Sorg, Jean-Pierre, Dr. Dr. h.c.

ETH-Zentrum Dr. Dr. h.c. Jean-Pierre Sorg Groupe de foresterie pour le développement CHN F75.2 Universitätstr 22 8092 Zürich Phone: +41 44 632 32 14 Fax: +41 44 632 15 98 E-Mail:

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Born in 1946, Jean-Pierre Sorg graduated in Forest Sciences at the ETH Zurich. He obtained his doctorate in 1977 with a thesis on subalpine spruce forests. From 1977 to 1986 he worked with SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) and Intercooperation as project manager and scientist in projects in Rwanda (ecology and management of mountain forests, afforestation) and Madagascar (ecology and management cum reduced impact logging in dense dry forests). Since 1986 he has been lecturer in international forestry and agroforestry at the Department of Forest Sciences, now at the Department of Environmental Sciences at the ETH and head of the Groupe de foresterie pour le développement (GFD). He conducts various consultancies in the field of applied research, education, project assessment, monitoring and evaluation for SDC, Intercooperation and other agencies in Rwanda, Madagascar, Mali, Burkina Faso, Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Bulgaria, Ukraine. The research fields of the GFD includes sustainable management of natural forests, multifunctionality, man-forest interface, non wood forest products, the management of forested landscapes and forest fragments. For the time being, the main re¬search areas of the GFD are in Madagascar (dry forest area, rainforest area) as well as in Kyrgyzstan (Walnut-fruit forest). In 2005, he got the title of a Doctor honoris causa from the University of Forestry, Sofia, Bulgaria. From 2002 until 2007 he was editor-in-chief of the Swiss Forestry Journal.