Martin Brüllhardt: "The forest laboratory is the ideal place to discover multifunctional cultural forests."

When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

I’ve always been fascinated by a variety of different careers and occupations so my choices have changed over time. I found the idea of holding down just one job slightly restricting. I struggled with having the same, recurring occupation. Later on, I was of course very grateful that I hadn’t had to select a traditional career but instead had the opportunity to educate myself in various different subjects. Even if I chopped and changed what I wanted to be when I was a child, at an early age I was fascinated by nature and a desire to manage ecosystems to our benefit yet in harmony with nature.

You have a Master’s in environmental systems science and a doctorate in forest ecology and forestry from ETH Zurich. What inspired you to study at ETH?

It wasn't ETH itself, but the specialist subject which was important to me. At that time, ETH was the only place in Switzerland offering this course. As I’ve already said, I was fascinated with the primary production of our ecosystems and the various near-natural concepts for using them. Environmental systems science was a course which covered my huge span of interests and gave me with a tool for analysing networked and interdisciplinary relationships and problems. But there were also aspects of social sciences in the course.

As an institution, ETH of course has a huge appeal and an excellent reputation. Not just with regard to research but also the resources available during teaching. The infrastructure and support at this university, with its very solid financial underpinning, are outstanding.

In September 2020 you became the managing director of the Zurich forest laboratory. What exactly is this?

The forest laboratory (German: external page Waldlabor) is the ideal place to discover multifunctional cultural forests. It’s a real sustainability lab. We work to communicate the forest ecosystem and promote the transfer of knowledge from research into practical forest management and society. Our main goal is therefore to create a venue for education and research in the sense of experience-based learning through discovery to encourage networked thinking, both for the general public and for students, forestry experts and researchers. The forest laboratory is an open platform for general investigations into questions relating to how to design multifunctional cultural forests.

If you simply walk through the forest, there will be many things that you don't see. The forest laboratory aims to a place of encounters and dialogue for society and researchers. We assume the role of a communicator to allow everyone to understand the language of researchers and therefore for researchers to be able to talk to the man or woman on the street about their research. We are particularly focused on the diverse ecosystem services of our forests and ways of safeguarding these in the long term through management specifically in harmony with nature. This includes collecting and documenting experiences and information about the forest ecosystem and enabling research projects on them to come into fruition.

What challenges do you currently face?

The forest laboratory is still very young. The concept behind us and the work to establish us over the last few years has been driven and undertaken by a large number of very enthusiastic people. At our current stage, not only do we need to overcome the basic challenge of implementing streamlined and efficient administrative structures but we also need to answer questions on how we can integrate society and use people’s input. What platforms can we create to involve forestry stakeholders and how do we establish them sustainably? Above and beyond this is the role of the forest laboratory at a meta level: How do we support and analyse involvement platforms and decision-making processes to gain knowledge to deliver improved and more generalised results?

The forest ecosystem is affected by a whole range of different interests, for example the very latest mountain bike runs, secluded paths for walking or unspoilt nature. And here in the forest laboratory, we want to illustrate and demonstrate as many management approaches and research projects as possible. In terms of our function, the major challenge is therefore to accommodate these many, and sometimes opposing, goals without putting too much stress on areas. Socially speaking, our biggest problem is involving all the different stakeholders while simultaneously catering for all their interests. Until now, we have focussed on forest ecology. The aim of the forest laboratory is to expand outlooks and also include socio-ecological factors.

And then of course for me personally, I also believe that it’s key to strike a good work-life balance. And I have to say that I slightly underestimated the challenge of taking on my equal share of family work and assuming this management position while only working part time.

21 March is International Day of Forests. Why are forests important?

Forests have a decisive role to play in allowing diverse life to thrive on earth. For us humans, forests are key to our survival as they provide a large number of ecosystem services, be it as foodstuffs, building materials or their role in global material cycles, which has a huge impact on climate. Forests filter water, protect against erosion and flooding as well as various gravitational natural disasters. Forests also have a crucial role to play if we, as a society, want to move away from our fossil fuel-based economy. Forests can be used sustainably and in harmony with nature to produce a local, renewable raw material. For example, without forests we would have no beautiful wooden furniture. And could you imagine your cosy living room without a crackling fire in the hearth?

And don't forget the recreational value of forests that we can’t put a price on. The physiological effect of forests on humans is currently being investigated too. And lastly: consider Zurich on a scorching hot day in summer. How would we cope without the forests? The fresh cool air they provide is irreplaceable.

Do you have any tips for today’s students?

Immerse yourself in the specialist subjects and questions you are most interested in and don't just study for the sake of it but really enjoy the work and content. During my time at uni, I put two strategies to the test: one of them was to study between 8 and 5, so I planned everything and forced myself to work those hours. But I found that doing things at the right time actually took up less time. Then I wanted to study and I enjoyed it. And not only do you excel in things that you enjoy but you do them in the most efficient ways too.

While the curricula available may well be standardised, your career path is as individual as you. So, believe in your strengths! The path will guide you over time because a lot depends on chance. It is a coincidence of timings that I have to thank for my current position at the forest laboratory. The role was advertised just when I had finished my dissertation, which was rather lucky for me.