Henrik Böhlenius

Associate Professor with research focus of fast growing tree species and external collaboration specialist with focus on forest

My research focuses on fast-growing tree plantations, particularly Populus species (poplars), and how these can be adapted to diverse site conditions. The overarching goal is to understand the factors influencing their growth and biomass production, and how this knowledge can be applied to support the bioeconomy through sustainable forestry practices.

With over 15 years of experience in research and development (R&D) related to fast-growing tree species, my work spans a broad range of topics:

• Regeneration techniques, including planting systems, soil preparation, and vegetation control
• Addressing site limitations such as low soil pH, and exploring lime and ash treatments on forest land
• Management of production stands, including both first- and second-generation biomass plantations
• Thinning practices to optimize growth and stand productivity
• Clone selection and climate adaptation to enhance resilience and future growth potential

My research is often conducted at the interface of science and practice, in collaboration with stakeholders from academia, industry, and government. These partnerships aim to develop innovative silvicultural approaches and advance sustainable forestry solutions aligned with climate goals and the growing bioeconomy.

Current ongoing projects
• Better trees (SFF) - selection of poplar clones for a future climate.
• Browsing tolerant trees (Formas) – identification of the genetic mechanism for browsing tolerant trees and develop phenotyping methods for detecting the traits.
• Ash as a fertilizer during establishment (EM, Trees for Me) – effect of ash during establishment of poplars and birch.
• Biomass production of poplar plantation – effect of forest management and climate
• Poplars on acidic soils (EM) – effect of lime, ash and bio-char during establishment

Selection of collaboration project outside of co-supervisor.
• Establishment of a new test bed for Populus GMO trials in Sweden (SweTree Technology STT), Hannele Tuominen SLU, Totte Niittylä SLU, Stefan Jansson and Olivier Keech, UmU.
• Why do tree flush in spring - effect of climate change (Rishikesh P. Bhalerao, SLU)
• Thermochemical conversion of poplar biomasses (Marcus Öhman, LtU)
• Biomass characterisation using NIR spectroscopy (Gerhard Scheepers, RISE)

I am currently leading the course modules "Broadleaves – Forest Dynamics, Biodiversity and Management for Multiple Use" within the Euroforester Master’s Programme, as well as "Plant Production" in the Bachelor programme for Lantmästare.

In addition, I contribute to teaching in the course "Tree Structure and Function" within the Bachelor programme in Forest and Landscape, as well as in the Jägmästarprogramme course "Södra Sveriges skogar och landskap" (Forests and Landscapes of Southern Sweden).

• 2018: Associate professor (Docent) in forest management. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
• 2007: PhD in Biology specialised in Forest biotechnology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

In total 43 scientific publications with a total of 2555 citations, according to research gate. In addition more than 30 popular science publication has been published in popular science and the research has been presented in more than 30 oral presentations in scientific conferences, workshops. Key publications are found below 

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=sv&user=SDLPkTkAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

• Svystun, T., Böhlenius, H. Biomass Production of the Poplar Clone OP42 During the Second Rotation Plantation–The Effects of Four Thinning Treatments. Bioenergy Research. (2024).
• Bohlenius H, Marcus Ohman , Fredrik Granberg, Per-Ove Persson Biomass production and fuel characteristics from long rotation poplar plantations, Biomass and energy (2023)
• Böhlenius H. Salk K. Nilsson U. Liming increases early growth of poplars on forest sites with low soil pH. Biomass and Energy 2020
• Böhlenius H, Asp H, Hjelm K. Differences in Al sensitivity affect establishment of Populus genotypes on acidic forest land. PLOS ONE 2018

Main Supervisor
Luca Murraro – Establishment of Populus tree species on acidic soils (planned defence November 2025)
Iida Purrula – Ash as a fertilizer for establishment of poplar and birch (planned defence June 2027)
Michalina Grabowska – Climate adapted poplar genotypes for future climate (planned defence June 2027)

Assistant supervisor
Jaime Luna – Biodiversity implications of short-rotation broadleaved trees (SLU)
Sezer Olivia Kaya – current and future biotic risks for fast-growing broadleaves (SLU)
Sruthy Vattaparambil Sudharsan – thermochemical valorization of fast growing trees (LtU)