Ute Saβ-Klaassen

Ute Saβ-Klaassen is a researcher at Wageningen University & Research, affiliated with the Forest Ecology and Forest Management group. She is also associated with Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences. Her research centers on forest responses to climate change, using dendrochronology and tree-ring analysis to study growth patterns, resilience, and ecological dynamics in temperate and tropical forests.

Her research interests include dendrochronology, tree growth, climate change impacts on forests, forest ecology, and decomposition processes. She investigates how trees respond to extreme events such as droughts and fires, and how these responses can inform future forest management and climate adaptation strategies. Her work integrates field measurements, sensor technologies, and remote sensing to understand tree vitality and ecosystem functioning.

The recent publications highlight a strong focus on forest-climate interactions, with studies on larch forests in Siberia, conifer responses to warming, and tropical tree-ring chronologies. There is a recurring emphasis on carbon cycling, forest resilience, and dendroprovenancing techniques, particularly for oak and pine species.

She has supervised or co-supervised multiple PhD projects, including those on freezing tolerance in temperate trees, forensic timber tracing, and stem decomposition. She has led or co-led several research projects funded over the past decade, demonstrating sustained research leadership.

Ute Saβ-Klaassen is actively engaged in public communication, contributing to media discussions on tree health, climate change, and forest sustainability, including appearances in radio and popular science outlets.