Rupert Seidl

Prof. Rupert Seidl is a Professor of Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), affiliated with the TUM School of Life Sciences and the Department of Life Science Systems. He leads the Chair of Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management in Mountain Landscapes, focusing on understanding forest ecosystem dynamics, disturbance regimes, and sustainable management strategies in the context of climate change. His research integrates empirical field studies, remote sensing, and simulation modeling to address challenges such as biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and forest resilience.

Seidl holds a PhD from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna (2008) and completed his habilitation in forest ecosystem management in 2014. He has held academic positions at BOKU Vienna, including Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Institute of Silviculture, before joining TUM in 2019. His work includes leading projects like the ERC Consolidator Grant-funded research on forest disturbances and collaborations with institutions like the Berchtesgaden National Park.

Key research areas include disturbance ecology, climate change impacts on forest ecosystems, and the development of management frameworks for resilient forest landscapes. He has authored influential studies on forest disturbance regimes, biodiversity-productivity relationships, and the role of human interventions in forest resilience. His contributions have positioned him among the top 1% of most cited scientists in his field and earned recognition such as the Austrian Academy of Sciences membership and the START Prize.

Seidl’s work emphasizes translating ecological insights into practical management strategies, with a focus on mountain ecosystems and protected areas. He oversees a team of researchers and collaborates internationally on projects addressing forest carbon dynamics, remote sensing applications, and socio-ecological resilience.