Two of our experts - with biodiversity in focus

We are proud to present two of our experts. At Naturarvet we have the privilege of collaborating with some of Sweden's most experienced and committed experts in nature conservation. Two of these are Professor Emeritus Lena Gustafsson and biologist Mats Karström - both with a lifetime commitment to forest species and ecosystems.

LenaGustafsson has been a leading voice in conservation biology for several decades, with a particular focus on forest landscape biodiversity. She is a plant ecologist and has often used mosses and lichens as study organisms in her research. Her work at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has had a strong applied focus, where the link between research, forest policy and practical conservation work has been central.

Lena has contributed deep knowledge of key biotopes, nature conservation in forestry, and the importance of the landscape for species and natural values. She has also followed the development of vegetation after the major forest fire in Västmanland in 2014. For her commitment and research communication, she has been awarded the Species Data Bank's Nature Conservation Prize 2024, and she is a long-standing member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Forestry and Agriculture.

Mats Karström, who lives in Vuollerim in Lapland, is a pioneer in practical nature conservation. As early as the 1980s, he began combining field biology with practical inventory work in the forests of northern Sweden. He has developed a methodology in which red-listed species, signal species and so-called value pyramids are used to identify and preserve forests with high natural values - an approach that today is a natural part of Swedish nature conservation inventories.

Through his ' Steget Före' initiative, he has played a crucial role in the protection of over 100 forests. He is an honorary doctor of forestry at SLU, an honorary member of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, and the recipient of several prestigious awards for his work on biodiversity. Mats' teaching skills and willingness to share his knowledge have made him an important source of inspiration - for researchers, practitioners and students alike.

We at Naturarvet are grateful for Lena and Mats' valuable commitment to our work. Their expertise is invaluable in our common endeavor to preserve forests worthy of protection for the future.