Research

Research field

Multifunctional forest management

In this research area, we are concerned with the development of management strategies considering a variety of ecosystem services. Decision-making methods in the area of robust decisions, which can also cope with worst-case scenarios, play an important role here.

Research field

Global change and forest economics

One of the research focuses of the Chair’s work deals with the influence of global change on the management of forests from an economic perspective. In addition to climate change, this also includes the influence of social changes. We generally use process-based models as a starting point for simulating forest development and also work in the field of insurance solutions and approaches to climate-smart forestry.

Research field

‘Management change’ – forest restructuring

The focus here is on changing forest management strategies under the influence of changing environmental conditions, but also social changes (objectives). We develop strategies for the transformation of forest stands into resilient, climate-adapted forests and evaluate these transformation steps from an economic perspective. One of the focal points here is analysing near-natural/close-to-nature forest management.

Research field

Organisational decision-making under uncertainty & risk

The social science research at the chair focuses on the question of how decisions are made under conditions of uncertainty, risk and complexity within forestry organisations. It examines which assumptions and perceptions shape forestry management decisions, which organisational structures, processes or routines determine decisions and how forestry organisations or institutions deal strategically with the problems of not-knowing and the openness of the future.

Research field

National and international knowledge transfer and capacity building on forests and climate change

Cooperation with partners from Southeast Asia, America and (Eastern) Europe on the topic of adaptation to and mitigation of climate change with partners from academic institutions and business partners (e.g. green investment funds).