical training at the public broadcaster Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), Studio Oldenburg, Germany

2002
Practical training at the public broadcaster Südwestrundfunk (SWR), Baden-Baden, Germany
 

Awards & Nominations

2026 

Wetterextreme in Deutschland - nominated for Best Documentary Film, Fluss-Film-Festival, Bayreuth, Germany 

2025 

Living in Mountains of Ladakh, nominated for Best Short Film, Pastoral Film Festival, Brussels, Belgium

2019

When the skies ran dry (SEE-Intl') - nominated for Best Documentary Film, Cape Town International Film Market & Festival, South Africa

When the skies ran dry (SEE-Intl') - nominated for Best Documentary Film, Out of Africa International Film Festival, Nairobi, Kenya  

When the skies ran dry (SEE-Intl') - nominated for Best Documentary Film, International Green Film Festival Krakau, Poland 

When the skies ran dry (SEE-Intl') - nominated for Best Documentary Film, American Association of Geographers, Washington D.C., United States

2017

The re-discovery of humanity - ecosystem restoration and migration (EEMPA) - nominated for Best Documentary Film, Malta Film Festival, Malta

2013

Society for Ecological Restoration Communication Award (EEMP) Washington D.C., United States

2011

Hope in a Changing Climate (EEMP) - Best Documentary Film at Green Screen Festival Vancouver, Canada

2010

Hope in a Changing Climate (EEMP) - Best Documentary Film in the category: Ecosystem at the International Wildlife Film Festival, Montana, USA

Publications

2026

Augenstein, Patrick, Lauren, Svejcar, Tsegai, Daniel, Lamizana Diallo, Birguy (2026). The Drying Planet: A travel guide through an era of drought / Drought in Numbers 3rd Edition. UNCCD, Bonn. (in prep.).

Lamizana Diallo Birguy, Tsegai Daniel, Augenstein Patrick, Riade Sara (2026) Integrated Drought Governance: Policies for Resilience Across Scales. In: Integrated Drought Management. (in prep).    

Tsegai Daniel, Das Akanksha, Augenstein Patrick (2026) Turning Policy into Action: Bridging Gaps for Global Drought Resilience. In: Integrated Drought Management. (in prep.).

Fekete Alexander, Augenstein Patrick, Brüntrup Michael, Khaile Fundiswa, Kornher Lukas, Müller-Mahn Detlef, Saketta Tekalign, Shirima Gabriel, Subramanian Saravanan (2026). Turning points of extreme events and extreme policy system changes - repercussions on the transformation of risk and resilience. In: Global Social Challenges Journal. (in prep.).

Augenstein, Patrick, Higgs, Eric S. (2026). Novel Ecosystem Restoration in Rwanda - lessons learned through repeat photography. In: Ambio - A Journal of the Human Environment (in prep.).

Augenstein, Patrick (2026) The Future we need: Pathways to drought resilience - Central and Eastern Europe and the Northern Mediterranean Regions’ Perspectives. UNCCD, Bonn. (in prep.).

Tsegai Daniel, Augenstein Patrick, Trambauer Patricia, Nunez Sanchez Anna (2026) Policy Paper: The Drought Nexus. UNCCD, Bonn. (in prep)

Lamizana Diallo Birguy, Tsegai Daniel, Augenstein Patrick (2026) Integrated Drought Governance: Policies for Resilience Across Scales. In: Drought Resilience plus 10. WMO. Geneva, Switzerland.

2025

Augenstein, Patrick (2025). Reframing Ecosystem Restoration. Franz Steiner Publishing House, Germany. LINK

Tsegai, Daniel, Augenstein, Patrick (2025) G-20 Policy Paper: Land Degradation, Desertification and Drought Achieving resilience: The need for transformative action. UNCCD. Bonn, Germany. LINK

2024

Müller-Mahn, D., Hörschelmann, K., Augenstein, P. T., Altfeld, T., Voigt, P., Breuer, S., Schmidt, H. (2024). Geo-Medial – Neue Wege in der Lehre: Digitalisierung, Nachhaltigkeit und Diversität. Geographisches Institut, Universität Bonn, Germany.

Augenstein, P., Hanna, S., Müller-Mahn, D., Hörschelmann, K. (2024). Wege zu digitalen Lehrformaten, Nachhaltigkeit und Diversität. In: Geographische Rundschau (10), p. 44 - 47. Westermann Verlag. LINK

2023

Augenstein, P. T., Tsegai, Daniel, Huang, Zhuojing (2023). Global drought snapshot: The need for immediate action. UNCCD. Bonn, Germany. LINK

2022

Augenstein, P. T., Lukas, M., Björklund, G., Eudoxie, G., Brüntrup, M., King-Okumu, C., Kust, G. (2022). The Blue Paper - Drought Risks, Resilience and Restoration. The Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought. Bonn, Germany, UNCCD. LINK

Tsegai, D., Medel, M., Augenstein, P. T., Huang, Z. (2022). Drought in numbers - Restoration for readiness and resilience. Bonn, Germany, UNCCD. Publication available here (English). LINK

2020

Augenstein, P. T. (2020). Drought Risk Management - Practical Experiences from the German Development Cooperation. UNCCD Intergovernmental Working Group Report. LINK

2017

Augenstein, P. T. (2017). Reframing Restoration - Rwanda re-photographed 100 years later or the reconstruction of landscape memory. Doctorial thesis (summa cum laude). University Library Bremen.

2015

Augenstein, P. T. (2015). China - Restoring the Loess Plateau. In: A. Brasser et al. (Eds), 4 Returns from Landscape Restoration – A systemic and practical approach to restore degraded landscapes. Commonland Publication.

Augenstein, P. T. (2015). Rwanda - Restoring Wetlands and Hydropower. In: A. Brasser et al. (Eds), 4 Returns from Landscape Restoration – A systemic and practical approach to restore degraded landscapes. Commonland Publication.

2012

Augenstein, P. T. (2012). Wagenburgwunsch wird Wirklichkeit. In M. Ziel, S. Oßwald, O. Hasemann & D. Schnier (Eds.), Second Hand Spaces – über das Recyceln von Orten im städtischen Wandel (pp.123-125). Bremen: Zwischenzeit Zentrale Bremen. LINK

2010

Augenstein, P. T. (2010). Die Goldenen Dörfer - Anders Leben. In: Polis - Das Magazin für Urban Development, 4, 62 - 65.

2008

Augenstein, P. T. (2008). Wagenburgkultur in Deutschland – Mit einer Fallstudie zur Situation in Freiburg im Breisgau (Final examination paper / Grade: 1,3). LINK

Documentary Film Productions

Channel: (2008-2027 productions) LINK

2027

The Great Green Wall Imaginaries (2K/15 min./ in prep.) Director, Producer & Writer. (GIUB).

Fünfundzwanzig Jahre Katastrophenvorsorge und Management (4K/7 min./10 min. x3/ in prep.). Director, Producer & Writer. (GIUB/KaVoMa).

Rangeland Restoration Episode 3: New Zealand (4K/XX min./ in prep.). Director, Producer & Writer. (Hinewai, ILRI, IYRP).

Luftrettung und die DKKV-Studienpreisgewinner (4K/12 min./ in prep.). Director, Producer & Writer. (DKKV).

2026

Global Rangeland Restoration (4K/45 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (UNCCD, IYRP, ILRI, IUCN, VSF, WWF). (in prep.)

Rangeland Restoration Episode 4: California (4K/XX min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (Hewisedawi, IYRP). (IYRP, ILRI).

 The Drying Planet: Expert Voices from the Field (4K/15 min. x8). Director & Producer. (UNCCD).

 Seed Sovereignty and Environmental - Dr Vandana Shiva Interview (4K/6 min.) Director & Producer. (EFI, CBA).

 Buddhist Monks, Bark Beetles and Rebirth: Zeitwende in the Forest. (4K/38 min). Director & Producer. (Forst NRW).

 Buddhist Monks, Bark Beetles and Rebirth: When Answers lead to better questions. (4K/30 min). Director, Producer & Writer. (Forst NRW).

 Does drought force migration?! Prof Mc Leman Interview. (4K/25 min). Director & Producer. (IDOS).

2025

Geographies of Aotearoa – New Zealand seen from above: Choose your perspective (4K/7min.) Director, Producer & Writer. (Hinawai, ILRI).

Wetterextreme in Deutschland (4K/30 min.) Director, Producer & Writer. (DKKV, BMZ).

Proactive Drought Management in Chile (4K/20 min.) Director, Producer & Writer. (UNCCD, MINAGRI).

Rangeland Restoration Episode 2: Tanzania and Jordan (4K/15 min.) Director, Producer & Writer (ILRI, UNCCD, IUCN, VSF).

Neue Wege in der digitalen Lehre (4K/90 min.) Presenter. (Geo-Medial).

 Where the Rivers forget their Names: Drought in Chile (4K/18 min.) Director, Producer & Writer. (UNCCD)

 Uyuni Salt Flats Bolivia - House of the Inca Island and Mass Tourism (4K/3 min.) Director, Producer. (Geo-Medial)

2024

Rangeland Restoration Episode 1: Norway and Iceland (4K/15 min.) Director, Producer & Writer (ILRI, UNCCD, GRÓ-LRT).

The Road to Riyadh: Lessons learned from Saudi Arabia (4K/17 min.) Director & Producer (UNCCD, Geo-Medial).

The Land of Gods: Restoring Eden in Iceland (4K/20 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (GRÓ-LRT).

Uzbekistan’s Environmental Comeback (4K/12 min.). Director & Producer (UNCCD, Geo-Medial).

Citizen Science: Risk-Mapping in Kenya (4K/3+7 min.) Director, Producer & Writer (GIZ, IDOS, JOOST, Geo-Medial)

Das Geographische Quartett: Global Crises, Drought and Ecosystem Restoration (4K/75 min.). Director & Producer (Geo-Medial).

Was Iceland once covered with trees? Dr Sjöfn Vilhelmsdóttir – Interview (4K/12 min.) Director & Producer (GRÓ-LRT).

2023

Das Geographische Quartett: Development Geography and Global Change (4K/100 min.). Director & Producer (Geo-Medial).

Drought Resilience Made in Israel (4K/12 min). Director & Producer. (SEE-Intl.’)

Ecosystem Restoration in Bhutan (4K/5 min.). Director & Producer. (UNCCD).

Living in the mountains of Ladakh (4K/3 min.). Director & Producer. (RA, EFI).

Drought and Environmental Challenges in Armenia (4K/4 min.). Director & Producer. (UNCCD)

India – In Search for Sustainability (4K/53 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (RA, EFI).

Nigeria – In Search for Sustainability (4K/18 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (RA, EFI).

2022

Ecosystem Restoration in Ladakh & Assam (4K/work in prog.). Director, Producer & Writer. (RA, EFI).

Wald Anders Denken (4K/24 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (Wald u. Holz NRW).

Desertification and Drought Day Testimonials (4K/5 min.). Director & Producer. (UNCCD).

Rethinking Rangeland (4K/25 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (ILRI, VSF).

2021

Urban Forestry (4K/7min. x4). Director, Producer & Writer. (EFI).

Novel Grasslands (4K/7 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (WWF).

Act Now! Protect and restore threatened habitats. (4K/5 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (WWF).

The last trees of Ethiopia? (4K/25 min.). Director & Producer. (University Ghent, DIE).

Geographies of Media (4K/2+5+25 min.). Director & Producer. (University Bonn).

2020

Geography of Environmental Risks & Human Security - Mozambique (4K/25+10min.) Director & Producer. (UNU).

International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists (4K/2+5+10 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (VSF, ILRI). 

Human Geography Excursion (4K/10 min. x 5). Director & Producer. (University Bonn, DFG).

Forest Governance & Restoration (4K/15 min. x6). Director & Producer. (European Forest Institute).

2019

Greening Africa (4K/50 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (SoLogical Foundation, Stichting Wees een Kans). 

Let's grow the future together (4K/7 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (UNCCD).

Climate Emergency & Restoration: time for action! (4K/14 min.). Director & Producer & Writer. (GIU).

The Global Landscape Forum in Bonn, New York, Accra & Luxembourg (4K/4x3 min.). Director & Producer. (GLF, GIU).

Novel Ecosystem & The Mountain Legacy Project (4K/10+8 min.). Director & Producer. (DFG, University Victoria).

The End of Famine (4K/35 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (DIE, UNCCD, WFP, University Ghent).

2018

When the skies ran dry (4K/40 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (UNCCD, UNU)

Future-making Africa (4K/12 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (DFG, University Bonn).

Ecosystem-based adaptation in Mauritania & Nepal (4K/20 min.). Producer & Writer. (IEMP).

Seeing Change (4K/14 min.) Director, Producer & Writer. (SoLogical Foundation).

Greening Kilimanjaro (4K/5 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (Embassy of the Earth).

2017

Ethio trees’ initiatives in Ethiopia (4K/7 min.) Director, Producer & Writer. (University Ghent, Ethio Trees).

Drought resilience - instant responses & long-term solutions (2K+HD/15 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (UNCCD, DIE).

Drought resilience - UNCCD COP Ordos China (2K+HD/5 min.) Director, Producer & Writer. (UNCCD, DIE).

2016

Sustainable Agriculture in Egypt: Turning the desert into an oasis – An interview with Ibrahim Abouleish. (2K/25 min.) Director &Producer. (UNCCD, Sekem).

The rituals of restoration (HD/12 min.). Director & Producer. (Stichting Wees een Kans).

Planting Prosperity - Greening Peru (HD/15 min.). Director & Producer (Pachamama Raymi Trust).

The re-discovery of humanity - ecosystem restoration and migration. (2K/28 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (UNCCD, World Bank, IUCN).

2015

Forests for the Future - Ecosystem restoration in Ghana. (HD/25 min.). Director. (Form International).

Kofi Annan on Ecosystem Restoration (2K/8 min.). Director & Producer. (Kofi Annan Foundation).

The rules of degradation (HD/12 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (SoLogical Foundation).

2014

North Korea - The Paektu Volcano - (HD/uncut) Pre-Prod. Assessment. (Werner Herzog Productions).

Sunny Side of Doc in Chengdu - The Environmental Film in China (HD/15 min. x 4). Presenter. (Chengdu TV).

Ecosystem Restoration, Conservation and Religion: Healing the Earth and the Human Spirit (HD/ 16 min.). Executive Director. (CEM, IUCN).

Finding Common Ground in South Africa - Baviaanskloof Restoration. (HD/53 min.). Director. (Commonland Foundation).

The Promise of the Commons (HD/22 min.). Director & Producer. (Foundation for Ecological Security).

Humanity is but one of million living forms on earth – Interview Jagdeesh Rao. (4K/10 min). Director &Producer. (Foundation for Ecological Security).

2013

Underground Forests of West Africa (HD/12 min.). Executive Director. (UNCCD).

The Blue Gold of the Aztecs - Watershed restoration in Mexico (HD/14 min.) Executive Director & Director of Photography. (UNCCD).

Ecological Security in India - Reclaiming the Commons (HD/12 min.). Executive Director & Director of Photography. (UNCCD).

Food Security and Landscape Transformation in Ethiopia (HD/30 min.). Scientific Researcher & Editor. (DFID).

What If We Change - TV Series (HD/25 min. x12). Co-Producer. (Link TV, CCTV 9, Citizen TV).

What If We Change - A Documentary on Ecosystem Restoration (HD/50 min.). Co-Producer. (IUCN).

Threaten Species of China: The Oriental Stork (HD/4 min.). Associate Producer. (Tianjin TV).

Perennial Paradise - Permaculture in Australia (HD/30 min.). Editor. (PIA).

2012

Andrew’s Experimental Research Forest, Oregon (HD/uncut). Director of Photography. (IUCN, USFS).

Combating Soil degradation in Turkey: The history of TEMA (HD/12 min.). Scientific Researcher & Editor. (UNCCD).

Eco-School Concept in Uganda (HD/15 min.). Director, Producer & Camera. (UNCCD).

Jane Goodall - Restoring Earth (HD/8 min.). Editor. (JG-Institute).

Rio+20 - Choosing the Path to Sustainability (HD/15 min.). Scientific Researcher & Director of Photography. (REMA, UNEP).

2011

Rwanda - Emerging in a Changing Climate (HD/30 min.). Scientific Researcher & Director of Photography. (CDKN, REMA).

The Costs of Industrialization: Public Health and Cancer (HD/10 min. x3). Associate Producer. (Tangshan TV).

Miyun - Watershed restoration for China’s capital (HD/15 min.). Produced, written & directed. (IUCN China).

Forests keep Drylands Working (HD/25 min.) Scientific Researcher &  Editor. (UNCCD).

Rwanda - Forests of Hope (HD/30 min.). Assistant Editor. (REMA, UNEP).

In Search of Sustainability – Restoring India’s Garo Hills (HD/10 min.). Filmed, written & directed. (IUCN).

Green Call for Mongolia (HD/30 min.). Editor. (World Bank).

2010

Rwanda – Back to the Garden (HD/30 min.). Scientific Researcher & Camera. (REMA, UNEP).

Green Call for China - Concerto (HD/30 min.). Assistant Editor. (World Bank).

Forest Restoration in Nepal (HD/9 min.). Produced, written & directed. (EEMP).

Four Stories on Ecosystem Restoration in Taiwan (HD/13 min.). Produced, written & directed. (EEMP).

2009

Hope in a Changing Climate (HD/30 min.). Assistant to the Director & Scientific Researcher. (BBC).

The Next Steppe – Energy Efficiency in Mongolia (HD/30 min.). Sound Engineer. (World Bank).

2008

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report (HD/9 min.). Research Assistant. (UNEP).

Reshaping Economic Geography (HD/30 min.). Audio Assistant. (World Bank).

2005

Regional news reporting (HD/2 min. x8). Location Assistant. (NDR).

2003

Kensho - Japanische Freiheit (SD/8 min.). Associate Producer. (Experimental).

2002

Tatort - Flashback (32 mm/90 min.). Set Assistant. (SWR).

2001

A Hard Day’s Night (SD/35 min.). Produced, written & directed. (Experimental).

Morning Glory (8 mm/16 min.). Produced, written &  directed. (Experimental).

Selected Public Speakings

2026

UNCCD COP17 – Operationalizing the Drought Nexus, Water Day. Ulan Baatar, Mongolia.

2025

Neue Wege in der digitalen Lehre. GIUB am Mittwoch. Bonn, Germany.  (LINK) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRPn13_sFXg

2024

UNCCD COP16 - Mobility Matters: In the Footsteps of Pastoralists, People’s Day. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought - Innovative Finance Mechanisms to Combat Drought, La Serena, Chile

2023

Jefferson Invest – Live (online) - The Economics of Drought

2021

Global Landscape Forum Live - Rangeland Event, Germany. LINK

2020

UNCCD - Desertification and Drought Day 2020, Germany LINK

German Development Institute - Drought Event, Germany LINK

2019

UNFCC COP Madrid - Action Hub, Spain LINK

University of Victoria - Mountain Legacy Summit, Canada

2017

UNCCD COP Ordos - Land for Life Day, China

Critical Geography Bremen - Conference, Germany

2016

Geographical Society Bremen - Event, Germany

2015

University of Wageningen - Summer School on Ecosystem Restoration, The Netherlands

Society for Ecological Restoration - Conference, Manchester, Great Britain

2014

Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

2013

Initiative of Change, Caux, Switzerland

2012

City Council, Kigali, Rwanda

Nil Forum, Kigali, Rwanda

Center for Conflict Management, Huye, Rwanda

2010

Water Forum, Hong Kong, China

International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Beijing, China

2009

International Science & Technology Book Fair, Pyongyang, North Korea