Forest, Society and Policy

Our research group conducts transdisciplinary, practice-oriented research and consultancy that explores the dynamic interconnections between natural resources and society, with a particular focus on forests and urban forests. We aim to advance innovative natural resource management strategies and policy frameworks that foster transformative change towards socially equitable, sustainable, and resilient futures.

Forests and urban forests play a vital role in delivering essential ecosystem services to society. To address the growing challenges—such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and evolving societal demands and policies at local, national, and international levels—there is a pressing need for practical, integrative policies and innovative, sustainable forest management approaches.

Our group adopts transdisciplinary and forward-thinking methods, conducting practice-oriented research and consultancy in collaboration with partners at all governance levels. We strive to co-develop holistic, integrative, and actionable management and policy solutions that promote sustainable forest management, as well as transformative change towards socially equitable and resilient societies.

Our commitment to empowering youth and enabling changemakers is reflected in our active involvement in teaching at both bachelor’s and master’s levels, where we integrate cutting-edge research with practical learning and design thinking methods.

Services

We build on practice-oriented research to understand how forests and urban forests are managed to provide ecosystem services, and how policies and societal change shape forest management as well as the forest industry. To explore these dynamics, we employ a diverse mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods. We focus on the vital role forests play in delivering ecosystem services and supporting human well-being, as well as their contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Switzerland and globally.

We analyse and evaluate forest management approaches and their policy implications for ecosystem services such as timber production, biodiversity protection, water purification, carbon sequestration, and outdoor recreation.
We identify and develop solutions to adapt forest management approaches to ensure the sustained and equitable provision of ecosystem services. Our work also involves proposing forest-related policies and innovative strategies that minimise trade-offs and enhance synergies between ecological, social, and economic objectives.
We provide expert advice to national and international partners on our core areas of research and practice.
We support communities and stakeholders in analysing and developing urban forest concepts aimed at the valuation, enhancement, and sustainable management of these green spaces.
Gender is a central focus in our research, consultancy, and teaching, shaping our approach to equity, inclusion, and social understanding.
In all our projects and future research, we collaborate with other faculties of the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) and institutes at HAFL, as well as with local, national, and international research partners. We also work closely with governmental and non-governmental organisations, as well as stakeholders from the private sector.

Expertise

We explore the dynamic relationship between society and nature, focusing on its impact on forest and environmental policy, forest management, and governance—and vice versa. In this context, we analyse and develop forest, environmental, and spatial policies and strategies that balance environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects for forestry and the wood industry across different levels of governance, and that aim to support a circular bioeconomy.

Urban Forestry

We assess urban forests across temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions to address urban challenges and support the development of healthy, resilient, sustainable, and equitable urban environments (BioCities) by informing policy and strategy development, fostering inclusive participation, and strengthening decision-making processes.

Agroforestry

We analyse agroforestry systems and landscapes in terms of their socio-economic and cultural importance, as well as their potential for reaching global and national policy targets on climate, biodiversity, and sustainable food systems.

Sustainable Forest / Landscape Management

We analyse forest landscape management practices and propose improvements in planning and implementation, cross-sectoral coordination, and stakeholder participation to support sustainable forest and landscape management goals, with attention to global challenges.

Forest Products and Markets

We examine wood and non-wood forest product markets through an integrated socio-economic and cultural lens, assessing their roles in rural livelihoods, value chains, and regional economies.

Communication & Education

We develop and implement integrated communication and education strategies that highlight the role of forests, urban forests, and forested landscapes in delivering ecosystem services and supporting human well-being, with a focus on engaging and informing policy and diverse societal stakeholders.

Ecosystem Services

We provide integrated assessments and valorisation of ecosystem services and their contribution to well-being from forests, urban forests, and other forest landscapes by considering different societal perspectives and needs.

Community Forestry

We promote community-based forest management by analysing case studies around the world in terms of forest management, social cohesion, and policies, and by providing recommendations for implementation.

Restoration & Conservation

We assess forest landscape degradation and strategically plan and implement conservation and restoration efforts to build resilient livelihoods and landscapes.

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

We study the role of forests and forestry in climate change adaptation and mitigation (including carbon accounting), with a particular focus on forest communities and smallholders, and support the development of socially inclusive climate policies and their implementation in forest landscapes globally.

Our projects

Valorising forests’ adaptation to climate change

This project investigates how forest adaptation measures can be valued and proposes recommendations for pathways towards the valorisation of forests' adaptation to climate change in the Swiss context.

Institute(s) Multifunctional Forest Management
Research unit(s) Forest Policy and International Forest Management
Head of project Jerylee Bethsabe Josephine Wilkes-Allemann

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The Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans

The overall goal of the project is to increase resilience of Western Balkan forests and landscapes against fires and benefit the people who depend on these landscapes for their livelihoods and socioeconomic...

Institute(s) Multifunctional Forest Management
HAFL Institut Hugo P. Cecchini
Research unit(s) Forest Policy and International Forest Management
Head of project Jelena Markovic

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International pre-study on community forestry and climate resilience

We will establish an international, interdisciplinary team of researchers, collaborating on a systematic review on the link between community forestry and climate resilience. Results will serve as a baseline...

Institute(s) Multifunctional Forest Management
HAFL Institut Hugo P. Cecchini
Research unit(s) Forest Policy and International Forest Management
Head of project Mélanie Feurer

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Inhaltliche Begleitung der DEZA in globaler Waldpolitik und Wald im Klimawandel

Beratung in globalen Waldfragen, Abfassen von wissenschaftlichen Texten und Abhandlungen zu globalen Fragen zur Rolle des Waldes in den Strategien des Klimawandels, Vertretung der DEZA in politischen u....

Institute(s) Multifunctional Forest Management
HAFL Institut Hugo P. Cecchini
Research unit(s) Forest Policy and International Forest Management
Head of project Jelena Markovic

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Vorkonzept zur Erfassung der Waldleistungen aus Sicht der Gesellschaft

Dieses Projekt zielt auf die Entwicklung eines Vorkonzepts für die räumliche und zeitliche Erfassung der Waldleistungen aus Sicht der Gesellschaft, und für die Integration dieser Grundlagen in politische...

Institute(s) Multifunctional Forest Management
Research unit(s) Forest Policy and International Forest Management
Head of project Jerylee Bethsabe Josephine Wilkes-Allemann

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Climate proofing for rural development projects

Caritas is mandating BFH-HAFL to support them in climate proofing their projects

Institute(s) Multifunctional Forest Management
HAFL Institut Hugo P. Cecchini
Research unit(s) Forest Policy and International Forest Management
Head of project Mélanie Feurer

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Globale Entwaldung und die Schweiz – Wege zu positiven Auswirkungen

Die globale Entwaldung und Waldschädigung sind international und national ein aktuelles Thema. Diese Studie soll den Beitrag der Schweiz zur globalen Entwaldung und Waldschädigung einschätzen.

Institute(s) Multifunctional Forest Management
Research unit(s) Forest Production
Head of project Jürgen Blaser

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Evaluation zur Optimierung der Waldpolitik 2020

Mit einer formativen Evaluation zum Abschluss der Waldpolitik 2020 des Bundes werden Grundlagen für künftige Handlungsprogramme geschaffen, Empfehlungen zur Weiterentwicklung der Waldpolitik formuliert und...

Institute(s) Multifunctional Forest Management
Research unit(s) Forest Policy and International Forest Management
Head of project Evelyn Constance Coleman Brantschen

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Research Agenda for Biocities - ReBio

ReBio will propose a Research Agenda for future Biocities and will serve as a base for the work of the future EFI Biocities Facility. Thus, it will shape our future cities and will tackle the challenges...