Forests – forestry, nature and wildlife

At SLU, we develop knowledge about all aspects of forests – not just the production of forest raw materials. Interested in, for example, forest history, forest protection, gene technology, wood science, biodiversity or bioenergy? Find your way into SLU’s work in this field.

Henrik Böhlenius, senior lecturer in forest management collaboration, examines a branch with budding catkins. He gently holds the branch with one hand and looks at it attentively. The photo is taken outdoors with a blurred background of grass, walkway, and buildings.

Contact an expert pr find a collaboration partner

Henrik Böhlenius is Senior Lecturer in Collaboration in silviculture, with poplar cultivation as his area of expertise. Contact Henrik Böhlenius or one of our other forest experts.

Knowledge bank: Forests

  • 2025-10-20

    Unique archive provides new opportunities for researchers

    An extensive archive of bore core samples was given a new lease of life as a resource for forest researchers. One of the researchers benefiting from the archive is Kelley Bassett. Using the bore cores, she produces new knowledge about forest growth and health.
  • 2025-08-21

    Pests and pathogens cause devastation in nature reserves

    It may be tempting to perceive damaged forests as primarily a problem for the forest owner or the industry. A factor affecting price on wood, but of limited importance to society.
More articles from the Knowledge bank

Research: Forests

  • 2025-01-01 - 2029-12-31

    NextGenCarbon

    A new EU-funded project aims to provide a better understanding of the EU’s greenhouse gas budget through modeling of the terrestrial carbon cycle, to support policy decisions on land use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • 2025-04-01 - 2028-12-31

    Northern Traffic Lights

    Northern Traffic Lights - a digital pan-Nordic platform for road trafficability enabling resilient supply to green industries in a changing climate.
More research projects and groups

Departments: Forests

  • Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre

    We develop new knowledge on sustainable forests and forestry through interdisciplinary research and education, based in Alnarp, Skåne.

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology

    We are part of Umeå Plant Science Centre, a centre of excellence for experimental plant research and forest biotechnology. Our mission is to:

  • Department of Plant Protection Biology

    We are an interdisciplinary constellation aiming to enhance our understanding, sustainable use and management of our biological resources

  • Department of Soil and Environment

    Our research seeks knowledge about the interaction between man, soil, plant and the surrounding environment in forest and agricultural landscapes as well as urban environments. We collect, analyse and report data on the state of the environment.

  • Department of Forest Resource Management

    The department prioritises multilateral cooperation, bringing together expertise from diverse research groups. This creates unique opportunities to develop holistic solutions for the sustainable use of natural resources.

  • Department of Ecology

    Climate change, biodiversity loss and competition for land are putting growing pressure on ecosystems – and on us, who depend on them. Ecological knowledge has never been more vital than it is today. We develop solutions for sustainable agriculture and forestry, plant protection with fewer toxins and effective conservation and wildlife management.

  • School for Forest Management

    The School for Forest Management is located in Skinnskatteberg, in south-central Sweden. Forestry education has been offered here since 1944 to meet society’s growing demand for operational manager training in Sweden. The BSc programme in Forest Management is taught exclusively in Swedish.

  • Unit for Field-based Forest Research

    The unit for field-based forest research was established in 2004 and is part of the Faculty of Forest Sciences. It is responsible for managing the faculty's experimental forests, research stations, and long-term field trials, and assisting in the entire process, from establishment to measurement and data delivery.

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management

    Our mission is to advance scientific understanding of forest ecosystems and the underlying ecological processes, while refining evidence-based principles for their sustainable and effective management.

Collaborative centers: Forests

  • TC4F's publications

    Here is a list of all publications produced within the TC4F program. More information about research and activities within TC4F can be read about in the annual reports. A bibliometric analysis was performed at the end of year 2024.

  • Trees for the future

    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.

  • SLU Forest Damage Centre

    We produce and collect knowledge and competence for the health of the forest

  • The Swedish National Forest Inventory

    Since 1923, the Swedish National Forest Inventory has been monitoring the state and changes of Sweden’s forests. The data is used, for example, to support the follow-up and evaluation of current forest, environmental, and energy policies. The National Forest Inventory is part of Sweden’s official statistics.

  • Trees and Crops for the Future

    Trees and Crops for the Future (TC4F) is a Strategic Research Area (SRA) at SLU with Umeå University and the Forestry Research Institute (SkogForsk) as collaborative partners. TC4F develops knowledge on sustainable plant production and plant-based product development with the main objective to support the development of the new circular bioeconomy in Sweden. TC4F consists of two parts, T4F focusing on trees and C4F focusing on crops.
More animal related centres and collaboration