Lars Graudal

Lars Graudal serves as Senior Advisor in the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Life Sciences. He has been Head of Division for Forest Genetic Resources and the LIFE Arboretum at the Danish Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning since 2004.

With twenty-five years of professional experience, including ten years in management roles, Graudal has extensive field experience from over fifty missions to more than twenty countries, primarily in tropical regions. His expertise spans project appraisal, formulation, implementation, and evaluation, with significant fund-raising capabilities that have supported numerous international forestry initiatives.

His research interests focus on:

• Use and conservation of genetic resources of trees
• International policy dialogue in forestry and environment
• Biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation
• Desertification prevention and biomass for energy development
• Agroforestry systems and landscape restoration
• Tree seed and seedling sector development

Graudal's recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on creating practical resources for forest management, including global databases for agroforestry species and native trees. His work bridges scientific research with practical application in international development contexts, particularly in tropical countries, with publications receiving significant attention across academic and policy circles.

His professional activities include:

• Chair of Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations committees (2011-2012)
• Member of Danish Ministry of Science committees (2011-2012)
• Member of Danish Planting Associations (2011-2012)
• Member of Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs committees (2011-2012)
• Former Member of FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources (2001-2007)

His research has been widely disseminated, with 175 recorded publications across multiple formats including reports, journal articles, and book chapters, demonstrating his significant contribution to the field of forest genetic resources and international forestry policy.