Eva Mayr-Stihl Chair of Forest Genetics

Faculty of Environment and Natural Ressources

Eva Mayr-Stihl Chair of Forest Genetics

Abkürzung der Fakultät für Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen "unr" in der Farbe sand auf grünem, kreisförmigen Hintergrund

The Forest Genetics group in Freiburg focuses on the evolutionary ecology of tree species.

We use genetic and genomic approaches to address questions regarding the local adaptation and acclimation of forest tree species and we investigate spatial patterns of (epi-)genetic diversity in the context of gene flow, the environment and anthropogenic change.

Depending on the research question we work with different trees species ranging from European beech and pedunculate oak to a range of different species in South America.

News from the working group

Conference

AForGeN meeting 2026

From June 8th – 11th, we organize the annual meeting of the Alpine Forest Genetics Network together with Dr. Charalambo Neophytou (FVA).
Three days of science, networking and excursions in the Southern Black Forest.

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New publication

Tropical rainforests recover faster than expected

Tropical rainforests show a remarkable ability to recover once agricultural use ceases, with biodiversity rebounding to over 90% of its original level within 30 years, according to a new study published in Nature. The research, conducted by the DFG-funded Reassembly group across 62 sites in Ecuador, tracked more than 8,500 species and found that animals such as bats, birds, and monkeys play a key role in regeneration by dispersing seeds and enabling pollination. However, the scientists warn that natural recovery depends on intact forests nearby acting as seed sources, and that urgent action is still needed to halt deforestation, which currently destroys 4–6 million hectares worldwide every year.

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New publication

A Mosaic of Future Maladaptation Predicted for the Widespread Tree Nothofagus pumilio

We have a new publication in Evolutionary Applications! Our latest study investigates climate maladaptation risk in Nothofagus pumilio (lenga beech), a tree species endemic to Patagonia’s Andes Mountains. Using genomic data from populations across a 2,000 km range, we predict a complex mosaic of vulnerability to future climate change — with particularly high risk at northern treelines and southern valley populations. This provides interesting insights for forest conservation and climate adaptation in South America.

Research

Our main research areas and current projects

Teaching

Our range of courses and information on theses

Publications

Overview of our publications, conference presentations, media contributions and more

Future Forests Cluster of Excellence initiative

The adaptation of complex socio-ecological systems to global change is the subject of a Cluster of Excellence initiative at the German Research Foundation. The aim of the cluster application is to develop, analyze and evaluate transformation pathways towards resilient forests and resilient systems, their governance, management and use.

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