Research for the forests of the future
About the research programme
WIFORCE is a research programme seeking answers to what influences forest growth, resilience and biodiversity. The goal: new knowledge to manage and conserve forests in a changing climate.
The story behind WIFORCE
The forest is expected to meet many needs – but its growth is more uncertain than before. WIFORCE was born out of the need for new knowledge to help us manage and preserve forests in a changing climate.
WIFORCE Research School
The research school provides doctoral students with scientific competence to contribute to sustainable forest management. It brings together around 50 PhD students, including several industrial and collaborative doctoral students.
News
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Archived tree cores reveal why boreal forests are getting starved for nitrogen
Despite decades of industrial deposition, nitrogen availability in the boreal forest is steadily declining. In a new study published in Nature, researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences have found that atmospheric CO₂ is the main driver - using decades of unique, stored data. -
Trees do not just count cold – they use warm spells to track winter’s progress
To survive winter, trees must time spring growth with great precision. New research from Umeå Plant Science Centre shows that trees also use warm interruptions in early winter as signals, helping buds avoid opening too early. -
A new national arena for forest research and data analysis in Sweden
A national research arena for forests is now being launched within the Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research programme at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Umeå University. The arena combines advanced data analysis and field research to support sustainable forest management.
Join us
Several PhD and postdoctoral positions linked to WIFORCE are currently open for application.
Most recently published projects
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Adapting Scots pine breeding populations to climate change
Climate change is one of the major environmental challenges of our time and Sweden is already experiencing warmer summers. This project examines whether Scots pine used in forestry are adapted to future climates and how genetic knowledge can guide decisions about which trees should be planted where. -
Measuring forest photosynthesis and carbon uptake using solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF)
Forest carbon uptake is crucial for the climate. This project investigates how a faint light emitted by plants during photosynthesis (solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence, SIF) can be used to measure carbon uptake from satellites and improve estimates of how forests are affected by climate stress. -
Biodiversity, microclimate, and habitat heterogeneity of managed riparian forests
Riparian forests are biodiversity hotspots and provide cool, stable conditions that protect many species in a changing climate. This project investigates how forest structure and microclimate influence plants and insects, and how alternative management can conserve biodiversity. -
Functional forest landscapes for pollinating insects
Pollinating insects are essential for biodiversity, functioning forest ecosystems and important ecosystem services. This PhD project investigates how forest structure, microclimate and the availability of flowering plants influence pollinating insects in forest landscapes.