Giorgio Vacchiano

Giorgio Vacchiano

Giorgio Vacchiano is an Italian forest scientist and Associate Professor at the University of Milan, where he works on silviculture, forest planning and sustainable forest management.

His research focuses on how forests respond to climate change, disturbances and land-use change, and on how science can support more resilient forest landscapes. He combines field-based forest ecology, dendrochronology, remote sensing and modelling approaches to study forest dynamics, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, wildfire risk, restoration and climate change adaptation.

He has authored more than 100 scientific publications and has coordinated or contributed to several national and European research projects on climate-smart forestry, forest disturbances, ecosystem services, nature-based solutions and sustainable landscape planning. His work supports the development of forest management and adaptation strategies in Italy and across Europe, with particular attention to mountain areas, urban and peri-urban forests, and multifunctional forest landscapes.

He has also worked with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, contributing scientific expertise on forest ecosystems, climate change and landscape-level risk assessment. In 2018, he was recognised by Nature Index among leading early-career scientists for his contribution to forest science and climate-change research.

Alongside his academic activity, Giorgio is strongly engaged in science communication. He writes and speaks regularly for public audiences, institutions and media outlets on the role of forests in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises, aiming to make forest science accessible, relevant and useful for society. He serves as President of Climate Media Center Italia.

Download Giorgio Vacchiano's Declaration of Interests form here.