2011 – International year of forests
The United Nations declared the year 2011 "International Year of Forests". A welcome opportunity to invite you to inform yourself about our diverse research activities in the fields of forestry and timber.
The vTI covers the field with five specialty institutes extending from the genetic characteristics of forest plants, through to ecological aspects, further to the condition of German and international forests, as well as the use of wood as a renewable natural resource and economic analysis.
Institute of Wood Technology and Wood Biology, Hamburg
Institute of Forest Based Sector Economics, Hamburg
Institute of World Forestry, Hamburg
Institute of Forest Ecology and Forest Inventory, Eberswalde
Institute of Forest Genetics, Großhansdorf and Waldsieversdorf
Forests have many functions: they are living spaces for numerous plants and animals (especially tropical rain forests are among the most species diverse ecosystems on Earth). Forests protect climate, water and soil. Also they provide the renewable and environmentally friendly raw material wood. In Germany alone, forestry and the timber industry employ more than 1.2 million people.
Some statistics for our domestic forests
The official start of the International Year of Forests in Germany was on March 21, 2011, which is also the first day of spring and the International Day of the Forest. More information on the International Year of the Forests can be found under www.wald2011.de.
Lecture series at Eberswalde (PDF of the programme) (lectures either in German or English)