The Wallenberg Foundations award grants to 13 research projects with forestry relevance
Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation and Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation award grants totaling SEK 90 million for research in the humanities and social sciences with relevance to the forest.
The forest is one of Sweden's most important natural resources that has come into increasing focus in recent years. The debate around forest management and forestry is experienced by many as more polarized and with many areas of conflict. The forest and forest land should fulfill an increasing number of purposes and needs, from recreation to the extraction of rare earth metals, energy and material production, to reindeer herding and carbon sinking. At the same time that the forest is under strong pressure to change due to climate change, it is also proposed as the solution to many climate-related issues.
The 13 research projects that address forest issues from a social science and humanities research perspective complement Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation's strategic research program Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research, WIFORCE, which is an investment in natural forest science.
– The world is facing many major challenges that require new solutions. We often rely entirely on research in the natural sciences and technology, while social sciences and humanities are overlooked, even though they can be crucial for implementation, governance and policy development, among other things, says Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Executive Director of Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation and Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation.
The forest provides society with energy, paper and construction materials, while at the same time it is of central importance for biodiversity, provides great climate benefits and is important for people's recreation and well-being. More and more threats are now looming, with ongoing climate change causing periods of reduced growth and increasing numbers of pests that risk degrading Sweden's forests. Added to all this is increased political pressure from both European and national sides demanding more sustainable forestry.
– Forest issues are multifaceted and affect many people both emotionally and economically. The forest is also an important social resource. Therefore, it is important to shed light on the issues from all scientific perspectives, continues Astrid Söderbergh Widding.
Nine grants from Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation:
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Professor Francisco Aguilar, awarded grant of SEK 7 million for the project: “UNDERPINNED: Forest owners’ cognition and behaviors underpinning Swedish forest biodiversity”
Umeå University, Associate Professor Louise Eriksson, awarded grant of SEK 6 million for the project: “Bridging the Gaps: Social Dynamics in Climate-Adapted Forest Management”
Umeå University, Professor Britt-Inger Keisu, awarded grant of SEK 7 million for the project: “Changing Northern Landscapes: Forestry and Reindeer Husbandry in Sweden”
Umeå University, Professor Camilla Sandström, awarded grant of SEK 8 million for the project: “The art of governing forests mastering governance dilemmas across multiple levels”
Linnaeus University, Professor Andreas Stephan, awarded grant of SEK 8 million for the project: “Domestic Forest Governance and Global Timber Markets: A Policy Impact Assessment”
Jönköping University, Professor Leona Achtenhagen, awarded grant of SEK 5 million for the project: “Profit versus nature? How private forest owners can navigate conflicting institutional logics in a highly politicized landscape to make better use of their forests”
Stockholms University, Dr Ingo Fetzer, awarded grant of SEK 8 million for the project: “Resilient Innovation and Sustainable Knowledge for Swedish Forest Management in the Anthropocene”
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Dr Harry Fischer, awarded grant of SEK 7 million for the project: “Restoration Futures in Sweden´s forests for biodiversity & human well-being”
Umeå University, Associate Professor Daniel Nylén, awarded grant of SEK 7 million for the project: “One Forest, Many Voices: Leveraging Digital Forestry to Promote Environmental Justice”
Four grants from Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation:
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Professor Lars Östlund, awarded grant of SEK 5 million for the project: “Promoting sustainable forestry in the future by understanding human forest interactions in the past (PastForests)”
Umeå University, Professor Erland Mårald, awarded grant of SEK 5 million for the project: “Forests of Emotions: Merging Historical and Philosophical Perspectives to Understand the Role of Emotions in Forest Debates”
Lund University, Dr Jimmy Jönsson, awarded grant of SEK 5 million for the project: “Forest knowledge in action: Historical inquires for integrated forest management futures”
Umeå University, Associate Professor Janina Priebe, awarded grant of SEK 5 million for the project: “The intersection of scientific knowledge and public discourse in the transition from natural to artificial methods of tree improvement”
To presentations of the projects
Contact:
Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Executive Director Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation and Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation
[email protected]
About WIFORCE:
Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research, WIFORCE, is a strategic initiative in natural science-based forest research at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), funded by Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The research program spans the range of variation within individual species to the diversity of entire forest landscapes. The focus is on basic scientific research in genetics, genomics, biotechnology, biodiversity and future forestry. The program also includes a research school. The Foundation has allocated SEK 513 million over twelve years during the period 2019–2030.
