Institute for Forest Sciences
Forests provide a wide range of ecosystem services for society: timber and other forest products such as mushrooms or berries, climate, soil and drinking‑water protection, as well as cultural and social services such as recreation and health. Protecting biodiversity—the basis for fulfilling ecosystem functions—plays a pivotal role. The Institute for Forest Sciences covers all aspects of analysis and management of forest ecosystems and examines society’s relationship with forests. It can look back on a one‑hundred‑year tradition of forest science at the University of Freiburg and brings together ecological‑natural‑scientific, technical, economic and social‑science disciplines to answer the complex questions concerning the sustainable provision and use of forest ecosystem services.
Research
The research activities of the institute’s chairs have a clear focus on forests, their protection and sustainable use. The forests of the future and their human‑driven influence and shaping are at the centre of many projects, often using inter‑ and transdisciplinary approaches. An example is the DFG‑funded graduate college “ConFoBi”, which deals with biodiversity protection in the multifunctionally managed forests of Central Europe. The institute’s natural‑science research ranges from short‑term physiological processes at the cell and organ level, through plant‑animal‑microorganism interactions, to long‑term and large‑scale processes at the ecosystem and landscape level. Close national and international networking and cooperation are prerequisites for answering these research questions. A particularly close collaboration in research and teaching is maintained with the Forest Experimental and Research Institute of Baden‑Württemberg.
Teaching
The Institute for Forest Sciences primarily runs the BSc programme “Forest Sciences” and the MSc programmes “Forest Sciences”. In addition, the institute’s teaching staff makes essential contributions to all other degree programmes of the faculty. In these programmes we train professionals who can analyse forest ecosystems and their societal contexts, develop solutions for forest protection and sustainable management, and ultimately plan and implement them. Forest‑science teaching in Freiburg is characterised by a great amount of hands‑on learning through field exercises and excursions, as well as close cooperation with practice. The Black Forest, our outdoor laboratory, lies right at the doorstep. Moreover, our MSc programmes are distinguished by intensive collaboration and attractive exchange programmes with international universities. Our PhD students benefit from the “Graduate School Environment, Society and Global Change (ESGC)”, which offers opportunities to acquire additional competencies, to network and to cooperate.
Further Information
Detailed information on the teaching and research focuses of the individual chairs, together with their staff, can be found on the following webpages: