TUM launches Center for Alpine Forest Management to safeguard Bavaria’s protective mountain forests under climate change

Alpine mountain forests are particularly affected by climate change. The Center for Alpine Forestry will investigate whether and to what extent these forests can continue to fulfill their functions under changing climate conditions. Photo: Rupert Seidl / TUM

(IN BRIEF) TUM has launched the Center for Alpine Forest Management with support from the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation to study how climate change is affecting Bavaria’s protective mountain forests and to develop strategies for their long-term preservation. The center brings together five leading researchers in ecoclimatology, forest management, tree physiology, ecosystem dynamics, and earth observation to investigate how rising temperatures, retreating glaciers, and increasing natural hazards are reshaping alpine forests. Over the next four and a half years, the research will address ecological, technical, and social dimensions of forest management through five interdisciplinary subprojects, while strengthening TUM’s broader role in alpine climate and hazard research.

(PRESS RELEASE) MUNICH, 3-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has launched the Center for Alpine Forest Management, a new interdisciplinary research initiative dedicated to understanding and safeguarding alpine protective forests under accelerating climate change. The center has been established with support from the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation and will focus on examining how environmental shifts are affecting mountain forests and identifying long-term strategies to maintain their protective functions.

In Bavaria, around 60 percent of alpine forests are classified as protective forests, meaning they play a crucial role in shielding settlements, infrastructure, and transport routes from natural hazards such as avalanches, landslides, and rockfalls. However, rising temperatures, retreating glaciers, and shifting snow patterns are increasingly undermining the stability and resilience of these ecosystems. Warming in the Alpine region is progressing at roughly twice the global average, placing additional stress on forest structures, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem health.

As climate conditions continue to change, it remains uncertain whether alpine forests will be able to sustain their current level of protection. At the same time, the frequency and intensity of natural hazards they are meant to mitigate are expected to increase. Over the next four and a half years, the Center for Alpine Forest Management will conduct comprehensive research to assess these developments and explore adaptive management approaches that can help preserve the protective capacity of mountain forests.

Robert Mayr, founder and chairman of the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation, emphasizes the personal and environmental motivation behind the initiative. Having grown up in Upper Bavaria and spent much of his life engaged in outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing, he expresses deep concern about the visible impacts of climate change on alpine landscapes, particularly in forested mountain regions.

The center brings together five leading TUM professors from climate and forest sciences to integrate ecological, technical, and social perspectives. Annette Menzel, Professor of Ecoclimatology at TUM, will co-lead the center alongside Thomas Knoke, Professor of Forest Management. They will collaborate with Rupert Seidl, Professor of Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management; Richard L. Peters, Professor of Tree Growth and Wood Physiology; and Cornelius Senf, Professor of Earth Observation for Ecosystem Management. Each researcher contributes specialized expertise to create a holistic understanding of alpine forest dynamics.

A key objective of the center is to balance scientific analysis with societal expectations of forests. According to Thomas Knoke, forests serve multiple roles beyond protection, including recreation, resource provision, and wildlife habitat. The research program is structured around five subprojects that address critical gaps in knowledge related to tree growth, ecosystem management, remote sensing, and the social dimensions of forest conservation.

The establishment of the Center for Alpine Forest Management strengthens TUM’s role in addressing climate-related challenges in mountain regions. Martin Klingenspor, Dean of the TUM School of Life Sciences, highlights that protective forests are vital for both human communities and natural ecosystems, making adaptive management increasingly urgent. He welcomes the collaboration of top researchers working together to advance scientific understanding and practical solutions.

The center operates within TUM’s broader commitment to sustainability and climate research. TUM is an active partner in the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus and hosts TUM Alpha, the Center for Alpine Hazards & Risk. Since 2019, the university has also collaborated with Berchtesgaden National Park under the research leadership of Rupert Seidl, further reinforcing its expertise in alpine environmental studies.

Further information and links

• The five subprojects:
  Ecoclimatology (Prof. Annette Menzel)
  Tree growth and wood physiology (Prof. Richard L. Peters)
  Protective functions under different management approaches (Prof. Rupert Seidl)
  Earth observation for ecosystem management (Prof. Cornelius Senf)
  Demand for mountain forest insurance services and conflicts with other ecosystem services (Prof. Thomas Knoke)
• The Center for Alpine Forest Management is run by researchers of the TUM School of Life Sciences.
• TUM conducts extensive research on the effects of climate change in the Alps. It is a consortium partner of the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus and home to TUM Alpha, the Center for Alpine Hazards & Risk. Since 2019, TUM has also collaborated with Berchtesgaden National Park under the research leadership of Rupert Seidl.

Media Contacts:

Corporate Communications Center
Anja Lapac
presse@tum.de

Contacts to this article:

Prof. Dr. Annette Menzel
Technical University of Munich
Professorship of Ecoclimatology
annette.menzel@tum.de

SOURCE: Technical University of Munich