Wallis, Switzerland: large-scale mortality processes and changes in species composition are analysed in Scots pine forests.

Ural mountains, Russia: large-scale changes in treeline dynamics can be related to climatic warming.

I am heading the research unit Forest Dynamics consisting of 6 research groups with 60-70 collaborators. The research groups are: 1. Mycorrhiza; 2. Forest Entomology; 3. Forest Protection; 4. Disturbance Ecology; 5. Forest Growth and Climate; 6. Ecophysiology. The unit studies the dynamics of forest ecosystems as affected by abiotic and biotic factors including management. The main focus lies on ecosystems' resistance against and resilience after environmental changes.

The research unit is operating i) several long-term monitoring networks on forest growth, fungi and mycorrhiza productivity, reforestation after blowdown and fire, ii) the Swiss level I and II monitoring networks, iii) several large-scale field experiments such as irrigation, drainage with rainshelters and fertilization, and iv) laboratories on insects, mycorrhiza, ecophysiology and dendroecology.

My personal research field is forest ecology with a special focus on tree-ring research and site ecology. I am interested in the reaction of plants to various abiotic and biotic site factors and their potential to adapt to the changing environment due to Global Change (climate and land-use).

Besides heading the research unit I am experienced in leading and co-ordinating interdisciplinary research projects:

• Scots pine decline Valais (funded by BAFU, Velux Foundation, canton Valais): 2001-2005, 30 scientific collaborators from 9 WSL-Departements worked on 15 projects.
• Treeline upward shift Ural (funded by EU-INTAS): 2002-2005, 40 scientific collaborators from 6 research institutions from Switzerland, Germany and Russia. Read more
  
• Scots pine decline Switzerland-Italy (funded by EU-INTERREG, Regions Valais, Aosta, Piedmont): 2004-2007, 15 scientific collaborators from 3 research institutions from Switzerland and Italy.
• MOUNTLAND 1 – Climate change impacts on mountain ecosystems and implication on socio-economy and land-use policy (funded by the Competence Center for Environment and Sustainability CCES, ETH domain): 2008-2012, 50 scientific collaborators from 9 research groups from WSL, ETHZ and EPFL. Read more
  
• MOUNTLAND 2 – Prioritization for adaption to climate and socio-economic changes – Backcasting tolerable future states to match supply and demand for ecosystem services in mountainous areas. (funded by the Competence Center for Environment and Sustainability CCES, ETH domain): 2013-2016, 40 scientific collaborators from 8 research groups from WSL, ETHZ and EPFL. Read more
  
  

Guest-scientists hosted in the frame of my research activities:

• Bataarbileg Nachin, National University of Mongolia, Ulan Bataar, Mongolia
• Pavel Moiseev, Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinbrug, Russia
• Pjeder Gjerdrum, Norwegian Forest Research Institute, Fana, Norway
• Alexander Kirdyanov, Institute of Forest, Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
• Nadia Devy, Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinbrug, Russia
• Asier Herrero, University of Granada, Spain
  
  

Scientific organizations:

• Swiss Forestry Society - member
• The Botanical Society of Zurich - member
• Association for Tree-Ring Research (ATR) - member
• Swiss Academy of Sciences SCNAT, ICAS Swiss Alpine Studies – member steering board
• Institutional Partnership Nancy-Freiburg-Zürich - member steering board
• Waldwissen.net - member steering board
• Research Network Nancy-Freiburg-Zürich NFZ - representative of WSL
• European Forest Institute EFI, Regional office for central Europe EFICENT- member advisory board
• Board of directors of the Forest Research Organisations of Germany, Austria and Switzerland – representative of WSL
• International Union of Forest Research Organizations IUFRO – member International Council, representative of Switzerland
• Chinese Academy of Sciences – honorary professor