Studies
New Master’s Programme Future Forests
The Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources of the University of Freiburg in collaboration with Future Forests has opened a new Master’s Programme “Future Forests”. This English-based programme provides an interdisciplinary understanding of forests as complex socio-ecological systems and their effective management against the backdrop of massive global changes.
Excellence Cluster
New Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation Funding Initiative Boosts Future Forests Research with over 10 million EUR
Starting in 2026, the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation intends to provide a total of 10.4 million euros in funding to the Cluster of Excellence Future Forests. The projects to be funded include a tenure track endowed professorship for silviculture and climate change adaptation, an international research laboratory on forest adaptation, and an incubator fund.
Freiburg University will host two Excellenceclusters and aims for status as Excellence University
From Januar 2026, the German Research Foundation (DFG) will fund two Excellence Clusters at the University of Freiburg. Cluster CIBSS will be funded for another period of seven years. In addition, Future Forests will start as a new Cluster.
Future Forests – How Can We Make Forests Fit for the Future?
Our forests are being damaged by climate change and species loss. The Cluster of Excellence Future Forests at the University of Freiburg will investigate strategies for confronting these threats.
New Research Project
TreeStability: Does Tree Diversity Protect Forests Against Climate Extremes?
The Chair of Silviculture has secured DFG funding for a new research project investigating whether increasing tree diversity can stabilise forest ecosystems in the face of climate change. Led by Dr. Florian Schnabel, the three-year project “TreeStability” draws on data from 25 tree diversity experiments across the globe.
New Study
Urban forests: Essential Infrastructure for Climate-Resilient, Healthy, and Equitable Cities
An open letter urges global policymakers at COP30 to recognize and invest in urban forests as vital green infrastructure for climate adaption, biodiversity, and human wellbeing.
Mixing tree species does not always make forests more drought-resilient
A new international study led by the University of Freiburg shows that long droughts can reverse the benefits of tree diversity for tree vitality.
Years of drought turn pine forest into source of CO₂
A new study conducted at the University of Freiburg shows that recurring years of heat and drought since 2018 have caused long-term damage to a pine forest in southwestern Germany. Over 60 percent of the pine trees have died, and deciduous trees are taking root, but it is insufficient to reclaim climate balance. The ecosystem now releases more CO₂ than it sequesters.
