Forstwissenschaft

Forstwissenschaft, or forestry science, is the academic discipline that studies forests and wooded landscapes as biological, ecological, economic, and social systems. It examines forest structure, dynamics, and functions with the aim of underpinning sustainable management that balances timber production, biodiversity, climate regulation, water protection, and recreation. The field integrates natural sciences, such as biology, ecology, pathology, and genetics, with social sciences, including economics, policy, and land-use planning.

Core subfields include silviculture (Waldbau) focused on forest stand management and yield; forest ecology and biodiversity; forest genetics and breeding; forest pathology and entomology; wood science and technology (Holzwissenschaft) concerned with wood properties and processing; forest mensuration and inventory; forest economics and policy; and urban and conservation forestry. Methods used range from field experiments and inventory to growth modelling, remote sensing, GIS, and ecological-economic analyses.

Historically, forstwissenschaft emerged in the 18th–19th centuries in German-speaking regions, with the concept of sustainable yield popularized by Carl von Carlowitz and the institutionalization of forestry education at universities. The discipline has since expanded to address climate change, land-use pressures, and biodiversity loss, integrating climate science, carbon accounting, and adaptation strategies.

Today, students pursue Forstwissenschaft or related programs at universities in German-speaking countries, often combining theory with practical training in forest management. The discipline informs public policy, forest planning, and industry, and plays a key role in ecosystem services, rural livelihoods, and sustainable resource use.