Mission statement

The Professorship of Forest Ecology aims (1) to advance the scientific understanding of the structure, functioning and long-term dynamics of forest ecosystems, and (2) to provide evidence-based decision support for sustainable forest management regimes in the face of global change.

Methodologically, we employ a combination of advanced statistical and rigorous dynamic modeling approaches with field-based analyses (e.g., forest inventories, dendrochronology) to test hypotheses on processes in near-natural and managed forest ecosystems. Our research has a focus on temperate forests (nemoral and boreal biome) and their equivalents on elevational gradients in mountain areas such as the European Alps (colline to subalpine).

We are strongly engaged in teaching activities and mentoring at the BSc, MSc and PhD levels, and aim to convey research-based knowledge as a foundation for the careers of our graduates in practice as well as in research.

We maintain close links with forest practitioners and forest policymakers at the national and sub-national level with the goal of mutual learning, encompassing both traditional and formal knowledge. We are an established research partner for forest practitioners.

Fairness, respect and equal opportunities are key principles underlying our work.