New head of a WSL forest research unit

In the WSL’s “Forest Resources and Management” unit, around 80 staff members focus on long-term forest monitoring and the services forests provide to people. It is the research unit with the closest links to the forestry and timber industry. Accordingly, the newly appointed head of the unit, Janine Schweier, sets out her priorities: “The connection to the forestry sector is particularly important to me. Impact is created when research is understandable and put into practice. That is why close collaboration between science and forest managers has been central to me from the very beginning,” she says.

The research unit builds up knowledge about Swiss forests for the benefit of science, sustainable management and society. Among other things, it runs the Swiss National Forest Inventory (LFI) and other long-term monitoring and research networks to observe the condition and development of forests. It also develops scientific foundations and solutions for sustainable and climate-friendly forest management that ensures forest regeneration, preserves and promotes biodiversity, and provides a wide range of forest services for people. To this end, the researchers support the forestry sector, public authorities, policymakers and other stakeholders with methodologies, decision-making tools and knowledge transfer.

“I enjoy working with the various stakeholders,” says Schweier. “By maintaining close contact with the forestry sector, I link scientific findings with their practical needs.”

Janine Schweier studied forestry in Freiburg im Breisgau and obtained her PhD with distinction. Throughout her studies, she focused on the entire forest and timber value chain, which underpinned her strong practical orientation. She has authored 65 articles in academic journals and around 120 implementation publications. Although her publications focus on timber harvesting, they cover a broad range of topics: forest planning and management, aspects of timber harvesting and working methods, issues in forest economics, as well as digitalisation and decision support for forestry. At the WSL, Schweier has been Head of the ‘Sustainable Forestry’ research group since 2019 and Deputy Head of the unit since 2025.

Janine Schweier succeeds Marco Ferretti, who has headed the unit for nine years and is retiring at the end of March. The WSL Directorate would like to thank him warmly for his dedication and wishes him all the best.