en: New approaches to sustainable forest management

Press Release

Invitation to the III REGULUS Status Conference in Munich on 17 and 18 March

How can forests withstand climate change while meeting growing societal demands? Learn about practical research for a sustainable forestry and timber industry and take a look inside a real-world forestry laboratory.

Climate change poses new challenges for forestry with increasing droughts, storms and pest infestations. At the same time, forests are becoming increasingly important as carbon sinks, sources of raw materials and recreational areas. With the REGULUS funding initiative, ten regional innovation groups across Germany are developing solutions for a sustainable forestry and timber industry.

The focus is on close cooperation between research, politics and practice. Topics range from digital forest management and climate-adapted reforestation to the sustainable use of waste wood. At the III. REGULUS Status Conference, the regional innovation groups will present their latest results and how these can be implemented in forestry and timber practice in the future.

We invite you to engage in conversation with the experts and gain insight into practical applications.

When? 17 and 18 March 2026
Where? Gasteig HP8, Munich

Dates for media representatives:

A felled tree with measuring tools and measurement log, several people in the background. — Three employees determine the diameter of the slit logs.

On the day before the actual conference (Monday, 16 March), you will have the opportunity to visit one of the real-world laboratories in the Munich area. The starting point for the excursion is: Unterlippach 1, 84095 Furth. A bus transfer is available, and the meeting point is: Hans-Preißinger-Straße 3-5, 81379 Munich (side street east of Gasteig).

On 18 March, a panel discussion will take place under the motto: "How to build bridges between the laboratory and the forest". The panellists will be Prof. Dr Andreas Bolte (Thünen Institute of Forest Ecosystems), Irene Seling (AGDW - Working Group of German Forest Owners' Associations), Ralf Straußberger (BUND Naturschutz in Bayern), Philipp Gloning (Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism) and Rudolf Plochmann (Bavarian State Forests).

You can also look forward to the latest research findings in interactive poster and lecture sessions. There you will have the opportunity to talk directly with researchers and partners from the field. In addition, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schraml, Director of the Baden-Württemberg Forest Research Institute, will give a keynote speech on the role that research can play in practice.

The Thünen Institute, the Technical University of Munich and the University of Freiburg are jointly responsible for the networking and scientific support of the REGULUS funding initiative. The initiative is part of the German government's Research for Sustainability strategy and is supported by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN).