Two researchers from Freiburg are revolutionizing forestry!

Two researchers from Freiburg are revolutionizing forestry!

The award from Dr. Zoe Schindler and Maximilian Wawrzinek through the Sattelmühle Foundation has attracted great attention in the field of forestry sciences. Both researchers were honored for their outstanding work that makes significant contributions to sustainable agriculture and improving ecosystem services.

Dr. Zoe Schindler, research associate at the Chair of Forest Growth and Dendroecology at the University of Freiburg, was honored for her dissertation entitled “Trees with benefits: Selected ecosystem services provided by trees in agroforestry systems”. Using state-of-the-art remote sensing methods, particularly terrestrial laser scanning, she has investigated the ecological services that trees provide in agroforestry systems. Their research shows that larger trees fulfill a disproportionate number of ecological functions, which is of great importance for the food supply of pollinating insects.

Scientific progress and agricultural policy

A central finding of their work is the connection between trunk thickness and the number of flowers per tree. These results suggest that trees in such systems should be managed to achieve great age and size. Maximilian Wawrzinek, who was honored for his master's thesis "Regional chronologies for the Murgtal - proxy data from spruce and fir tree rings as alternative sources for interdisciplinary forest history", highlights historical connections between climate change and resource management. He analyzed around 600 wood samples and reconstructed a 700-year history of climate and use.

Both award winners have not only demonstrated their scientific skills, but also help to highlight the importance of agroforestry for climate-neutral agriculture. Agroforestry systems show enormous potential for storing carbon and reducing CO₂ emissions. According to topic sheet #10 of the DeFAF working group on climate impact, agroforestry elements can reduce CO₂ emissions by an average of 10 tons of CO₂ equivalent per hectare per year, which, if implemented on 1 million hectares in Germany, could lead to the sequestration of up to 10 million tons of CO₂ equivalent annually.

The role of agroforestry

With the publication of the dossier “Agroforestry 2025”, the Institute for World Food has provided comprehensive analyzes of the current situation and prospects for agroforestry in Germany. It is emphasized that agroforestry offers combined systems of trees and shrubs with arable or pasture farming and can therefore not only combat climate change but also promote biodiversity.

However, the success of these strategies depends on the political framework. The already announced increase in subsidies from 200 to 600 euros per hectare from 2026 could be a decisive incentive. This could also overcome the bureaucratic barriers that prevent many farmers from implementing agroforestry projects. Best practice examples and voices from the field demonstrate the need for professional training and social change to realize the full potential of this sustainable form of agriculture.

In summary, Schindler and Wawrzinek's award is not only recognition of their individual scientific achievements, but also reflects the urgently needed political and social support for agroforestry in Germany. The path to climate-friendly agriculture is emerging, but there are still many challenges to be overcome.

For detailed information on the relevant topics you can read the articles from uni-freiburg.de, agroforst-info.de and institut-fuer-welternaehrung.org visit.