Lars Vesterdal

Lars Vesterdal is a Professor in the Section for Forest, Nature and Biomass at the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN), Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. His research focuses on forest ecology and soil science with emphasis on carbon cycling, nutrient dynamics, and ecosystem services provided by forests. He has played key roles in national and international forest monitoring programs and contributes to Danish reporting under UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol.

Education:

• 1995: MSc (Forestry), the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark
• 1998: PhD (Forest Ecology), the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark

Vesterdal's research primarily centers on biogeochemistry of forest ecosystems with a focus on carbon and nitrogen cycling as affected by tree species, forest management, and land-use change. His work examines soil carbon stocks, their turnover, and vertical distribution through long-term field experiments including unique chronosequences of afforestation on former cropland. He has established experimental sites that enable separation of tree species effects from site-related factors, providing critical insights into carbon sequestration potential, water recharge, and nitrogen retention in forest ecosystems. His research integrates soil science with forest ecology to understand the processes behind observed patterns in soil carbon dynamics.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on carbon sequestration following afforestation, effects of tree species diversity on soil properties, greenhouse gas emissions from forest soils, and ecosystem development in new forests on post-agricultural land. His work spans multiple spatial and temporal scales, from detailed soil process studies to European-scale assessments of forest carbon dynamics, with particular attention to practical applications for climate change mitigation strategies.

Scientific Awards:

• Heilmann's Honorary Prize for researchers (2003)
• Medal by The Danish Academy of Natural Sciences for PhD thesis

Vesterdal has supervised numerous PhD and MSc students and serves as Associate Editor for Canadian Journal of Forest Research and member of the Editorial Board of Forest Ecology and Management. His research is supported by substantial external funding, with over DKK 20 million secured in the last five years for projects including SINKS 2 (Soil carbon in Danish forests) and contributions to EU projects such as FUNDIV-EUROPE and GHG-EUROPE. He is actively involved in international collaborations as vice-chair of the Scientific Committee of ICP Forests and contributes to the Danish intensive forest monitoring programme.

He teaches courses including Ecology of Natural Resources (BSc), Ecology and Ecosystems Science in Relation to Environmental Economics (MSc), and Climate Change and Land Use (MSc), and serves on PhD defense committees and as external examiner at multiple Danish universities.