New report by IUFRO's Science-Policy Programme (SciPol) presented at UNFF19

Excerpts from the IISD/ENB report: 
https://enb.iisd.org/unff19-iufro-science-policy-programme-international-forest-governance

A side event organized by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), held during the 19th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF19), launched the publication of the first global synthesis report on international forest governance in 14 years.

Produced by the Science-Policy Programme (SciPol https://www.iufro.org/science/science-policy/) of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), the report International Forest Governance:  A critical review of trends, drawbacks, and new approaches, synthesizes the most pivotal developments in international forest governance since 2010. The findings provide actionable insights for land use and climate policymakers to spur the implementation of just and effective forest policies.

The side event highlighted important trends and discourses in international forest governance, as summarized by the report's authors, and featured reactions to the report from stakeholders and a question-and-answer session.

In welcome remarks, John Parrotta, US Forest Service and IUFRO President, expressed hope that the report would inform evidence-based decision making at UNFF19 and beyond. The event was then introduced by Christoph Wildburger, IUFRO Science-Policy Programme, who noted that the 2010 report had described the international forest governance landscape as "complex and fragmented," and since that time, the number of actors, initiatives, arrangements, and institutions has "increased considerably."

Main lead author Daniela Kleinschmit, University of Freiburg, Germany, acknowledged the contributions of 38 authors, four editors, and eight reviewers to the report. She highlighted the new report's more "people-centered" approach to improving international forest governance, with a focus on making it more inclusive, and on connecting and coordinating existing instruments. She concluded by a call to embrace people-centered approaches to international forest governance over "simplified standards of success" like deforestation rates.

Lead author Constance McDermott, University of Oxford, UK, appeared via video recording and highlighted several key trends identified in the report. These included the "Target Olympics" of ever-expanding quantitative pledges to reduce deforestation, "even as existing targets fail to be met," and the increasing "climatization" of forests, in which a narrow focus on these ecosystems as carbon sinks "potentially obscures" their other social and ecological values.

Nelson Grima, IUFRO Science-Policy Programme, introduced two stakeholders involved in forest governance and asked for their insights on the report from the perspective of policymaking.

Tiina Rytilä, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland, lauded the peer-reviewed report for addressing a "vacuum" in international forest governance, explaining that the report recognizes that forests are not only important for climate mitigation and adaptation, but also for long-term marked-based investments and the sustainable future of the communities depending on them.

Nathalie Faure, EticWood/Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific, discussed multiple levels of forest governance, from the global to regional scales, from a policymaking perspective. Among the trends she highlighted were a growing focus on the social dimensions of forests; the increased participatory design of governance processes; and a shift in market focus from the legality of forest products to their sustainability.

The report and policy brief are available for download at:  https://www.iufro.org/science/science-policy/follow-up-studies/international-forest-governance-2024/
The recorded session can be rewatched at:  https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1v/k1vh60svu2

Do not miss the related IUFRO World Congress sub-plenary session S4.3 on International Forest Governance in Stockholm, Sweden, on Thursday, 27 June 2024, at 14:30-15:30, Room A4!

IUFRO World Congress sub-plenary session S4.6 Forest Governance in Regions – A Stakeholder Dialogue will follow on Friday, 28 June, at 14:30-15:30, Room A8.

Find out more about these Congress sessions at: 
https://iufro2024.com/science-and-society-sub-plenary-sessions/

An exciting program full of science and innovation, knowledge exchange and presentation, networking, socializing, and getting to know the host region is waiting for you.

If you have not registered yet, now is the time to do so at:  https://iufro2024.com/

To make the most of the Congress, do not miss the introductory session on Sunday, 23 June, at 17:00. Learn about the program, the Congress app and more...

All speakers, find important guidance at:  https://iufro2024.com/keynote-and-speaker-information/
There you can also find cards to promote your Congress session or presentation via your social media channels. Do not forget to add:  #IUFRO2024

Learn about youth activities by IFSA at:  https://ifsa.net/iwc24/
Read about the IUFRO World Congress Host Scientific Award winners on page 7 of this newsletter issue.

Read the full report by IISD/ENB at:  https://enb.iisd.org/un-forum-forests-unff19-summary

"While we have made significant progress, the harsh reality is that despite our best efforts, at our current pace, we remain off track to achieve the Global Forest Goals by 2030."

These words of warning from Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo, the Director of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) Secretariat, greeted delegates at the opening of the 19th session of the Forum. She called on delegates to take decisive action to bolster political commitment and partnerships in support of the Global Forest Goals and move from words to action. The tasks before UNFF19 were clear:  adopt a declaration and a resolution that will take this decisive action. The challenge was to first agree on the words. And, at times, it wasn't easy.

IUFRO contributed mainly to the CPF events on 9 May 2024. In the course of the Dialogue with CPF Heads and UNFF Partners on:  Achieving Globally Agreed Goals on Forests, Climate Change, and Biodiversity, John Parrotta, President, International Union of Forest Research Organizations, was asked to make a statement on how science and information can change the behavior of producers and consumers.

He said science and information can empower producers and consumers to understand their impact on the environment, society, and the economy.

This knowledge, he continued, can encourage producers to adopt more sustainable practices and motivate consumers to choose products that are produced sustainably. Parrotta suggested scientific research can provide insights into key obstacles and opportunities for changing to sustainable behavior.

The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) Communicators Network Joint Initiative launched a new initiative at UNFF19 to encourage greater use of products made from sustainably grown wood as a key strategy for combating climate change.

"Sustainable wood can replace materials with a higher carbon footprint, and this initiative will seek to communicate to the general public that there are ways that forests can be protected from damage and illegal activity but at the same time can be used, sustainably, to produce wood," said Zhimin Wu, Chair of the CPF – an inter-agency partnership of 16 international organizations, institutions and secretariats with substantial programmes on forests – and Director of the Forestry Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Find out more at: 
https://www.fao.org/collaborative-partnership-on-forests/news/grow-the-solution-initiative-aims-to-promote-wood-based-products-for-climate/en

Report from the 6th International conference of the IUFRO 2.09.02 Working Party, on March 3-8, 2024, Rotorua, New Zealand, hosted by Scion, by Jean-François TRONTIN (INRAE, France), Coordinator of the IUFRO 2.09.02 Working Party Somatic embryogenesis and other vegetative propagation technologies https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-2/20000/20900/20902/

"Forests have long been revered by Māoris for their beauty and spiritual value, and for providing the food, medicines, weaving, and building materials necessary for survival". This statement from conference organizers and colleagues involved in Māori Futures, the Scion's commitment to advancing Māori aspirations in New Zealand, underlines the undisputed role of forests in providing vital ecosystem services to people. However, global changes are challenging forest health, regeneration, and productivity in unprecedented ways, requiring continuous innovation for adaptive forest management. Vegetative propagation (bio)technologies could support the development of precision forestry and the provision of forest products and other services.

74 presentations were made during the conference (11 keynotes, 29 oral and 34 poster presentations). Beyond fundamental knowledge about tree propagation (Session 2, 17 presentations) and related technological issues (Session 3, 16 presentations), the participants discussed the latest findings in vegetative propagation (from conventional cuttings to micropropagation technologies) to support forest health and adaptation (Session 1, 16 presentations) towards sustainable management in the context of climate change (Session 4, 25 presentations).

High-resolution transcriptomics and/or other physiological studies are providing a wealth of new information on gene networks (W.-F. LI), hormones and other molecules (X. CHENG, I. ISAK, M. NEVES/J. CANHOTO, L. YANG, N. VIDAL) as well as stress response with signalling role (L. SHERRIFF) to help refine the various steps of tree vegetative propagation technologies (J.W. KIM, X. XU). In particular, there have been major advances in the promising field of somatic embryogenesis to efficiently multiply seeds from better-adapted ‘green gold' breeding stocks of productive tree species (S. CORREIA, U. EGERTSDOTTER, M. TIKKINEN, J. WANG, J. ZHAO, J. ZHANG, T. ZHU).

Find the full report at:  https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-2/20000/20900/20902/activities/

A high priority of the IUFRO 2.09.02 WP is to encourage the participation of young scientists to international events. The conference held in Rotorua was the opportunity to organize the 4th IUFRO 2.09.02 Student's Scientific Competition dedicated to graduate students and recent PhD graduates (including post-docs). In accordance with the general conference objectives, the competition theme was development, upscaling and/or application of vegetative (micro)propagation to preserve, assess, improve, adapt, and/or deploy tree genetic resources towards resilient and productive forests in the context of global changes.

Through a specific call posted at the Conference webpages, candidates were invited to submit their application before Nov. 30, 2023, to the Evaluation Committee chaired by Dr. Paloma MONCALEÁN (NEIKER, Spain). The 3 runners-up were Mr. Yemane Kahsay BERHE (Adigrat University, Ethiopia), Mr. Bashir ISIYA AHMAD (University of Maiduguri, Nigeria), and Mr. Armel Gael MOUAFFO (Higher Institute of Environmental Sciences, Cameroon). They could not attend due to economical (insufficient funding sources) and/or administrative difficulties (visa application).

The publication of short, extended abstracts and full papers is expected by the end of 2024. The Proceedings will be reviewed and edited by members of the Organizing Committee and posted at the IUFRO 2.09.02 webpages and IUFRO proceeding archive (online publication).

The next IUFRO 2.09.02 meeting is planned to take place in Harbin, China (2026) and will be organized by Professor Hailong SHEN, Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, China.

Report from the World Wood Day (WWD) 2024 Event, 2024 WWD Online Symposium and the Sixth IUFRO Forest Products Culture Colloquium, 21-22 March, involving IUFRO RG 5.01.00 and IUFRO WP 9.03.02
https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-5/50000/51500/
https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-9/90000/90300/90302/

The 2024 World Wood Day celebration was held virtually for the fourth time, with several regional in-person activities:

• a woodcarving event and tree planting in Bahrain;
• a tree planting and Folk Art Workshop in the Nangkang Home Furnishing Town, Jiangxi Province, China;
• a woodcarving event and tree planting organized by the Mehrgan Charity Organization in the Mehregan Forest, Kermanshah Province, Iran;
• a Special Concert organized by the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Tokyo, Japan;
• various workshops and tours organized by the Woodcraft Museum at Vienkoči Park in Latvia;
• a World Wood Day Session hosted at Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia;
• a woodcarving event in Bungamati, Nepal;
• and a woodcarving and exhibition event in Doha, Qatar.

Regional events continue to be carried out all around the world.

With the theme "Diversity of Wood in Culture", this year's symposium focused on the diversity of wood and non-wood forest products including six topics: 

1. Historical Utilization and Trade and Cultural Values of Wood and Non-Wood Forest Products
2. Construction and Buildings Including Wood Durability and Protection Needs
3. Moveable Building Components, Furniture, Musical Instruments, and Artifacts including Design
4. Education in Understanding Forest Products Culture and the Challenge of Climate Change
5. Protection and Conservation of Historical Wooden Properties Including Related Forest Management, Craftsmanship, Traditional Wood Processing and Wood Working Experiences
6. Wood Products and Wood Biotechnology (IAWS Special Session)

Read the full report at:  https://www.iufro.org/fileadmin/material/science/divisions/div5/51500/wwd24-report.pdf

Find recordings and more at:  http://www.worldwoodday.org/2024/regions_event/39

Report by Maarit Kallio, Coordinator of IUFRO Research Group 9.02.00 Forest sector analysis https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-9/90000/90200/

The International Forest Policy Meeting (IFPM) is a biennial event addressing forest and forest-related issues from a social science perspective and bringing together scholars and research from different parts of the world. At the 5th IFPM in Helsinki, Finland, a panel session on 12 April 2024 discussed "Leakage impacts of the EU's biodiversity and climate policies".

Around 35 conference participants joined the session, which featured presenters from four countries. The meeting was hosted by the University of Helsinki and supported by IUFRO Unit 9.02.00, the Finnish Forest Foundation, and the organizations of the presenters. This panel session addressed the impacts of the European Biodiversity Strategy 2030 (EUBDS) on the global forest sector and biodiversity. Three independent research groups, which have either conducted studies or are engaged in researching the issue, convened to discuss their findings with the audience at the IFPM 5 conference held in the Viikki Campus of the University of Helsinki. Professor Maarit Kallio from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences moderated the session.

The first presentation was delivered by Dr. Franziska Schier, who presented the results of an assessment conducted at the Thünen Institute of Forestry in Germany, focusing on market effects and production leakage resulting from the implementation of the EUBDS. Dr. Richard Fischer then elaborated on the implications of these effects on risks of biodiversity degradation beyond Europe.
Dr. Fulvio Di Fulvio from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria discussed the implications of the EUBDS on the EU forest bioeconomy and harvests globally. The study, involving researchers from various European countries, compared the implications arising from different approaches to implementing the EUBDS.

Finally, Dr. Meley Rannestad presented preliminary results of research at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) on the impacts of the EUBDS on the global forest sector. The ongoing study accounts for the current global geopolitical/economic situation and co-effects of the EUBDS and EU climate policies.

All studies indicated that the EUBDS will lead to a reduction in roundwood harvests in the EU compared to scenarios without this policy. Under the policy implementations considered most likely by the presenters, the EUBDS would allow for some degree of increase in harvests in Europe from current levels. This is due to the possibility of intensifying and reorganizing roundwood production in non-protected areas across Europe.

Because of the rising global demand for forest products, harvests outside of the EU are expected to increase even more than they would without the EUBDS. The studies agreed that roundwood harvests would decrease compared to baseline levels, particularly in Nordic countries, France, and Germany. Conversely, harvests would notably increase in North America, and significant production increases would also seem to occur in South America and Asia. The leakage impacts showed to pose a risk of global biodiversity deterioration.

Find more at:  https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-9/90000/90200/activities/

Report by IEFC

This edition of the Webinar Series "Let's Talk About Planted Forests" involving the IUFRO Task Force Resilient Planted Forests Serving Society & Bioeconomy took place on 29 March.
https://www.iufro.org/science/task-forces/resilient-planted-forests/

The webinar replay can be accessed at:
https://www.plantedforests.org/webinars-replays/29-03-2024-robot-for-silviculture-and-automatic-planting-machine/

Planted forests in most cases are installed on bare soils, allowing a higher mechanization than naturally regenerated forests. In addition, as a result of plantation, the forest pattern is simpler and more regular than in other forests. Thus, planted forests are an interesting playground to test new robots, autonomous or not, to improve productivity at all stages of the forest management:  plantation, weed control, thinning, harvesting. This webinar does not pretend to give an exhaustive overview but highlights a few examples of work in progress from different parts of the world.

Speakers: 

• Claire Stewart, Forest Growers Research, New Zealand:  "An overview of the Precision Silviculture Programme from Forest Growers Research, New Zealand"
• Loïc Cotten, Alliance Forêts Bois, France:  "Autonomous poplar planting machine developed by Alliance Forêts Bois"
• Harrie Lovenstein, Land Life, Netherlands:  "Autonomous tree seeding:  aerial or terrestrial?"

This webinar was a unique opportunity do discover the ambitious R&D activities ongoing in New Zealand in relation to precision silviculture covering autonomous stock monitoring, autonomous field robots, automatic seedling collection in nurseries, automatic spray, and assisted thinning. Land Life company presented options explored to compensate manual labor lack for planting with a specific comparison between aerial versus terrestrial seeding. Alliance-Forêts Bois presented the planted machine designed for poplar regular plantations.

Even if planted forests are a simple model, there are still a lot of challenges to let machines evolve on their own to implement forest management activities. Yet development of new technologies allows a better monitoring with very accurate data collection to support decision making.

Presumably, more and more projects will appear around the world, supporting precision silviculture and making forest workers' lives easier.

Insights from April's TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS Webinar

In a webinar hosted by TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS on April 23rd, the role of political leadership in shaping sustainable wood supply across Europe took center stage. With a turnout of over 120 participants joining via Zoom and LinkedIn, the webinar provided a dynamic platform for robust discussions and knowledge sharing.

Attendees were presented with a presentation and debate, which were greatly enriched by the active engagement and valuable contributions of participants. This collective input served to enhance the overall experience of the event, fostering a rich exchange of insights and perspectives.
The panel included authors of the TU4F Wood Supply Study:  Metodi Sotirov, Špela Pezdevšek Malovrh, and Ragnar Jonsson. Alongside the study authors, Amila Meškin from EUSTAFOR and Michael Reinhard from FOEN actively participated in the moderated discussion, offering invaluable insights.

Following the webinar, participants were promptly granted access to the presentation materials and study reports available on the TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS webpage https://teamingup4forests.com/. These resources include the webinar recording and study publications "Europe's wood supply in disruptive times".

Another Webinar "Exploring innovative products and technologies for Europe's sustainable wood supply" took place on May 21st.

At the IUFRO World Congress TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS will host sub-plenary session S2.5 Scaling up the Exchange Between Forest Science and Business, offering attendees invaluable opportunities for collaboration and engagement.

For webinar details, visit:  https://teamingup4forests.com/webinar-exploring-innovative-products-and-technologies-for-europe/
For the Congress session, visit:  https://iufro2024.com/science-and-society-sub-plenary-sessions/

Report by Peter Spathelf and Teresa Fonseca, Deputy and Coordinator of IUFRO Working Party 1.01.10 Ecology and Silviculture of Pine, respectively, https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-1/10000/10100/10110/

The fourth webinar in the series "Pine Silviculture:  International Success Factors" took place on 16 April 2024. It featured keynote speakers Prof. Dr. Peter Spathelf (Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, IUFRO 1.01.10) and Prof. Dr. Mauro Valdir Schumacher (Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil).

Pines are one of the main wood-producing species in the world. They have a remarkable economic, social, and environmental role and provide important benefits. The IUFRO Ecology and Silviculture of Pine Unit and Centro PINUS, a Portuguese NGO focused on maritime pine, have invited foresters and researchers from all over the world to join an international webinar series.

The webinar on 16 April focused on Brazil. Plantations make up around 1.2% of Brazil's forest area and account for 93% of the wood production. Pine trees account for around 18% of these plantations, with an average productivity of over 31 m3/ha/year and rotations of 15 to 25 years. The IRR (Internal Rate of Return) of these plantations varies between 10 and 20%, which makes them a very attractive investment.

The most commonly used species are Pinus taeda and Pinus elliottii, both native to the southwest of the United States of America. Forest management, including harvesting, influences the sustainability of plantations over several production cycles.

Pine plantation forestry is indispensable for timber production in Brazil, as it provides a highly demanded raw material on the domestic but also on the world market. Moreover, plantation forestry provides a range of interesting other ecosystem services and is helpful in reducing the pressure on primary and secondary native forests.

The webinar hosted and supported by Centro Pinus, IUFRO, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development and University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), attracted ca 100 participants from Portugal, United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa, France, Mexico, Spain, Pakistan, Germany, Italy, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Ukraine. The series is expected to be a journey to discover the general outlook, analyze challenges, and compare main trends and success factors in pine silviculture.

Link for the recording in Centro PINUS YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBcbgUZdVnE

Link to download presentations:  https://www.centropinus.org/files/upload/noticias/plantation-pines-webinar-spathelf16042024-final.pdf

In the course of preparing for the 26th IUFRO World Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, the Congress Organizing Committee (COC) was invited to recommend the recipient(s) of an award for pre-eminent forest scientists from the country/ies that host the IUFRO World Congress. Awards will be presented to the following three renowned scientists during the Opening Ceremony on Monday 24 June.

Liisa Tyrväinen, Professor of nature-based tourism and recreation at Natural Resources Institute Finland since 2015, is a globally leading and one of the most widely cited social science scholars in the field of forestry – and possibly the leading scholar when it comes to the amenity values of forests/forest-based recreation.

Jan Stenlid, Professor of Forest Pathology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences from 1995 to 2022, is one of the most influential Swedish researchers in the field of forest pathology and biology in general, with a major international impact. He has succeeded in combining basic research to understand the biology of forest pathogenic fungi with applied research that has been put to practical use in forestry.

Algirdas Augustaitis, Professor and Chief Scientist at Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania since 2007, has studied the integrated effects of climate, ambient ozone, atmospheric nitrogen and sulphur deposition following outbreaks of forest pests on the sustainability of forest ecosystems. He has examined the growth patterns of prevailing tree species in hemiboreal forests under the locally elevated and currently reduced regional pollution load and meteorological extremes. His studies also included the spatial pattern of climate change and the environmental pollution effects on tree crown conditions.

Other IUFRO scientific Congress awards were presented in the previous special awards issue of IUFRO News:  https://www.iufro.org/discover/awards/

Care joined the IUFRO HQ team as a junior policy and project administrator for the Secretariat of the European Wood Policy Platform (woodPoP). In this role, she will be supporting woodPoP in its various administrative, communication, and project management tasks.

Care has a Bachelor's degree in Forestry specializing in Social Forestry and Forest Governance from the College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines. She is currently in the final year of her Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's degree in European Forestry from the University of Eastern Finland and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna.

Since 2018, she has worked in various research settings in the Philippines such as the government, the academe, and environmental research organizations. Her professional experience has spanned several fields such as protected area management, forest and land use policy research, training and capacity building, and ESG ratings research.

With a solid foundation in research and a desire to make a difference, Care looks forward to contributing to the goals of woodPoP and promoting the sustainable use of wood resources.

https://woodpop.eu/

In the season finale, we talked with Daniela Kleinschmit, professor of forest and environmental policy at the University of Freiburg, Germany, and incoming President of IUFRO; Woodam Chung, professor of forest engineering at Oregon State University, U.S.A., and incoming IUFRO Vice-President for Divisions; and Isabelle Claire Dela Paz, President of the International Forestry Students' Association (IFSA).

One of the highlights of our discussion was the outlook on the upcoming IUFRO World Congress in Stockholm this summer. Our guests shared their expectations for this global gathering, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in addressing the challenges facing our forests.

We invite you to tune in to Branching Out:  the forest podcast. Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to subscribe, rate and review!
Visit:  https://www.iufro.org/news/article/2024/04/29/branching-out-episode-6-april-2024/

Global Competition on Best Practices in Forest Education 2.0 by IUFRO-IFSA Joint Task Force on Forest Education https://www.iufro.org/science/task-forces/forest-education/activities/

Forests are crucial for human flourishing in numerous ways. Therefore, it is important to understand how these ecosystems function, their role in our health and well-being, and the threats they face.  This understanding enables us to become responsible stewards of this versatile resource.

Education about forests fosters a greater admiration for these natural marvels and paves the way for a future where humans and forests can coexist harmoniously. The COVID-19 pandemic altered the educational system, affecting forestry education as well. Nevertheless, this disruption sparked a surge of innovation that promises to enrich the field for future generations.

The Global Competition on Best Practices in Forest Education 2.0 provided valuable insights into the innovations developed by scientists, professors, and teachers globally to navigate the challenges posed by COVID-19 and maintain the flow of knowledge to students. This competition aims to showcase and disseminate the creative solutions educators have employed to meet new challenges and inspire the creation of innovative teaching materials related to forests.

There were 17 participants from 13 countries worldwide. Proposals varied, encompassing blended learning approaches that merge online components with traditional in-person methods and gamification techniques where games were created to mimic forest management practices, facilitate tree identification, or raise awareness about environmental issues.

First prize:  Field Forest Surveying and Mapping - Thailand

Piyawat DILOKSUMPUN and a team from the Department of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University in Thailand, submitted an exemplary practice for the competition. Their innovative approach focuses on adapting the Field Forest Surveying and Mapping course to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This practice stands out as innovative in forest education for its pioneering response to the challenges brought by the pandemic. It incorporates 360-degree imaging technology to simulate on-site experiences and seamlessly integrates visual resources into the online curriculum via a Learning Management System (LMS), enabling active student engagement in survey planning.

Second Prize:  Climate Rush - France

Climate Rush, crafted by Ngo Bieng Marie Ange from Cirad - France, is an inventive board game. It is purposefully designed to convey the vulnerability of tropical forests to climate change in an accessible and captivating way. In the game, players must safeguard the integrity of a tropical forest amidst simulated temperature rises, all while learning about the biodiversity, resilience, and vulnerability of tropical trees.

Ange emphasizes that ClimateRush is groundbreaking in addressing pressing challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and the susceptibility of tropical forest species to climatic shifts. Students found the game educational and enlightening and enjoyed the learning process.

The International Forestry Students' Association (IFSA) has planned a highly impactful participation of young people and forestry students at the upcoming 26th IUFRO World Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, aligning with the Congress theme of "Forests & Society Towards 2050".

From poster presentations to panel discussions, IFSA will amplify the voice of youth in advancing sustainable and innovative forestry for our society towards 2050!

To learn more about IFSA‘s engagement in the IUFRO World Congress, visit:  https://ifsa.net/iwc24/

IUFRO congratulates its Member No. 0001, the Austrian Research Center for Forests (BFWhttps://www.bfw.gv.at/en/) on this 150th anniversary! BFW has dedicated the 13th edition of Lichtung (in German) to this special anniversary and invites readers to a journey through time.

This issue also includes an article about forests in Sweden.
Read at:  https://www.bfw.gv.at/pressemeldungen/lichtung-13-zeitreise-durch-150-jahre-bfw/

The Austrian Research Center for Forests (BFW), has developed the augmented reality app "Öswald - App in den Wald!" (in German). This innovative application aims to inform young people about the importance of forests, biodiversity, and climate change in an entertaining and interactive way.

"With 'Öswald - App in den Wald!' we want to inspire young people to actively work towards a sustainable future," says Peter Mayer, Head of BFW.
Find out more at:  https://www.bfw.gv.at/pressemeldungen/oeswald-app-bfw/

Find information on over 60 tree species that are either widely grown in British forests at the present time or which could play an increasing role in the future.

Click:  https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/tree-species-database/

ForestGALES is Forest Research's leading wind risk modelling tool, used across the UK and internationally. Read an interview with, Tom Locatelli, Senior Climate Change Scientist and Project Leader – Wind Risk in a Changing Climate, as he talks about wind risk in forestry and how ForestGALES helps foresters and land managers plan and manage woodlands and forests.

Dr. Locatelli (photo source UK Forest Research) is Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Working Party 8.03.06 - Impact of wind on forests.
Read  at:  https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/news/138693-interview-how-forestgales-is-the-essential-tool-for-wind-risk/

The project titled Landscape Resilience Alliance for Agriculture and Forestry in the Mediterranean Basin (ResAlliance) is coordinated by the European Forest Institute (EFI) and will run from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2025. INRGREF (Tunisia) is part of the alliance with 15 other international partners, and Boutheina Stiti of INRGREF, who is a Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Working Party 4.05.01 - Managerial, social and environmental accounting, is one of the main contact persons for this project. https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-4/40000/40500/40501/

ResAlliance is a thematic network project funded by the Horizon Europe Programme of the European Union. The aim is to provide foresters and farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to implement innovative landscape resilience solutions. It will collect and assess knowledge, gaps, barriers and good practices in Mediterranean countries for achieving landscape resilience, with a particular focus on climate resilience measures. To achieve that, ResAlliance promotes multi-stakeholder interactive initiatives at two levels, LandNet and LandLab, and across thematic areas that will help set specific learning objectives to better address knowledge and implementation gaps:  governance, management practices, technology and finance.

For more information or any questions and remarks related to the ResAlliance project, please feel free to contact Boutheina STITI (stitibou(at)gmail.com), or visit:  https://www.resalliance.eu/the-project/

Read the message by the IUFRO President and the IUFRO Executive Director, and find out about IUFRO's wide range of activities in 2023! The report highlights many events and publications throughout the IUFRO network and provides an overview of membership and organizational issues. See who has joined as a new member!
Find the report at:  https://www.iufro.org/publications/annual-report/article/2024/06/04/annual-report-2023/

This brief presents some of the main messages and conclusions from the book Restoring Forests and Trees for Sustainable Development:  Policies, Practices, Impacts, and the Ways Forward developed by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations' Special Project World Forests, Society and Environment (IUFRO WFSE https://www.iufro.org/science/wfse/). It gives an overview of the current global situation regarding forest restoration and related challenges and suggests ways for moving forward towards sustainable and just restoration with durable outcomes.

Authors:  Pia Katila, Wil de Jong, Pablo Pacheco, Georg Winkel, Glenn Galloway, Carol J. Pierce Colfer
Download from:  https://www.iufro.org/publications/policy-briefs/article/2024/03/28/balancing-interests-and-approaches-for-equitable-just-and-sustained-forest-restoration/

Ukraine's forest sector is suffering unprecedented challenges. War has impacted both forests and forestry – devastating forest areas, infrastructure and industry, as well as causing ‘brain drain' and capacity loss due to the disruption of research institutions and the displacement of students and scientists. These impacts are compounded by factors including climate change, unstable forest health dynamics, landscape fires, and an overall decrease in forest productivity.

To discuss the current challenges and propose solutions, the two-day Forum on Ukraine Forest Science and Education:  Needs and Priorities for Collaboration was held from 21-22 November 2023 at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Laxenburg, Austria, and online. The event was jointly organized by IIASA, the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP), and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), with support from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Regions, and Water Management (BML), and built on previous work by Forest Europe and the International Science Council.

Download from:  https://iiasa.ac.at/policy-briefs/apr-2024/forest-science-and-education-in-ukraine-priorities-for-action

Mansourian, S., Derkyi, M., Djenontin, I., Elias, M., Oldekop, J., Pacheco, P., Burns, J., Diederichsen, A., Kleine, M., Vallauri, D., and Walder, B., 2024. Human Dimensions of Forest Landscape Restoration, IUFRO, Vienna, 76 pages.

Forest landscape restoration (FLR) is a human affair. As with all ecosystem restoration approaches, in FLR humans are part of the social-ecological system within which restoration activities take place:  what people do in the landscape directly affects all components of a natural ecosystem such as soil, vegetation including forest, faunal diversity and vice versa. It is therefore essential to understand and include the human dimensions of FLR at all stages of planning, implementation and monitoring.

This publication, promoted by IUFRO, WWF, SER and UNIL aims to improve the understanding of the human dimensions of FLR (and to a large extent, of wider ecosystem restoration) and provide guidance to practitioners so that they can better integrate these dimensions in their work in FLR and broader ecosystem restoration.

Download:  https://www.iufro.org/publications/joint-publications/article/2024/04/24/human-dimensions-of-forest-landscape-restoration/

Gert-Jan Nabuurs, Anna Begemann, Stefanie Linser, Yoan Paillet, Davide Pettenella, Sophus zu Ermgassen

The EU Taxonomy Regulation creates a common set of indicators and criteria to classify sustainable commercial activities and investments. While forest-related activities have been included in the EU Taxonomy under climate change mitigation and adaptation criteria, so far they have been excluded from biodiversity protection and restoration criteria.

The new EFI report aims to fill the gap. Based on scientific evidence it provides guidance for biodiversity-oriented forest management, proposes a set of 26 quantitative indicators and provides examples of thresholds which would be applicable under the EU Taxonomy standard. Novel monitoring methods are presented for cost efficient assessments of forest biodiversity and compliance to the Taxonomy.
Download at:  https://efi.int/publications-bank/sustainable-finance-and-forest-biodiversity-criteria

(in Press, 2024; Routledge publisher)  Information:  https://www.routledge.com/Acknowledging-Indigenous-Knowledge-Voices-of-Tropical-Forest-People/Bose/p/book/9780367710255
By Purabi Bose (IUFRO Division 6 Coordinator)

This sole-authored book is a compilation of the author's primary ethnographic fieldwork - sociology and anthropological - data from two decades living in 10 tropical countries working with indigenous peoples. The book includes voices of Afro-Colombians, Quechua, Gond tribe, Batwa tribe, Orang Rimba, Ladakhi, Bahima, and Maldhari pastoralists, Lai and Warli tribe, Uro and Huaorani, Changpa nomads, and Kogi indigenous peoples. Each chapter covers a critical topic about indigenous people's knowledge and determination as guardians of their forests and small farms in remote landscapes of East Africa, Southeast and South Asia, and Latin America.

In their recent article, Weiss et al. (2023) discuss the potential role of non-wood forest products (NWFPs), which are so far largely neglected within forest-related bioeconomy research and policy. From an innovation system perspective, they look at the barriers to NWFP development and propose how they can be supported.

Weiss, G., Ludvig, A., Živojinović, I. 2023. Embracing the Non-Wood Forest Products Potential for Bioeconomy - Analysis of Innovation Cases across Europe, Land.
Read at:  https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020305

The report published by the International Science Council (ISC) offers a comprehensive analysis of the integration of artificial intelligence in science and research across various countries. It addresses both the advancements made and the challenges faced in this field, making it a valuable read for science leaders, policymakers, AI professionals, and academics.
Download at:  https://council.science/publications/ai-science-systems/

Agroforestry and Mitigation of Climate Change
Book of abstracts from the IUFRO 1.04.00 online conference held on 26-27 March 2024 now available at:  https://www.iufro.org/publications/proceedings/meetings-2024/#c37395

Diversity of Wood in Culture
The Book of Abstracts of the 2024 Online World Wood Day Symposium and The Sixth IUFRO Forest Products Culture Colloquium held online on 21-22 March 2024 and involving IUFRO Units 5.00.00, 5.15.00, and 9.03.02 is available at:  https://www.iufro.org/fileadmin/material/publications/proceedings-archive/50000-51500-90302-wwd24-symposium-abstracts.pdf

55th FORMEC and 7th Forest Engineering Conference (FEC):  Improving access to sustainable forest materials in a resource-constrained world
Florence, Italy, 20-22 September 2023, involving IUFRO Units 3.01.03, 3.00.00.
Now available at:  https://www.iufro.org/fileadmin/material/publications/proceedings-archive/30000-30103-55th-formec-florence23-abstracts.pdf

Timber Truck Transportation in the 21st Century
The International Journal of Forest Engineering is assembling an article collection on the transportation of harvested timber via trucks. The collection will consider both review articles and original research on the following topics related to timber truck transportation.
Manuscripts will be considered through December 31, 2024.
Find information at:  https://think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issues/timber-truck-transportation-21st-century/

Taking Stock of Work and Employment Research in the Forest Sector
Submissions are invited for a Special Issue of Forest Policy and Economics.
Deadline:  30 November 2024
Find information at:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/forest-policy-and-economics/about/call-for-papers#taking-stock-of-work-and-employment-research-in-the-forest-sector
This Special Issue aims to assemble a spectrum of quality research covering a wide range of topics related to work and employment in the forest sector. Papers published in this SI will contribute to a deeper understanding of the current status of forest-related employment and how it is developed across economies and regions.
Guest editors:  Dr. Rattiya S. Lippe, Thünen Institute of Forestry, Germany; Dr. Tatiana Lizbeth Ojeda Luna, Universidad Nacional de Loja, Ecuador; Dr. Doris Mutta, African Forest Forum, Kenya; Dr. Jörg Schweinle; Thünen Institute of Forestry, Germany