Conservation ecology and forest history
Group members
Related research topics
We conduct research on conservation ecology, plant ecology, forest history, and plant-animal interactions – knowledge that supports decisions on how forests can preserve biodiversity and be managed sustainably in Sweden and globally.
Our conservation research focuses on the effects of forest management decisions on habitat availability in Sweden’s production and protected forest lands. These efforts include understanding the implications for forest biodiversity from the choice and diversity of production tree species grown, how harvesting is carried out, and the combined effects of production intensity and conservation efforts (e.g. green tree retention) on habitat availability in forestry-dominated landscapes. We conduct research on how the density of the production forest affects the field layer in coniferous and deciduous forests, and how these effects interact with climate change.
Interactions between herbivores and trees
Another key research area involves the interactions between large herbivores and production trees, and how strategies can be developed to ensure both the availability of forage for game species and minimal damage to production forests.
Our research into forest history reconstructs past fire dynamics, tree species composition and human impacts on forest lands, with this knowledge essential to current efforts to preserve forest biodiversity and the diversity of forest environments.
Flora and fauna in the forest
In addition to the tree species themselves, we work on a broad range of forest-dependent flora and fauna, including vascular plants, lichens, bryophytes, insects, birds and deer. We use a diversity of techniques including large scale experiments, modelling and systematic reviews, and embrace the latest technologies involving environmental DNA, camera traps, automated sound recordings, and remote sensing.