Research expertise for policy makers

The Scientific Advisory Board on Forest Policy at the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) provides scientifically sound options for political decisions in the context of economic interests, ecological framework conditions and societal demands on the forest. For the next three years, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Bauhus from the Chair of Silviculture at the University of Freiburg will take over the chairmanship of this advisory body.

The Advisory Board, consisting of fifteen professors from different disciplines, writes statements and expert opinions in an honorary capacity in order to further develop forest policy in Germany in an appropriate and sustainable manner. In addition to the new chairman Bauhus, who has already been on the advisory board for six years, Prof. Dr. Friederike Lang from the Institute of Forest Sciences at the University of Freiburg is also a member.

Most recently, the researchers published, among other things, statements on the ways in which forests and wood use contribute to climate mitigation along with statements about risk prevention and the handling of extreme events in forestry as well as the current report “Approaches toward more efficient forest nature conservation in Germany.” “Over the next three years we will concentrate on how forests and forest management can be adapted to climate change,” explains Bauhus. “We also want to focus on how provisioning of ecosystem services by forest owners could be rewarded. Due to the dramatic increase in climate-related forest damage in recent years and the resulting changes in the economic situation of forest owners, it is important to advise politicians and decision-makers on this topic.”

For more information about the Scientific Advisory Board on Forest Policy (in German)