Kristina Blennow

Professor of Landscape Planning with a specialisation in Landscape Analysis, particularly Risk Analysis and Climate Change

Visiting Researcher, Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, Lund University, May 2023–present

Selected academic leadership and service

• Member, Skogsavdelningen, Kungliga Skogs- och Lantbruksakademien (KSLA), since 2007
• Vice Head for Doctoral Education, Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management, SLU, since 2024
• Expert, Swedish Climate and Vulnerability Assessment (forestry), 2025–2026
• Member, Swedish reference group for EU Horizon Mission Climate Adaptation, 2025
• Visiting Professor, Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, 2021–2023
• Chair, Docent Committee, Faculty of Landscape Architecture, SLU, 2016–2019
• Visiting Professor (20%), Division of Environmental and Energy Systems Studies, Lund University, 2015–2018
• Member, Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), European Forest Institute (EFI), 2010–2014; Vice Chair, 2012–2014

My research group works at the intersection of risk analysis, environmental change, and human decision-making. We study how people perceive, evaluate, and manage risks related to climate change, biodiversity, forestry and agricultural systems, and biological invasions. A central aim is to develop knowledge and tools that strengthen communication, planning, and decision-making under environmental change.

Our research is interdisciplinary, combining natural science models with perspectives from the humanities and social sciences. We use both empirical approaches (e.g., surveys, interviews, and participatory processes) and quantitative modelling and simulation, often focusing on risk, uncertainty, and future development. An important part of our work is bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and practical decision-making among landowners, farmers, forest managers, gardeners, and public authorities.

The group has extensive experience in research on climate-related risks in forestry and agriculture, including storm damage, drought, crop production, biomass supply, and adaptive capacity in managed landscapes. We also examine how values, beliefs, and local knowledge influence mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, as well as the management of invasive alien species.

We develop and apply decision-support and planning tools, such as landscape-based risk models and public-participation tools. Our research is often conducted in international collaborations and in close dialogue with societal stakeholders to contribute to more sustainable land-use systems.

• Climate Change – Landscape in Transition (15 ECTS), 2010-
• Climate Change – Effects on the Landscape and Potential Solutions (15 ECTS)
• Urban Ecology
• Climate Change and Land Use – U.S. and European Perspectives (LK0236) (3 ECTS), in collaboration with colleagues at the College of Sciences, San Diego State University, California
  Planning and Management for Sustainable Urban Landscape Development – Theory Course (15 ECTS)
• Explorations into Landscape Architecture (15 ECTS)
• Plant functional roles in climate change mitigation and adaptation from a societal perspective
• Master’s Programme in Sustainable Urban Development
• Master’s Programme in Integrated Pest Management
• Doctoral Course: Ethics and Philosophy of Science (4.5 ECTS)

For a full list see: Kristina Blennow on Google Scholar

Preprints and manuscripts under review

Blennow, K., Anander, E., 2025 Beyond adoption rates: Farmer motivations and communication needs in straw management decision-making. Preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.25.672071

Blennow, K., Anander, E., Persson, J., Wallin, A., 2025 A methodological approach to developing evidence-based communication guidelines for Populus spp. cultivation on agricultural land. Preprint: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.11.669630 

Blennow, K., Carlsson, G., Grenville-Briggs, L., Hansson, P., Lankinen, Å., 2025 Identifying gaps between scientific and local knowledge in climate change adaptation for northern European agriculture. Preprint: https://www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2025.06.23.661058v1

Volle, C., Blennow, K., Ahlström, A., 2025 Species richness differences between European primary and managed secondary forests  

Published original articles in referee-assessed international journals

Zubkov, P., McInnes, H., Samuelsen, E.M., Blennow, K., 2026. Understanding forest wind damage during mountain wave events: insights from a case study in Norway. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 377:110951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2025.110951 

Blennow, K., Anander, E., Björnsson, L., Börjesson, P. 2026. Assessing farmers' willingness to sell straw for energy and material applications in Sweden. Energy Policy, 209B:114980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114980 

Palmér, C., Wallin, A. Persson, J., Blennow, K., 2025. Horticultural practices of invasive plants: Insights into priorities, awareness, and management among garden owners. Biological Invasions, 27:250. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-025-03705-2 

Anander, E., Börjesson, P., Björnsson, L., Blennow, K., 2024. Farmers' willingness to introduce short-rotation plantations on agricultural land: a case study in southern Sweden. Biomass & Bioenergy, 191C:107424 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2024.107424 

Palmér, C., Wallin, A., Persson, J., Aronsson, M., Blennow., K. 2023. Effective communications on invasive alien species: Identifying communication needs of Swedish domestic garden owners.
Journal of Environmental Management, 340: 117995.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117995

Romagnoli, F., Cadei, A., Costa, M., Marangon, D., Pellegrini, G., Nardi, D., Masiero, M., Secco, L., Grigolato, S., Lingua, E., Picco, L., Pirotti, F., Battisti, A., Locatelli, T., Blennow, K., Gardiner, B., Cavalli, R., 2023. Windstorm impacts on European forest-related systems: an interdisciplinary perspective. Forest Ecology and Management, 541:121048. 

Felton, A., Felton, A.M., Wam, H.K., Witzell, J., Wallgren, M., Löf, M., Sonesson, J., Lindbladh, M., Björkman, C., Blennow, K., Cleary, M., Jonsell, M., Klapwijk, M.J., Niklasson, M., Petersson, L., Rönnberg, J., Ode Sang, Å., Wrethling, F., Hedwall, P.-O., 2022. Forest biodiversity and ecosystem services from spruce-birch mixtures: The potential importance of tree spatial arrangement. Environmental Challenges, 100407. doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2021.100407 

Blennow, K, Persson, E., Persson, J., 2021. DeveLoP – a rationale and toolbox for Democratic Landscape Planning. Sustainability, 13, 12055. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112055

Blennow, K. Persson, J., 2021. To Mitigate or Adapt? Explaining Why Citizens Responding to Climate Change Favour the Former. Land, 10, 240. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10030240

Blennow, K. Persson, J., Gonçalves, L.M.S., Borys, A., Dutcă, I., Hynynen, J., Janeczko, E., Lyubenova, M., Merganič, J., Merganicová, K., Peltoniemi, M., Petr, M., Reboredo, F., Vacchiano, G., Reyer, C.P.O., 2020. The role of beliefs, expectations and values in decision-making favoring climate change adaptation – implications for communications with European forest professionals. Environmental Research Letters,15: 114061.  /doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abc2fa

Persson, J., Blennow, K., Gonçalves, L.M.S., Borys, A., Dutca, I., Hynynen, J., Janeczko, E., Lyubenova, M., Martel, S., Merganic, J., Merganicova, K., Peltoniemi, M., Petr, M., Reboredo, F., Vacchiano, G., Reyer, C.P.O., 2020. No polarization – expected values of climate change impacts among European forest professionals and scientists. Sustainability, 12, 2659; doi:10.3390/su12072659

Blennow, K., Persson, E., Persson, J., 2019. Are values related to culture, identity, community cohesion and sense of place the values most vulnerable to climate change? PLOS ONE, 14:e0210426. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210426. 

Chen, Y.-Y., Gardiner, B., Pasztor, F., Blennow, K., Ryder, J., Valade, A., Naudts, K., Otto, J., McGrath, M. J., Planque, C., Luyssaert, S., 2018. Simulating damage for wind storms in the land surface model ORCHIDEE-CAN (revision 4262), Geosci. Model Dev., 11, 771-791. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-771-2018

Reyer, C.P.O, Bathgate, S., Blennow, K., Borges, J.G., Bugmann, H., Delzon, S., P Faias, S., Garcia-Gonzalo, J., Gardiner, B., Gonzalez-Olabarria, R.M., Gracia, C., Hernández, J.G., Kellomäki, S., Kramer, K., Lexer, M.J., Lindner, M., van der Maaten, E., Maroschek, M., Muys, B., Nicoll, B., Palahi, M., Palma, J.H.N., Paulo, J.A., Peltola, H., Pukkala, T., Rammer, W., Ray, D., Sabaté, S., Schelhaas, M.-J., Seidl, R., Temperli, C., Tomé, M., Yousefpour, R., Zimmermann, N.E., Hanewinkel, M., 2017. Are forest disturbances amplifying or canceling out climate change-induced productivity changes in European forests? Environmental Research Letters, 12:034027 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aa5ef1

Blennow, K., Persson, J., Persson, E., Hanewinkel, M., 2016. Forest Owners' Response to Climate Change: University Education Trumps Value Profile. PLOS ONE, 11(5): e0155137. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0155137 

Seidl, R., Aggestam, F., Rammer, W., Blennow, K., Wolfslehner, B., 2016. The sensitivity of current and future forest managers to climate-induced changes in ecological processes. Ambio, 45(4):430-441. DOI 10.1007/s13280-015-0737-6 

Andersson, M., Kellomäki, S., Gardiner, B., Blennow, K., 2015. Life-style services and yield from south-Swedish forests adaptively managed against the risk of wind damage – a simulation study. Regional Environmental Change, 15(8): 1489-1500. DOI 10.1007/s10113-014-0687-8

Blennow, K., Persson, J., Wallin, A., Vareman, N. & Persson, E., 2014. Understanding risk in forest ecosystem services: implications for effective risk management, communication and planning. Forestry. 87:219-228. DOI: 10.1093/forestry/cpt032 http://forestry.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/10/08/forestry.cpt032

Blennow, K., Persson, E., Lindner, M., Faias, S.P., Hanewinkel, M., 2014. Forest owner motivations and attitudes towards supplying biomass for energy in Europe. Biomass and Bioenergy, 67: 223-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.05.002

Kanyama, A.C. & Blennow, K., 2014. Evaluating the Local Climate Impacts Profile tool for assessing local impacts of extreme weather events. Journal of Geography and Natural Disasters, 4:122. DOI: 10.4172/2167-0587.1000122

Seidl, R., Rammer, W., & Blennow, K., 2014. Simulating wind disturbance impacts in forest landscapes: Tree-level heterogeneity matters. Environmental Modeling and Software, 51:1-11. DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2013.09.018

Blennow, K., 2012. Adaptation of forest management to climate change among private individual forest owners in Sweden. Forest Policy and Economics. 24:41-47. DOI:10.1016/j.forpol.2011.04.005

Blennow, K., Persson, J., Tomé, M., & Hanewinkel, M., 2012. Climate change: believing and seeing implies adapting. PLOS ONE, 7(11):e50181. http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0050182 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050182

Seidl, R., Blennow, K., 2012. Pervasive growth reduction in Norway spruce forests following wind disturbance. PLOS ONE, 7(3):1-8. http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0033301 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033301

Lagergren, F., Jönsson, A.-M., Blennow, K., Smith, B., 2012. Implementing storm damage in a dynamical vegetation model for regional applications in Sweden. Ecological Modelling, 247:71-82. DOI:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2012.08.011

Forsell, N., Wikström, P., Garcia, F., Sabbadin, R., Blennow, K. & Eriksson, L.O., 2011. Management of the risk of wind damage in forestry: a graph-based Markov decision process approach. Annals of Operations Research, 190:57-74. DOI 10.1007/s10479-009-0522-7

Blennow, K., Andersson, M. Sallnäs, O., Olofsson E., 2010. Climate change and the probability of wind damage in two Swedish forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 259: 818–830. DOI:10.1016/j.foreco.2009.07.004

Blennow, K., Andersson, M., Bergh, J., Sallnäs, O., & Olofsson, E. 2010. Potential climate change impacts on the probability of wind damage in a south Swedish forest. Climatic Change, 99:261–278. DOI:10.1007/s10584-009-9698-8

Felton, A., Andersson, E., Drössler, L. Ellingson, L., & Blennow, K., 2010. Adapting production forests in southern Sweden to climate change: Constraints and opportunities for risk spreading International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 2:84-97. DOI: 10.1108/17568691011020274

Blennow, K. & Persson, J., 2009. Climate change: motivation for taking measure to adapt. Global Environmental Change, 19:100–104. DOI:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2008.10.003

Blennow, K., 2008. Risk management in Swedish forestry – policy formation and fulfilment of goals. Journal of Risk Research, 11(1–2):237–254.  DOI: 10.1080/13669870801939415

Blennow, K. & Olofsson, E., 2008. The probability of wind damage in forestry under a changed wind climate. Climatic Change, 87:347-360.  DOI 10.1007/s10584-007-9290-z

Blennow, K., & Niklasson, M., (eds.) 2005. Sustainable Forestry in Southern Sweden. The SUFOR Research Project. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 21 (2/3): xxiii–xxiv. DOI:10.1300/J091v21n02_a

Blennow, K. & Sallnäs, O., 2005. Decision support for active risk management in sustainable forestry. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 21(2/3):199–210. DOI:10.1300/J091v21n02_12

Olofsson, E. & Blennow, K., 2005. Decision support for identifying spruce forest stand edges with high probability of wind damage. Forest Ecology and Management, 207:87–98. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2004.10.019

Blennow, K. & Sallnäs, O., 2004. WINDA – A system of models for assessing the probability of wind damage to forest stands within a landscape. Ecological Modelling, 175(1):87–99. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2003.10.009

Blennow, K. & Sallnäs, O., 2002. Risk perception among non-industrial private forest owners. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, 17: 472–479.  DOI:10.1080/028275802320435487

Blennow, K., Hedin, J., & Niklasson, M., 2002. TrackBeam, a simple tool for estimating potential exposure to the solar beam underneath tree canopies. Journal of Insect Conservation, 6(3), 161-170.  DOI: 10.1023/A:1023209503254

Fransson, E. S., Walter, F., Blennow, K., Gustavsson, A., and Ulander, L. M. H., 2002. Detection of storm damaged forested areas using airborne CARABAS-II VHF SAR image data. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 40(10):2170–2175. DOI:10.1109/TGRS.2002.804913

Blennow, K. & Lindkvist, L., 2000. Models of low temperature and high irradiance and their application to explaining the risk of seedling mortality. Forest Ecology and Management, 135: 289–301. DOI: 10.1016/S0378-1127(00)00287-5

Blennow, K., 1998. Modelling minimum air temperature in partially and clear felled forests. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 91:223–235. DOI: 10.1016/S0168-1923(98)00069-0

Blennow, K. & Persson, P., 1998. Modelling local-scale frost variations using mobile temperature measurements with a GIS. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 89:59–71. DOI: 10.1016/S0168-1923(97)00057-9

Blennow, K., Lang, A. R. G., Dunne, P. & Ball, M. C., 1998. Cold-induced photoinhibition and growth of seedling snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) under differing temperature and radiation regimes in fragmented forests. Plant, Cell and Environment, 21:407–416. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3040.1998.00291.x

Blennow, K., 1995. Sky View Factors from high resolution scanned fisheye lens photographic negatives. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 12(6):1357–1362.  DOI: 10.1175/1520-0426(1995)012

Blennow, K. & Hammarlund, K., 1994. From heath to forest – land-use transformation in Halland, Sweden. Ambio, 23(2):169-169. Correction. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4314190

Blennow, K., 1993. Frost in July in a coastal area of southern Sweden. Weather, 48(7):217-222. DOI: 10.1002/j.1477-8696.1993.tb05891.x

Blennow, K. & Hammarlund, K., 1993. From heath to forest: land-use transformation in Halland, Sweden. Ambio, 22(8):561-567. Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4314148