International Forest Development and Forest Policy
Contact: Dr. T. W. Schneider

Management, conservation, and sustainable development of forests are key issues of the international environmental and forest policy. We are participating in national, European, and international forest policy negotiations. >>more

Sustainable Forest Management
Contact: Dr. J.-M. Schröder

The forest area in the tropics is decreasing rapidly. We elaborate or improve adapted forest management strategies for the sustainable development and rehabilitation of tropical forests. >>more

Climate Change and Forests
Contact: Dr. W.-U. Kriebitzsch

We examine the potential of carbon storage in forests and wood products as well as the adaptation potentials of forests on climatic change. From this we derive recommendations for forest management, timber economy and policies. >>more

Biometrics, Spatial Statistics and Forest Information Systems
Contact: Dr. B. Kenter

The European and international reporting needs harmonised and verifiable forest data. We develop methods to improve information on sustainable management of forest ecosystems by means of basic research for political decisions. >>more

Special Task:
"International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests"
Contact: Dr. M. Lorenz

How are things going for forest health in Europe? How does it develop under the influence of air pollution and climate change? And how do these influences affect species diversity of forest vegetation? For answering these questions we pursue the largest uniform forest monitoring of the world. >>more