Bart Muys

Dr. Bart Muys serves as Full Professor of Forest Ecology and Management at KU Leuven's Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, where he leads the Forest Ecology and Management (FORECOMAN) research group. His research focuses on ecosystem functioning of tree diversity, forest restoration ecology, and sustainability evaluation in forests and bioenergy systems. Since earning his Ph.D. from Ghent University in 1993 on earthworms and litter decomposition in Flemish forests, he has become one of the most cited scientists in silviculture and forest management. His work examines biodiversity's role in forest ecosystem services, particularly in the context of restoration and climate change resilience. He has made significant contributions to understanding Jatropha curcas as a sustainable biofuel source and has demonstrated the cooling effects of forests on local climates. His research combines ecological principles with practical forest management approaches, contributing to both academic knowledge and sustainable forestry practices.