Simon Fleckenstein

• Since 2023
  Doctoral researcher (PhD), Chair of Forest and Environmental Policy
  Supervisors: Prof. Daniela Kleinschmit (1st) & Prof. Maria Brockhaus (2nd)
• 2022-2023
  Research associate, Chair of Forest and Environmental Policy
• 2021-2022
  Research associate, Thünen Institute of Forestry (former: Institute of International Forestry and Forest Economics)
• 2018-2020
  Erasmus Mundus in European Forestry, University of Eastern Finland and University of Lleida, Spain (MSc. double degree)
• 2014-2018
  BSc. Forest Science and Forest Ecology, University of Göttingen, Germany

My research focuses on the development and implementation of forest and environmental policies within the EU’s multilevel policy domain, as well as the underlying political processes. Specifically, I am interested in the integration of forest issues in related policy areas, such as agricultural and environmental policy, as well as the role of institutions and state and non-state actor-centered power in different EU member states.

I draw from actor-centered and institutional theories, particularly new institutionalism and discourse analysis. Methodologically, I primarily use qualitative approaches, such as content analysis, process tracing of policy documents, discourse analysis, and discourse network analysis, as well as comparative studies.

Research Projects

• TRANSFORMIT – Transforming forest management for multiple ecosystem services and nature conservation via the integrative approach. EU Commission Horizon Europe (DG Research and Innovation). [Since 2024]
• SUPERB – Systemic solutions for upscaling of urgent ecosystem restoration for forest-related biodiversity and ecosystem services. European Commission (DG Research and Innovation). EU Horizon 2020 Green Deal Calls. [2022-2025]
• FNEWs – Fernerkundungsbasiertes Nationales Erfassungssystem Waldschäden. Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR). [2021-2022].

• SoSe 2025
  Internationale Waldpolitik, Universität Helsinki
• WiSe 2024/2025
  Europapolitik für Wald und Umwelt
  Umweltpolitik und Umweltgeschichte
• WiSe 2023/2024
  Europapolitik für Wald und Umwelt
• SoSe 2023
  Globale Politik der Nutzung Natürlicher Ressourcen

Peer-reviewed

• Erdozain, M., … , Fleckenstein, S., …, de-Miguel, S. (under review). The role of social, policy and economic forces in shaping forest restoration practices in Europe. Land Use Policy.
• Fleckenstein, S., Schaub, S., & Sotirov, M. (2025). Forests in the spotlight: Discourse coalitions and storylines shaping the EU Nature Restoration Regulation. Politics and Governance, 13. https://doi.org/10.17645/pag.10184
• O’Brien, L., Konczal, A., Begemann, A., Lovric, M., Lovric, N., Fleckenstein, S., & Winkel, G. (2025). Forest restoration paradigms and conflicts in Europe. International Forestry Review, 27(1).
• Fleckenstein, S. (2024). From sectoral policy change to cross-sectoral (dis) integration? A longitudinal analysis of the EU’s forest and rural development policy. Forest Policy and Economics, 169, 103319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103319
• Fleckenstein, S., Franz, K., Seintsch, B., Dieter, M., & Möhring, B. (2023). Economic damage assessment of forest disturbances on forestry: State of knowledge and challenges for a continuous economic loss monitoring in Germany. Allg Forst und Jagdzeitung, 193(3-4), 41-64.

Project Reports and others (non-peer reviewed)

• Sotirov, M., Fleckenstein, S., & Cordova, D. (2025). Policy maps of national forest biodiversity conservation and restoration related policy and implementation in Europe. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14949521
• Fleckenstein, S., Basilicata, A., Sotirov, M., Loubaton, L. & Poskakukhina, Y. (2024). Real life assessment of horizontal and vertical policy coherence. Horizon 2020 Project No. 101036849. European Commission.
• Oehmichen, K., Ackermann, J., Adler, P., Backa, J., Beckschäfer, P., Deutscher, J., Eisnecker, P., Fleckenstein, S., Franz, K., Ginzler, C., Henning, L., Hoffmann, K., Langner, N., Puhm, M., Reinosch, E., Rüetschi, M., Schicketanz, D., Seitz, R., Straub, C., Uhl, A., Waser, L., Wiesehahn, J. & Wimmer, A. (2024). Results of the Remote Sensing-Based National Forest Damage Assessment System (FNEWs). Thünen Institute of Forest Ecosystems. Project Brief 12a.
• Franz, K., Fleckenstein, S., Seintsch, B., Dieter, M. & Möhring, B. (2024). Ökonomische Bewertung von Waldschäden im Rahmen eines kontinuierlichen nationalen Waldschadensmonitoring: Bewertungskonzeption und -system. In Technische Universität Dresden (Ed.), FowiTa 2023 : Forstwissenschaftliche Tagung vom 11.-13. September 2023 in Dresden; Wald- und Holzforschung zwischen Klimawandel, Bioökonomie und gesellschaftlichen Umbrüchen (p. 453). https://doi.org/10.25368/2024.36
• Fleckenstein, S., Basilicata, A., Sotirov, M. (2023). SS5.1.2: Restoration policy coherence assessment. Horizon 2020 Project No. 101036849, European Commission, 23 pp.
• Oehmichen, K., Ackermann, J., Adler, P., Backa, J., Deutscher, J., Fleckenstein, S., Franz, K., Ginzler, C., Henning, L., Hoffmann, K., Langner, N., Puhm, M., Reinosch, E., Rüetschi, M., Seitz, R., Straub, C., Uhl, A., Waser, L.T., Wiesehahn, J. & Wimmer, A. (2022). Einblicke in das Fernerkundungsbasierte Nationale Erfassungssystem Waldschäden (FNEWs). Thünen-Institut für Waldökosysteme. Project Brief Thünen 14. https://doi.org/10.3220/PB1649076458000

• Best abstract and presentation award at the 5th International Forest Policy Meeting in Helsinki, Finland in 2024
• Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2018-2020 (full stipend)

• Since 2023
  Affiliated researcher at the International Forest Policy Group of the University of Helsinki, Finland