Waldwachstumsforschung, forstwirtschaftliche Praxis und Feedback: Der Impetus von Friedrich Franz (^*5. August 1927,111. Juli 2002) in die Forstwissenschaft

Friedrich Franz (Fig. 1) obtained his PhD degree in 1957 at the Eberswalde Institute of the Humboldt University Berlin for his research on Scots pine growth in NE Germany, and his habilitation degree in 1968 at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich for his thesis on site-tree growth relationships. He held the Chair for Forest Growth and Yield Science at the latter university from 1973 to 1994. The impetus of Friedrich Franz ( ^*5. August 1927, †11. July 2002) to forest growth and yield science extends from forest mensuration and inventory to modelling and knowledge transfer to practical forestry. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of his death we review his approach to research, biography, and his impact on forest science and practice. Friedrich Franz represents a model of a scientist who combined science and knowledge application. His biography includes an apprenticeship as a woodsman, basic research into tree and stand growth of Central European tree species, and development of data processing-based information systems for efficient knowledge feedback between science and practice (Fig. 2). His close contacts with practical forestry stimulated his research on the growth of pure and mixed species stands, modeling and simulation, resource inventory and decision support for planning and operational control of forest management. His works were always based on sound data from longterm experimental plots and inventories at estate or state level and were relevant for both theory development and practical application. Through his own research and his very specific influence on his students, Friedrich Franz was able to create an impetus on forest growth and yield science and forest practice which reaches far into the future.