Trees for the future

Page reviewed:  05/09/2025

In 2026, T4F starts a new program phase "phase IV" and the research coordinator group around program leader Michael Gundale has written a new research plan. Read the new plan and see also what happened during program phase III below.

Publication Highlights

New article in Nature: New figures on biological nitrogen fixation in nature: Climate models may need to be adjusted
New article in Nature: Forests of slow-growing tree species often sequester more carbon

T4F 2026-2030

 

T4F 2021-2025

2021 T4F started a new phase with a new research plan for the coming 5 years. The new plan includes some structural changes that open up completely new possibilities. T4F investigates which trees will be found in the forests in the future: 

  • What traits do they need in times of climate change?
  • Which of these trait are most useful for society and can help to create a circular bioeconomy?
  • Which trees have these traits? 
  • How can we improve tree breeding to create trees that can withstand the challenges of the future?

As trees need such a long time until they are tall and create a forest that can be harvested, we have to think about how the conditions for our trees will be during the next 20, 30 or more years already when we plant new trees today. With computer models, researchers can show both how the climate could develop and they can predict the impact on trees and forest.

Three themes for the trees

T4F is organized in themes. In this phase III of the program, the themes became more overarching, covering several involved institutes, instead of being hosted specifically at one institute. This creates more synergies and facilitates collaborations between institutes, universities and Skogforsk. Involved institutes and organizations are listed below. 

 

 

 

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