Vilis Brukas, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, visiting professor at BETA

BETA is delighted to welcome Professor Vilis Brukas, recipient of the France Excellence Research Grant, to the AgroParisTech campus in Nancy for an academic visit to France from September 14 to October 28, 2025.

Vilis Brukas leads a research group in forest policy and planning at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. His scholarly work spans a broad range of topics, including—though not limited to—forest policy instruments, the interface between forest policy and planning, and forest governance in “old” versus “new” democracies. A fond user of qualitative research methods, his studies often embrace a comparative, cross-country perspective.

Vilis’ stay at BETA presents a valuable opportunity to gain deeper insights into French forest governance, laying the groundwork for comparative analyses between France and other European countries. According to him, “France represents a fascinating case—its forest policy is highly centralized yet implemented across regions with striking ecological and socio-economic diversity.” He adds, “I’m excited to explore the key dimensions of French forest policy. And although I don’t speak French, I look forward to experiencing the richness of French culture.”

Among other commitments, Vilis Brukas plans to deliver lectures on the importance of policy context for forest planning, and on forest knowledge and innovation systems across European countries.