Ernst Assmann: A German pioneer in forest production ecology and quantitative silviculture

Ernst Assmann belonged to the most influential German forest scientists in the twentieth century. His systemic and scale-overarching scientific approach toward forest dynamics triggered a wealth of research lines that continue up to the present day. In this article, we recall his scientific vita, his most important discoveries and his scientific legacy. In honor of this outstanding researcher, the European Journal of Forest Research initiates the series of Ernst Assmann Reviews on Production Ecology and Quantitative Silviculture .