The International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems (ISTVS) mourns the passing of Iwan Wästerlund, former ISTVS President, respected scholar, and long-standing representative of forestry vehicle research and environmentally sustainable off-road mobility within our community.
Iwan’s health had been declining since a stroke approximately ten years ago, yet he remained intellectually engaged and connected to colleagues and friends in the terramechanics and forestry engineering communities. His passing marks the loss of a distinguished scientist, mentor, leader, and friend.
Leadership in ISTVS and International Forestry Engineering
Iwan served as President of ISTVS and was a strong voice for the domain of forestry vehicles within the society. He championed environmentally responsible off-road mobility long before sustainability became a central theme in engineering discourse. His work consistently emphasized balancing mechanization with soil protection, ecological integrity, and long-term forest productivity.
He chaired the 2000 ISTVS Conference in Umeå, Sweden — a memorable event for many members, particularly its outstanding technical field day. Colleagues still recall the conference for its strong scientific program, practical demonstrations, and Iwan’s characteristic humor and hospitality.
Beyond ISTVS, Iwan was deeply engaged internationally. He was active within FAO/ECE expert teams on soil damage and chaired ECE/FAO/ILO teams of specialists, contributing to global dialogue on forest mechanization and environmental stewardship.
Professor Iwan Wästerlund’s field day during the 2000 conference in Umea
Academic Career and Scholarly Contributions
Dr. Wästerlund was a retired Professor in Forest Technology (1995–2001) and later affiliated with Olasgården Forest and Roads in Sävar, Sweden. Over his career, he supervised nearly 100 Master’s theses and 10 doctoral dissertations, shaping a generation of forest engineers and researchers.
He served as a referee for approximately 150 scientific papers across journals, including Silva Fennica, the Journal of Terramechanics, and Forest Ecology and Management. His commitment to scientific rigor and thoughtful peer review strengthened the broader research community.
Among his many scholarly contributions was his book:
Soil and Root Damage in Forestry: Reducing the Impact of Forest Mechanization (Elsevier, 2020)
In this work, Iwan examined the often-overlooked impacts of harvesting and silvicultural machinery on soils and root systems. The book not only explains mechanisms of soil compaction, root damage, and resulting ecological effects, but also provides practical methods to reduce the environmental footprint of forest mechanization. It stands as an important reference for researchers, practitioners, and advanced students seeking to understand what he often described as the “hidden half” of the forest ecosystem.
A Colleague and Friend
Following the news of his passing, many members of ISTVS shared heartfelt reflections on Iwan’s influence and friendship.
Dr. Sally Shoop, who first met Iwan at the 1989 ISTVS conference in Victoria, BC, recalled working closely with him for many years on EU committees and teaching short courses. She remembered him as a valued collaborator who was always ready for a lively technical discussion — even by email — and described him as a true asset to both ISTVS and the broader terramechanics community.
Alex Keen also shared fond memories, particularly of the 2000 ISTVS European Conference in Umeå, which Iwan chaired and helped organize. The conference’s technical field trip remains especially memorable to those who attended. As Alex reflected, he has “fond memories of Iwan, including the Umeå conference that Iwan organized, particularly the field trip.” The field day gallery from that conference still captures Iwan in one of his favorite environments — outdoors, surrounded by forestry operations and real terrain conditions, enthusiastically sharing knowledge with colleagues.
Others remembered not only his scientific rigor and leadership, but also his humor and warmth. Conversations with Iwan were often spirited, thoughtful, and filled with wit — qualities that made professional exchanges both intellectually engaging and personally enjoyable.
Legacy
Iwan Wästerlund leaves behind a lasting legacy in forest technology, terramechanics, and sustainable off-road mobility. Through his leadership in ISTVS, his international service, his scholarship, and his mentorship, he helped shape both the scientific direction and the human character of our community.
He will be remembered not only for his contributions to forestry vehicle research and soil protection, but also for his collegiality, wit, and dedication to advancing knowledge responsibly.
The ISTVS community extends its deepest condolences to his wife, Dianne, his family, his former students, and his many colleagues around the world.