Become a member
Membership of IUFRO is open to any institution concerned with the promotion, support or conduct of research related to forests, trees and forest products.
Forest products culture is an integral part of IUFRO since it concerns the foundations of how people learn about and use forest products. We have formed two Working Parties: 1) Wood Culture and 2) Non-Wood Forest Products Culture.
Research in forest products culture improves people's relationship with nature and opens new ways to understand forest products from economic, environmental, sustainability, cultural and socialogical perspectives. It includes but is not limited to history, policy management, sociology, economics, philosophy, culture, religion, art and education.
Forest Products Culture plans to have research papers submitted to IUFRO Division 5 and World Congress Meetings and to develop a network of people interested in forest products culture.
The objective of this unit is to provide a interdisciplinary forum for the exchange of ideas related to the foundation, application, and practices of forest products culture and to provide applicable approaches to both research and everyday life.
Forest Products Culture will be linked to 9.03.02 Forest Culture and 5.11.00 Non-wood Forest Products.
STATE OF KNOWLEDGE
Historically, people have used the forest for all aspects of living including food, shelter, health, energy, and everyday products. Although trees in the forest provide wood products; these same trees can provide secondary products such as leaves, fruits, nuts, extractives, and sap. Smaller plants, fungi, and fish and game from the forest are also important forest products.
Research areas emphasized by the Forest Products Culture Research Group, where some knowledge is already available:
- The historical and contemporary use of forest products in different regions or countries in the world
- The culture of forest products in different societies as part of religion, literature, philosophy, and art
- The advancement in the use and culture of forest products in all societies and at all levels of education
- The education and promotion of the positive aspects of forest products
Knowledge gaps:
- The impacts of modern technology and the application of traditional knowledge on the use of forest products
- The perception of forest products compared to other materials such as plastics, metals, and concrete and food products.
- How knowledge about forest products is transfered in different societies
- The global recognition of innovations in wood and non-wood forest products
