Professor emeritus of Soil Science at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU)/Vienna/Austria. Former Professor at the University of Freiburg/Germany (1972-75) and the State University of Paraná in Curitiba/Brazil (1975-79) Professor and Director of the Institute of Soil Research at BOKU University (1979-2009).
Research and teaching activities in Europe, Africa, Latin and North America, Asia and Australasia. – Former Member of the Executive Board of the International Council for Science (ICSU),Paris/France(1999-2002); Secretary General of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS)(1990-2002), Founding President of the European Confederation of Soil Science Societies (ECSSS)(2004-2008), Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Environment Agency (EEA),Copenhagen(1994-2002); Chairman of the EU Soil Thematic Strategy Working Group “Research” of the European Commission (2002-2004); Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the World Association of Soil and Water Conservation(WASWAC) since 2016.-.
Member of editorial boards of 27 scientific journals, with more than 800 publications in 15 languages in the fields of soil science, agricultural and forest land use and environmental protection. Member and Honorary Member of numerous Academies and national and international learned societies with numerous distinctions and awards.