University Post
University of Copenhagen
Independent of management

Science

Student project to keep trees from extinction

Ash trees are an important part of the Danish ecosystem. But they risk extinction unless students like Martin Slot at the University of Copenhagen's Forestry school can find a way to save them

A walk in the woods is relaxing for most. But the condition of ash trees in the Danish forests has left many researchers troubled. One such researcher is Martin Slot, a student in Forest and Landscape Engineering who is completing his bachelor project on the topic.

Our reporter caught up with Martin to tour one of these troubled areas, Gribskov, for herself.

Up to 95 per cent of Denmark’s ash trees are sick and risk becoming nothing more than a pile of timber. The fungus, which enters the trees’ rind and cripples its growth, is found on a devastating scale in trees all across Europe and threatens their very existence in many countries. In Denmark the trees are vital to the natural ecosystem.

Martin told our reporter that he hopes his project will bring hope. In conjunction with the Danish Nature Agency, the Forestry School, a branch of the University of Copenhagen, has been working to develop and test hypotheses that will provide better care to at-risk trees.

Follow our reporter’s trip to the Gribskov forest here..

universitypost@adm.ku.dk

Stay in the know about news and events happening in Copenhagen by signing up for the University Post’s weekly newsletter here.

Latest