Development of collaboration at the faculty of forest sciences

The idea is to build on the activities within SLU Partnership Alnarp and the regional forest programs. Anna-Lena Axelsson has since 2019 worked with collaboration on behalf of the forest faculty and for a long time as coordinator for SLU environmental analysis, where collaboration with national and regional authorities is in focus. Anders Lindhagen is new to the group and affiliated with the Department of Forest Economics at Ultuna. He also works as program director for the new education program forest economics. They work together with Henrik Böhlenius, who is a senior lecturer at the Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre and responsible for the thematic group on forests within Partnership Alnarp. Staff in Skinnskatteberg and at the Unit for Field-based Forest Research are also involved in the work.  

- It has been a challenge to create new external contacts and develop collaboration during the last two years when it has not been possible to meet physically, says Anna-Lena Axelsson who leads the trio, but digital meetings also make it easier to get participants from all over country on various activities.

Anders Lindhagen is currently planning the spring's activities and has the main responsibility for coordination in central Sweden and for the development of collaboration in undergraduate education.

- I am currently planning meetings with representatives of the regional forest programs in the central region and for participation in conferences, excursions and other meeting places.

Collaboration with regional forest programs

 In addition to the assignment within Partnership Alnarp, Henrik Böhlenius is involved in the work in several different regional forest programs in South Sweden and also coordinates the forest faculty's strategic collaboration initiative with Stora Enso.

- I have been involved from the start and act as SLU's representative in the steering group for three regional forest programs, but I also participate in the work in three other counties.

During the national forest program's annual conference on 14 February 2022, Anna-Lena Axelsson spoke about how SLU and the forest faculty contribute to the work in the regional forest programs. She focuses on collaboration in northern Sweden and is particularly active in Västerbotten's regional forest program.

- I am SLU's representative in the reference group and also participate in a regional process on indicators of biological diversity together with nature conservation managers and ecologists from twelve different organizations. Researchers and teachers from other faculties also participate actively in the work within the regional forest programs, but in the counties and regions where the forest faculty does not have a large activity, it is not as obvious that SLU is seen as a relevant actor. The group will work actively to make SLU and the forest faculty an obvious collaboration partner for these regional forest programs as well.

Development funds for collaboration

Linked to the assignment to develop collaboration, there is funding that employees at S-fak can apply for to organize conferences, excursions, hackathons and webinars in collaboration with external actors. There will also be certain funds for activities and pilot projects that can lead to collaboration with new actors and major collaboration projects. Those interested in working towards the regional forest programs or other relevant networks can also receive funding.

• More information: Support for collaboration – suggest activities and projects! | Medarbetarwebben (slu.se)

Contact Anna-Lena, Anders or Henrik if you are interested in developing collaboration and have ideas for projects and activities. They can tell you more about the funding possibilities, help to find external partners and also, if necessary, arrange and facilitate initial meetings with external actors.