Review: Summer School 2025 – Applied Forest Ecology and International Sustainable Forestry

From February 20 to 28, 2025, the international Summer School “Ecología Forestal Aplicada y Manejo Forestal Internacional Sostenible” took place in Nahuel Huapi National Park and the Manso Valley in Northern Patagonia. It was organized by the KLIMNEM project team and brought together students from Argentina and Europe who are interested in applied forest ecology and sustainable forestry in an international context. 

The Summer School offered an intensive, hands-on learning experience, combining theoretical foundations with practical fieldwork, excursions, and exchange between students and professionals from science and practice. 

Structure and Content:

As early as November 2024, participants were introduced to the subject through several recorded lectures and group-based digital exercises. In January, online sessions with experts followed, addressing current topics related to forests and sustainability. 

The main part of the Summer School took place in late February in Patagonia. The program began in San Carlos de Bariloche, from where the group traveled to the upper Valle del Río Manso – a central research site of the KLIMNEM project. There, the students worked in small groups under the guidance of researchers and collected their own field data. 

The practical components included, among others: 

  • Vegetation and biodiversity surveys 
  • Soil investigations 
  • Microclimate and temperature measurements 
  • Forest structure assessments 

The collected data were analyzed on site and presented by the participants in short final presentations. The focus was on independent work in real research environments. 

Goals and Topics:

In addition to method training, the Summer School also addressed key issues such as sustainable forest use, climate change, and the role of humans in cultural landscapes. Through conversations and joint reflections, challenges and potential solutions were discussed – always in relation to the specific context of Northern Patagonia. 

Particularly impressive was the work along a natural precipitation gradient, where the effects of different environmental conditions became visible and measurable. Students gained direct insights into the research activities of the KLIMNEM project.

Our Sincere Thanks!

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the following individuals, whose expertise, experience, and tireless commitment made a significant contribution to the success of the Summer School 2025: 

  • Andrea Premoli 
  • Carolina Vera 
  • Juan Paritsis 
  • Natalia Fernández 
  • Thomas Kitzberger 
  • Victoria Bergter 
  • Sofía Cingolani 
  • Gabriel Loguercio 
  • Javier Grosfeld 
  • José Bava 
  • José Daniel Lencinas 
  • Marina Caselli 
  • Juan Gowda

Your dedication turned the Summer School into a truly special experience and played a key role in its success. Thank you!