Special Project on World Forests, Society and Environment (IUFRO-WFSE)
We are a global, open, non-profit, collaborative network of scientist and experts steered by ten international research organizations. On the basis of existing scientific knowledge, we look for innovative solutions to support and advance the formulation and implementation of forest-related policies that promote sustainable development and human well-being. Our work is founded on objectivity and scientific independence.
The IUFRO-WFSE network shares existing scientific knowledge and participates actively in forest-related policy processes.
We promote global cooperation in high quality research and wide participation in the international discussions and processes. We produce books, policy briefs and capacity building material, participate in international events, and develop collaboration with other IUFRO working parties. WFSE actively supports regional and global policy processes related to forests and tree resources with cross-sectoral, critical analyses based on existing solid scientific knowledge. Through producing regional policy briefs we specifically aim at strengthen the focus on regionally critical issues of global importance in the forests-society-environment interface.
Our current activities focus on a) the production of a new book, 
Forests and Society – Responding to Global Drivers of Change, which will be launched at the XXIII IUFRO World Congress 2010 and b) the production and distribution of regional policy briefs. We have recently published policy briefs on Europe, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. The policy brief on Asia will be initiated in 2009.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial contribution of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland to our activities.
CONTACT INFORMATION
IUFRO-WFSE
Coordinator Gerardo Mery
c/o Finnish Forest Research Institute
PL 18 (Jokiniemenkuja 1)
FI-01301 Vantaa, Finland
Phone: +358 10 211 2153,
Mobile: + 358 50 391 2153
Fax: +358 10 211 2104
E-mail: gerardo.mery(at)metla.fi
Internet: www.iufro.org/science/special/wfse/
