Dirk Landgraf

Prof. Dr. Dirk Landgraf is a Professor of Forestry at the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt, specializing in Renewable Resources and Timber Market Theory within the School of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Forestry. He serves as a Substitute member of the Faculty Council and Member of the LGF Study Commission. His academic career spans over two decades with significant contributions to forestry research, particularly in short rotation coppice systems, soil science, and agroforestry.

Landgraf's educational background includes Agricultural Sciences from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, with a diploma on soil temperature calculations and a dissertation on nitrogen balance in sandy soils. His professional experience ranges from research positions at the UFZ Leipzig-Halle and TU Dresden to leadership roles in post-mining landscape recultivation before joining the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt.

His research interests focus on renewable resources, timber markets, forestry consulting, short rotation coppice systems, and post-mining landscape management. Landgraf has supervised numerous bachelor's and master's theses across forestry and renewable energy management programs, with students researching topics ranging from biomass production to forest ecosystem management.

His recent research has centered on understanding the forestry consulting market in Germany, particularly examining the relationship between supply and demand for advisory services to private forest owners. This work represents an important contribution to understanding how to support forest management during the current forest crisis.

Landgraf serves on the Advisory Board on Renewable Resources appointed by the Thuringian Ministry of Infrastructure and Agriculture, the Forest Advisory Board of the City of Halle/S, and as an Editorial Board Member for MDPI: Forests. He is a frequent reviewer for numerous forestry and soil science journals including Forests (MDPI), GCB Bioenergy (Wiley), and Soil Systems (MDPI).

He has led multiple research projects, most notably the N-ForB project (2020-2023) on new approaches to forestry consulting and support, which investigated the current demand for forestry advice in private forests. His extensive publication record covers topics from soil science to renewable energy systems in forestry contexts.