Podcast

Branching out - Episode 1, April 2023

Hosted by Jose Bolaños (IUFRO HQ) and featuring Jennifer Hayes, US Forest Service.

"This IUFRO World Congress is going to be a real celebration. A chance for us to reestablish connections." John Parrotta, IUFRO President, US Forest Service

"We decided to focus on forest contributions to the UN 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, because demands on forest ecosystem services are rising due to many reasons." Elena Paoletti, Congress Scientific Committee, CNR IRET

"The Congress provides an unique opportunity to present the rich and diverse forest landscapes of the Nordic and Baltic countries." Fredrik Ingemarson, Congress Organizing Committee, Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet

"The award gives you some visibility within the IUFRO network and this opens up more research opportunities and collaboration opportunities." Sarah Burns, Outstanding Doctoral Research Awardee, TU Dresden

Do not miss it and share the podcast with your friends and colleagues!

Also available at Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
 

Branching out - Episode 2, June 2023

We are excited to present the newest episode of Branching Out. Join us as we discuss the topic of strengthening forest resilience and adaptation. Listen how people, trees and ecosystems adapt and resist to stress.

Featuring co-host Ewa Hermanowicz, from FSC and Coordinator of IUFRO’s Communication and public relations working party, along with Lucy Amissah from Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Andrew Liebhold from the US Forest Service, Mariella Marzano from Forest Research UK and Jens Peter Skovsgaard from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, who together unravel the interplay between climate change and forest health.

We explore current trends and developments in forestry and research that aim to adapt forests to climate change. Learn about the role of society for the future of forests. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast on your favourite platform or visit our website to access this episode. And don’t forget to subscribe, share, and join us on this podcasting adventure.

Do not miss it and share the podcast with your friends and colleagues!

Also available at Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
 

Branching out - Episode 3, September 2023

José Bolaños, IUFRO Headquarters, and co-host Ida Wallin from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) discussed with IUFRO scientists from different regions of the world activities and strategies centered around sustainable forest management and the utilization of forest resources.

Anne Toppinen from the University of Helsinki, Finland, joins the conversation to shed light on some innovative and surprising applications such as medical casts made of wood chips and awe-inspiring architectural designs. She also emphasizes the need to accelerate change, particularly in increasing the market share of new forest-based products. Anne Toppinen will be a keynote speaker at the IUFRO World Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, in June 2024. She is the Coordinator of IUFRO Research Group 5.10.00 - Forest products marketing and business management.

Nellie Mugure Oduor from the Kenya Forestry Research Institute shares captivating examples of forest bioeconomy activities, such as biomass energy, derived from fuelwood for tea processing and cooking. Also, initiatives focused on fruit trees and indigenous fruit processing not only generate income but also encourage sustainable tree farming and support local livelihoods. She is a Deputy Coordinator of iUFRO Working Party 5.07.04 - Small coventional power systems.

Verónica Loewe-Muñoz from the Chilean Forest Institute (INFOR) paints a vivid picture of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). From the famed açaí in Brazil to the valuable Brazil nuts, the region boasts a diverse range of forest resources. These products contribute significantly to local economies and provide employment opportunities. She is a Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Working Party 1.01.13 - Ecology and silviculture of chestnut and IUFRO Research Group 1.08.00 - Silviculture for edible non-wood forest products.

Jinlong Liu from the Renmin University of China, describes the path that leverages the full potential of forests, from traditional wood products to innovative solutions, all while nurturing resilient communities and safeguarding our planet. He is the Coordinator of IUFRO Working Party 9.03.06 - Biocultural diversity and a Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Division 9 - Forest Policy and Economics.

Tune in to Branching Out: The Forest Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts or visit our website to access this episode. And don't forget to subscribe, share, and join us on this podcasting adventure.
 

Branching out - Episode 4, November 2023

The new podcast episode is out! This time we discuss the relationship between biodiversity and other services our forests provide.

As already known, Jose Bolaños (IUFRO HQ) presents the podcast, and our cohost spotlights rotate to offer diverse perspectives. This time, we were delighted to have Peter Edwards, a senior researcher at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, New Zealand. He urges to think beyond the physical forest products, but the services that forests provide. Both set the stage and talked about how forest are not just trees, but the tapestry of life on land. Peter Edwards is Deputy Coordinator of  Working Party 9.01.07 – Media analysis and Deputy Coordinator of Working Party 9.05.01 – Bioeconomy policy.

Sally Aitken, from University of British Columbia and IUFRO Scientific Achievement Awardee 2014, guides us through the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. She unveils how diversity forms the backbone of resilient ecosystems, providing us with essential services. Sally emphasizes the need to embrace diversity at both species and genetic levels with research as our compass in the face of change.

Next Marjana Westergren, Slovenian Forest Institute and deputy coordinator of IUFRO Division on physiology and genetics, shares her insight about forest genetic resources and diversity, a cornerstone for ecosystem services. Marjana also explores the untapped potential in less-studied tree species, stressing the importance of responsible use and experimentation. She is Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Working Party 2.04.11 – Alpine forest genomics and Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Division 2 – Physiology and Genetics.

After that we go into a journey through a forest landscape restoration project in Sri Lanka with K.M.A. Bandara, who walks us through a real-world example implemented with the support of IUFRO’s Special Programme for Development of Capacities (SPDC), showcasing how removing an invasive species positively impacts biodiversity, and how the key for the success of these projects is legislative support, clear objectives, and stakeholder involvement. He is Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Working Party 1.02.04 – Sustainable management and genetic resources in Meliaceae and IUFRO International Council Representative for Sri Lanka.

Last but certainly not least, Nazmus Sadath from Khulna University in Bangladesh shares his views on how effective governance, integrated policies, and community involvement are critical for halting biodiversity loss, and why collaboration is key to successful forest landscape restoration. He is Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Workding Party 9.05.06 – Community forestry.

We invite you to tune in to the Branching Out: the forest podcast. Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts,  on Spotify and Apple Podcasts or here our website, and don't forget to subscribe, rate and review!
 

Branching out - Episode 5, February 2024

Hosted by Jose Bolaños from IUFRO HQ and co-hosted by Yasmeen Sands from the USDA Forest Service and Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO's Communication and Public Relations Working Party, our podcast delves into four distinct sections, each shedding light on crucial aspects of the IUFRO World Congress theme "Forests for Sustainable Societies". From nature-based solutions (NBS) and links between forests and human health to power and equity in the forest sector and the complexity of forest governance, this episode unravels the multifaceted tapestry of challenges and opportunities for sustainable societies.

Unlike our typical 20-minute episodes, this extended edition allows for a more comprehensive exploration of each topic. The extra minutes give more time for conversations with the experts, providing additional insights, research findings, and practical solutions to the challenges our societies face.

The podcast kicks off with the concept of nature-based solutions, exploring how forests and green spaces contribute to addressing climate change and which impact they have on cities. Harini Nagendra, Director of the Azim Premji University Research Center and leader of the University’s Center for Climate Change and Sustainability (and keynote speaker at the 26^th IUFRO World Congress, 23-29 June in Stockholm) guides us through her work on conservation in forests and cities of the Global South from the perspective of both landscape ecology and social justice.

The second segment focuses on the role of forests, green spaces, and trees in human health and well-being. Cecil Konijnendijk, Director of the Nature Based Solutions Institute, chaired the Global Forest Expert Panel (GFEP) on Forests and Human Health, a joint initiative of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) led by IUFRO’s Science-Policy Programme. In 2023 the panel published a major study on the relationship between forests and human health. Cecil, who is also a Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO’s Division 6 - Social Aspects of Forests and Forestry, shares valuable insights on how forests contribute significantly to human health and well-being at all the different life stages.

Our third segment navigates the critical terrain of power and equity in the forest sector. Judith Kamoto, a member of the GFEP on forests and poverty from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi and Deputy Coordinator of the African forest politics and governance Working Party of IUFRO, joins the conversation, shedding light on the importance of inclusivity in forest-related sector.

The podcast concludes with an exploration of forest governance. Mónica Gabay, Coordinator of IUFRO Division 9 - Forest Policy and Economics and co-author of the GFEP forests and poverty report provides a nuanced understanding of topics such as land tenure, conflicts, human rights, and equitable benefit sharing.

Listen to the extended episode wherever you enjoy your podcasts and gain a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between forests and sustainable societies! And stay tuned for the season finale, where we explore the topic of forests for the future!

We invite you to tune in to the Branching Out: the forest podcast. Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts,  on Spotify and Apple Podcasts or here our website, and don't forget to subscribe, rate and review!
 

Branching out - Episode 6, April 2024

In our 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.

From climate change to biodiversity loss, our guests underlined the myriad of challenges facing the forest research community in the coming years and highlighted innovative approaches to tackle these challenges.

Woodam mentioned Forestry 5.0, which integrates cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and remote sensing to revolutionize forest management practices.

Daniela stressed the importance of effectively communicating scientific findings to policymakers and the public, as well as the role of social innovation.

Isabelle shared strategies for attracting young people, including mentorship programs and initiatives for youth advocacy integrating youth-led initiatives into the broader agenda of the forest sector.

We are grateful to our guests for sharing their insights. As we look towards the future of our forests, it becomes clear that collaboration, innovation, and youth engagement will be essential in addressing the complex challenges ahead.

Stay tuned for more episodes in our next season as we continue to discover the role of forests and trees for people and nature, while we unravel complex forest topics and keep you up to date with forest research.

We invite you to tune in to the Branching Out: the forest podcast. Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts,  on Spotify and Apple Podcasts or here our website, and don't forget to subscribe, rate and review!