SEK 3 million to biodiversity research
The Södra Research Foundation has decided to grant SEK 3 million to research projects linked to biodiversity. Three different projects have received funding.
This is the first time since funding commenced in 1995 that the Södra Research Foundation has called for research projects with a specific theme. The aim is to develop knowledge in order to improve assessments of how biodiversity is changing in the forests of southern Sweden.
The highest amount of funding was awarded to a project led by Jan-Olov Weslien, from the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden. The aim of the research project is to analyse data on the state of biodiversity in southern Sweden and how conditions have changed over time.
“Monitoring changes in biodiversity entails a number of serious methodological problems. The projects will provide knowledge of how the environmental objective for forestry can be better monitored. Södra has worked systematically with nature conservation for more than 20 years and receiving confirmation that our nature conservation activities have generated results is important to us” said Göran Örlander, Chairman of the Södra Research Foundation.
The other two projects to receive funding will partly focus on global biodiversity monitoring and draw lessons to apply to Swedish forestry. The third will investigate whether nature conservation considerations after harvesting have long-lasting effects on biodiversity while forests are growing.
Projects granted funding in December 2017:
| Project | Funding | Researcher | Organisation |
| How can National Inventory of Landscapes (NILS) data be used to monitor the effects of forestry on biodiversity in southern Sweden? | SEK 2,000,000 | Jan-Olov Weslien | Forestry Research Insititue of Sweden |
| Measuring diversity – what can we learn from other countries? | SEK 180,000 | Martin Schmalholz | Skogsekologi konsulten |
| Nature conservation considerations in final harvesting, are they still effective when forests have grown? | SEK 863,000 | Matts Lindbladh | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) |
The total amount of funding granted was SEK 3,043,000
For more information, please contact:
Göran Örlander, Chairman of the Södra Research Foundation,
E-mail: goran.orlander@sodra.com
Tel: +46 (0)470-893 62
Gustav Tibblin, Board member of the Södra Research Foundation,
E-mail: gustav.tibblin@sodra.com
Tel: +46 (0)470-894 98
Södra’s Pressroom
E-mail: press@sodra.com
Tel: +46 (0)470 890 90
| Facts The mission of the Södra Foundation for Research, Development and Education is to promote research and education of significance to forestry, and forest industry operations, in Southern Sweden. The projects that receive funding include fields of research and development that are relevant and important for both forestry and the forest industry. Since the inception of the Foundation in 1995, about 150 research projects have received grants. The findings of the research projects have been significant both from a social perspective, and for the forest industry The Foundation holds four Board meetings per year, at which grant applications are considered. Information about the rules for applying for funding from the Foundation is available at www.sodra.com. |
Södra was founded in 1938 and is the largest forest-owner association in Sweden, with a membership of more than 50,000 forest owners. We engage in modern and responsible forestry, and operate state-of-the-art mills in which we process our raw material. Through value-generating relationships and a long-term approach, Södra is leading the way for the next generation of forestry.
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