Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre

🎄 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre!🎄 As 2024 comes to a close, we want to express our gratitude to our amazing students, dedicated researchers, valued partners, and supportive community for your contributions and collaboration throughout the year. As we take a well-deserved holiday break, let’s look back at some of our 2024 highlights: ✨ PhD Success: 🎓 Several of our brilliant PhD students successfully defended their theses, contributing valuable insights to forestry research. ✨ Growing Team: 🤝 We welcomed new talented team members—and we’re excited to keep growing in 2025! ✨ Stronger Collaborations: 🌍 Expanded partnerships with organizations worldwide to drive innovation and research. ✨ Rising Applications: 📈 Saw an 50% surge in first-choice applicants for our bachelor’s and master’s programs. ✨ Research Funding: 💰 Secured generous funding to power our research projects. ✨ Historic Graduation: 🎉 Celebrated the first-ever graduating class from our bachelor’s program in Forest and Landscape. ✨ Course Excellence: ⭐ Achieved stellar course evaluations, with an average score of 4.6 out of 5, the highest at SLU! ✨ Research Impact: 📝 Published several research papers, including contributions to well-established journals, advancing forestry science. ✨ Engaging Events: 🌲 Hosted unforgettable excursions, conferences, and collaborations with guest researchers and partners. From all of us at the Southern Swedish Research Centre, we wish you a warm and joyful holiday season. 🌟 See you in 2025!🌟

🌍 Over 2,000 followers – thank you! In less than a year, our LinkedIn community has grown by over 300%! From Sweden to Kenya, Australia to Brazil, and everywhere in between, your support inspires us to keep sharing. Thank you for following our journey, engaging with our research, liking, sharing, and commenting on our content. We’re excited to continue providing world-class research and education in forestry, sharing impactful stories, and delivering content that matters to you. The map below highlights all the regions where LinkedIn detects our followers. 🌎 Where are you from? Let us know in the comments! Here’s to growing together! 💚🌲🌍

"Storm Gudrun gives us a clear picture of how a specific event can influence diverse research fields and hundreds of studies over the past two decades," says Luis Andrés Guillén Alm, postdoc at Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, and author of a policy brief for Future Forest.   🌪️ In January 2005, Storm Gudrun hit southern Sweden, bringing down 70 million cubic meters of forest. Nearly 20 years later, its impact extends far beyond the landscape—it has significantly influenced forest research internationally.   📝 Since the storm, 18 scientific articles have been published, exploring topics such as: 🌳 The storm’s effects on forests and their management 🐦 Bird ecology changes 🐛 Spruce bark beetle colonization 🚛 Timber logistics during the crisis   These articles have been cited over 600 times, contributing to shape forestry science. Read more about the findings below 👇

"Due to their similar growth patterns and drought tolerance, we suggest managing true service trees similar to oaks," says our postdoc Julia Schmucker from Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre about the rare true service tree (Sorbus domestica L.) "It is a promising species to mix with light-demanding, deciduous forests where oak is the dominant species."    In a large study, researchers measured the tree height, stem diameter, and crown size of true service trees in southern Scandinavia, Germany, Slovakia, and northern Italy. Julia Schmucker and her colleagues also examined core samples and stem discs from a true service tree in Copenhagen. This study is one of the most detailed empirical analyses of the tree’s crown structure, growth, and drought tolerance.   🔍 Key Findings:   🌳True service trees and oaks share similar growth patterns and space requirements. 🌳The crown size of free-standing true service trees is slightly larger than that of oaks. 🌳Both trees show comparable drought tolerance and sensitivity to competition.   However, the species is vulnerable to fungal diseases, prompting researchers to recommend limited planting and more studies on its pathology. "More field experiments under different climate conditions are needed to explore the growth, range, and ecosystem services of the service tree," Schmucker adds.   Read more. Link in comments. 👇 📸 Torbjörn Esping

👟 What does the future product development based on wood fibres and bark look like? 💡 Take the chance to learn more about bio-based glue, textiles made from dissolving pulp from forests and the rubber of the future produced from birch bark, in a webinar on Friday 13 December at 14.00-15.30 (Stockholm, CET). During the webinar, three innovative approaches to wood fibres and bark are presented: 🪑 Stergios Adamopoulos, professor at the Department of Forest Biomaterials and Technology at SLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, will give an introduction to the BioGlue-Centre, a network of excellence focused on bio-based adhesives. 👕 Åsa Östlund, head of research at TreeToTextile, will talk about the company's path towards changing the textile industry with the help of wood fibres. 🛞 Henrik Otendal, CEO at Reselo, will share insights on the potential in product development of rubber based on birch bark. The webinar is held in English, online via Zoom, and is open for anyone interested. Most welcome to share it with others potentially interested. Registration link and more information in comments section below. ⬇️ Photo: AI-generated image via CHAT & ASK AI/DALL-E 3 #birch #innovation #productdevelopment #biomass #fastgrowingbroadleaves #sustainableforestry Derek Garfield Áureo Aparecido Abreu Junior Svenskt Trä Vilis Brukas Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre

🎄 ✨ Spruce: A Christmas favorite facing climate challenges 🌍 As many of us bring home spruce trees for Christmas, it’s easy to forget they’re not just a festive centerpiece but also an important part of our forests – and they’re feeling the impact of climate change. 🌦️ Researchers at SLU - Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU) have found that spruce thrives with early summer rain but struggles during dry summers, making it vulnerable to drought. Pine, on the other hand, recovers more quickly from dry conditions. 💬 Emma Holmström, Senior Lecturer at Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, explains: "We encourage active tree species selection during regeneration and site-specific planning. Increasing the diversity of tree species and promoting mixed forests are effective ways to adapt to a changed, warmer climate." As you bring a piece of nature into your home this holiday season, remember the intricate relationship between our trees and the changing climate. By understanding these responses, we can better manage our forests for future generations. 🌲✨ Read more about this study and how it can help us protect our forests: https://lnkd.in/dhQVfHwz   📸 Antonina Rakowska/Pixabay

🌲✨ An immersive experience in Växjö’s forests! 🌍🚁 The research program FRAS fall excursion brought together over 80 forestry enthusiasts in the historic Attsjö Forest near Växjö – where modern techniques meet Sweden’s rich forestry legacy.   The mission? To explore innovations that could shape the future of sustainable forestry. 🌳   Among the highlights were inspiring contributions from some of our leading researchers at Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre.   🌱 Karin Hjelm – As the program leader, Karin shared insights into fall planting strategies and highlighted the expanding role of pine in regions like Götaland.   🌳 Alfred Deutgen – A FRAS PhD student, Alfred is advancing our understanding of mixed forests, focusing on how birch and spruce can thrive together. His work is showing that group planting can be a promising approach, offering new tools to build resilient, diverse forests.   🌱 Edžus Romāns – With a focus on regeneration success, Edzus shared findings from his trials on the effects of site preparation. His research shows that site preparation can lead to higher growth, even years down the line.   A special thanks to all the researchers for sharing knowledge that will shape the future of sustainable forestry. 🌲
 👇 Swipe through the photos to witness these exciting projects firsthand!👇
 📸 Mats Hannerz

“Learning about Scandinavian forestry and regional differences enriched my perspective,” says Maciej Zdzieborski, Raw Material Developer for Europe & Africa at Inter IKEA Group. 🌍   From his role in leading wood sourcing and forest-wood processing compliance in Poland, Maciej's journey is a testament to the power of education.   He pursued the Euroforester Masters program to expand his forestry knowledge and join a global community of experts. 🌳 “The program was an invaluable extension of my education and an opportunity to join the Euroforester community,” Maciej shares.   The insights gained, from Scandinavian practices to regional forestry differences, have been crucial in his role, helping him engage more effectively with local stakeholders. 🤝   Maciej’s advice for future students? “Expanding your knowledge opens up new horizons. If you want to explore diverse forestry models, the Euroforester program is a great choice.” 📚 📸 Pär Fornling

"Even if you don’t pursue a career directly in forestry, the skills you gain from the Euroforester program are invaluable for fields like environmental issues, climate change, and sustainability," says Priscilla Cubo. Originally from Brazil, Priscilla now serves as the global environment and climate change advisor for Diakonia, an NGO dedicated to justice and development. She attributes her international career success to the Euroforester Masters program. Inspired by her year studying in Spain during her bachelor’s degree, Priscilla sought further opportunities in forestry and environmental studies. “It was my first experience abroad, and it profoundly enriched my personal and professional life,” she recalls. This inspiration led her to the Euroforester program, which she found to be "incredibly practical" and pivotal in equipping her with the skills necessary for success in the NGO sector. Now, Priscilla applies these lessons to her work in global environmental advocacy, tackling climate change on a global scale. Her advice for prospective students? "Studying at Euroforester will open many doors. The forestry sector is growing, with increasing demand for sustainable solutions." 📸 Priscilla during a field trip in Bangladesh

In 2003, Meelis Seedre PhD embarked on his journey as one of the first Euroforester students, diving into a world of knowledge and experiences that would shape his future in forestry policy. “The program clearly changed the course of my life,” he reflects. Fast forward to today, and Meelis is now the Head of Forestry and Hunting at the Estonian Ministry of Climate. In this strategic role, he leverages the insights and skills he gained from his studies to guide important legislative processes and strategic development for Estonia’s forests. 🌲 Meelis fondly recalls the supportive learning environment he experienced during the Euroforester program. With “motivating and pedagogically strong lecturers,” he developed essential skills in communication and public speaking that he uses every day in his current role. For those considering the Euroforester program, Meelis has some friendly advice: “Come with an open mind and a readiness to work. Leave your prejudices behind and be ready to be surprised!” 📸 Pär Fornling