We focus on three themes:
(1) the ecology of forest regeneration in a changing world;
(2) understanding biodiversity and functional diversity in relation to resource gradients (notably water and light), and
(3) sustainable supply of forest resources and environmental services, under changing environmental conditions.
Our research is both fundamental and applied: we evaluate the ecological consequences of changes in abiotic, biotic and human environment on ecosystem functioning as well as on the services that forests provide to mankind, and seek to determine how forest functioning and services may be restored, sustained or optimized by management.
Our approach is to use general ecophysiological, ecological and evolutionary concepts to interpret field observations, controlled experiments and modelling analyses. Our work involves a variety of academic disciplines.
Where we work
We work in forest ecosystems worldwide. Emphasis is on Dutch forestry, European forest resources, and tropical rainforest conservation. We have projects in most European countries as well as in China, Indonesia, Thailand, Ethiopia, Cameroun, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Brasil, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Equador, Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico.
The FEM group is part of the Centre for Ecosystem Studies, in which groups of Wageningen University and teams of the Alterra research institute cooperate.
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