Yuzou Sano, Chair of Organizing Committee, Hokkaido University, Japan,
Hisashi Abe, Vice Chair of Organizing Committee, Deputy Executive Secretary of IAWA, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI) of Japan, and
Yafang Yin, Deputy Coordinator of Division 5 Forest Products, Coordinator of IUFRO Research Group 5.16.00 Wood Identification, Executive Secretary of IAWA, Chinese Academy of Forestry

The 10th Pacific Regional Wood Anatomy Conference (PRWAC) took place in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan, on September 10-14, 2024. It attracted 104 participants from Japan, China, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Thailand, New Zealand, The Philippines, Indonesia, South Africa, The USA and Vietnam.
Meeting website:  https://www.prwac2024.org

The PRWAC is an international meeting organized by members of the Pacific regional group of the International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA). It has been held approximately every four years since the first conference in Tsukuba, 1984. At PRWAC, participants discuss topics related to wood science from the viewpoint of 'wood anatomy'. The conference also offers an important platform for the exchange of ideas concerning climate change responses by focusing on the smart use of timber and trees as carbon stocks.

The conference kicked off with a keynote lecture presented by Dr. Yafang Yin, Executive Secretary of IAWA. He provided an overview of the history of wood anatomical studies in China in recent decades and highlighted latest developments in this field worldwide.

The conference arranged three themed sessions focusing on highly topical issues in wood anatomy and wood science: application of machine learning to wood science, isotope labelling techniques to clarify elemental processes in wood formation, and cambium activities under climate change. In these presentation sessions, a total of 86 oral and poster presenters talked about their findings.  There were lively discussions on a wide range of wood science topics ranging from wood identification, wood utilization and wood formation to tree physiology and ecology. Participants reaffirmed the importance of wood anatomy research as a basis for these topics.

Presentations by young researchers and students were quite remarkable, and, to encourage the next generations, the organizing committee awarded best presentation prizes to four students after a rigorous selection process. The business meeting of the IAWA pacific regional group discussed the further cooperation with international organizations including IUFRO, IAWS, IUBS, IABMS etc.

The event, which involved IUFRO Division 5, Research Group 5.16.00 and the IUFRO-Japan Committee, was kindly hosted by the Laboratory of Woody Plant Biology, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University of Japan, and supported by: Asahikawa Tourism and Convention Association; Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI) of Japan; IUFRO-Japan Committee; The Japan Wood Research Society (JWRS); Hokkaido Prefectural Government

The conference also included tours to Bogakudai, a nice viewpoint to overview a typical landscape in Hokkaido, Japan; the Forest Products Research Institute, Hokkaido Research Organization, one of the largest institutions for wood products research in Japan; and CondeHouse Co., Ltd., one of the leading companies for the production of high-quality wooden furniture.

The abstracts of all presentations in this conference are accessible on the website:
http://www.prwac2024.org  

The 11th PRWAC will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2028.

Carola Egger and Maja Radosavljevic, Partnership Managers of the TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS (TU4F) science-business platform, represented the platform at the Cepi Bioeconomy LAB in Brussels, Belgium, on 24 September 2024.

The event on 23-24 September was organized by the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), the pan-European association representing the forest fibre and paper industry, as a follow-up to the Cepi Bioeconomy LAB that took place in the context of the 9th World Forestry Week at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, in July 2024. It did not only comprise an exhibition of over 50 innovative bio-based products, but also a session with insightful discussions and presentations.

The session kicked off with a talk by Marco Onida from the Directorate-General for Environment of the EU Commission on the 3 Billion Trees initiative and its progress. In 2021, the EU pledged to plant at least 3 billion additional trees by 2030. Cepi is among the organizations contributing to this pledge and Ulrich Leberle, Raw Materials Director at Cepi, delivered a comprehensive progress report.

Carola Egger gave an overview of the work and goals of the TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS collaborative partnership that was initiated by IUFRO and Mondi in 2021 and presented findings of a major synthesis study report "Europe's wood supply in disruptive times" and related business brief published by IUFRO earlier in 2024.

Her presentation was followed by best practice examples from industry leaders including Juha Jumppanen (Metsä Forest), Jessica Nordin (Södra), and Henrique Vieira (Biond). The session was rounded off by a panel discussion offering valuable insights into critical topics such as forest resilience, climate adaptation, and the vital role of biodiversity in sustainable forest management.

Learn more about TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS and join the next Webinar – Europe's future forest management in a changing climate on 7 November 2024 at 14:00 CET!

Report by Viola Belohrad, IUFRO Sci-Pol

Given the increasingly rapid, unpredictable, and unprecedented global changes linked to the twin climate change and biodiversity crises, IUFRO´s Science-Policy Programme is undertaking a Global Forest Expert Panels (GFEP) assessment looking https://www.iufro.org/science/science-policy/ at the multi-dimensional relationships between forests and social and economic resilience.

The GFEP assessment Forests for Social and Economic Resilience will comprehensively assess the available scientific information and feed into current and upcoming global discussions and platforms to support integrated, holistic, and effective policy responses. Chaired by Prof. Craig Allen (University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA), the Expert Panel comprises 14 leading scientists in the field, bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise from different regions of the world. From 8-9 October 2024, the Expert Panel will convene for an in-person meeting in Rome to review the draft chapters of the assessment.

The publication launch is planned for mid-2025.
Find out more about the panel and its activities:  HERE

About GFEP:  Coordinated by IUFRO, GFEP is an initiative of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF). By producing objective and independent scientific assessments on key forest-related issues, GFEP aims to effectively link the information requirements of intergovernmental processes related to forests with existing scientific expertise, thus supporting informed decision-making at the global level.

On 1 and 2 October 2024, FOREST EUROPE signatories and observers met in Königswinter near Bonn, with the aim to strengthen future cooperation on forests in Europe and share the latest findings and developments in Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) across the pan-European region. Ministers and heads of observer organizations, including IUFRO, discussed issues ranging from Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) to resilience and youth involvement.

The focus was on sharing national experiences, addressing challenges, and shaping the future vision of FOREST EUROPE through key thematic sessions. The event concluded with the signing of the Bonn Ministerial Declaration, reaffirming the commitment of FOREST EUROPE's signatories and observers to promoting collective actions to "shape our future with resilient forests" through SFM policies and practices.

IUFRO was represented by IUFRO President Daniela Kleinschmit and Executive Director Alexander Buck. In her statement Professor Kleinschmit reaffirmed IUFRO's strong support to FOREST EUROPE by bringing the latest scientific evidence into the continuing discussion on SFM not only to better understand the problems and interrelations but also to provide options for solutions. She emphasized the urgent need to act and respond to the problems that forests and society are facing, and which can no longer be ignored.

In the discussion about the future of FOREST EUROPE, Alexander Buck stressed the ever increasing need to reach potential partners in other sectors and the public at large in view of the growing impacts of climate change on European forests. Furthermore, he noted that the effectiveness and success of FOREST EUROPE in the next phase will also depend on its ability to utilize the best possible scientific knowledge and expertise.

More:  9th FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference

Further reading
Are European Forests fit for the future? A short story about European Forests
Authors:  Michael Köhl and Kit Prins
Published by:  FOREST EUROPE
Find out more at:  LINK

European forests have shown quite constant trends since the beginning of Pan-European reporting in 1990. Overall, forest area is increasing, the economic role of forests to the overall economy is rather stable, and there have been some improvements in biodiversity and climate change adaptation. However, there are many short-term impacts on European forest that are more difficult to grasp.

Excerpts (edited) from:  International Science Council blog

On 22 September, world leaders adopted a Pact for the Future – the agreement outlining the vision for a more sustainable, equitable, and peaceful world. The International Science Council, of which IUFRO is a member, is uniquely positioned to support the Pact and translate its vision into action. 

The Pact includes 56 actions that span across sustainable development, peace and security, science, technology, digital cooperation, and global governance. It emphasizes international and intergenerational solidarity, prioritizing future generations though commitments to peace, the environment, and youth.

The crucial role of youth in shaping a sustainable and peaceful future is heavily acknowledged in the Pact and even more so in the Declaration on Future Generations, where youth are positioned as essential partners in achieving its vision of a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.

The Pact repeatedly underscores the need for evidence-based policymaking and leveraging scientific knowledge to address global challenges.

The Austrian Research Center for Forests (BFW), a member organization of IUFRO, in collaboration with the EVOLTREE network and the Czech University of Life Sciences, also an IUFRO member, hosted a Summer School on assisted migration from July 30 to August 2, 2024, for the 2nd consecutive year at the Forestry Training Centre of BFW in Traunkirchen, Austria.

The summer school was coordinated by Debojyoti Chakraborty, who also coordinates the IUFRO Working Party 2.02.05 Breeding and Genetic Resources of Pacific Northwest conifers. The summer school was attended by participants from across Europe and Canada and aimed at providing in-depth insight into the concept of assisted migration of forests under climate change, with a focus on models to guide decision support.

Topics included climate change's effects on European forests, adaptation options, the role of genetic diversity, and modeling data sources. The participants worked with real-time data from provenance trials to develop models for seed transfer under climate change. The program also included an excursion to LIECO forest nurseries at Sankt Martin im Innkreis, where participants learned about state-of-the-art forest seedling production and seed orchard. The visit concluded with a hike to an Alpine hut, offering discussion opportunities in a relaxed environment.

My name is Theresa Klara Loch, and I am excited to serve as the President of the International Forestry Students' Association (IFSA) for the 2024/2025 term. I am currently pursuing my PhD at the University of Freiburg, Germany, where I focus on social-ecological networks in biodiversity conservation.

My journey with IFSA began during my master's degree in Sustainable Forest and Nature Management. Over the years, I have contributed to various international projects, including my involvement in the Gender Sub-Commission and co-authoring the IFSA Open Letter on Gender and Forest Education. These experiences have shaped my passion for advocating gender equality and promoting inclusivity within forest-related education and the forestry sector.
Leading IFSA is truly a team effort, and I am fortunate to work alongside a dedicated board:  Bora Karataş, Hemanshu Kafle, Alexander William Arnott Watson, Rizka Afif Muhammad, Lea Arbogast, and Fiana Eka Aprilia. Together, we are committed to making IFSA more inclusive and amplifying the voice of youth in global forest policy.

A key part of our work is the strong partnership with IUFRO, exemplified during the great collaboration at the IUFRO World Congress. We look forward to continuing this partnership and further strengthening the connection between forestry students and the global research community.

More about IFSA and their leadership team:  https://ifsa.net/team/

Restoring Forests and Trees for Sustainable Development:  Policies, Practices, Impacts, and Ways Forward

By IUFRO-WFSE editorial board:  Pia Katila, Carol J Pierce Colfer, Wil de Jong, Glenn Galloway, Pablo Pacheco, Georg Winkel
Online ISBN:  9780197683958
Print ISBN:  780197683927

A new book by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations Special Project World Forests, Society and Environment (IUFRO-WFSE) is now available as open access at Oxford Academic:  https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197683958.001.0001

This book takes a multidisciplinary perspective to analyze and discuss the various opportunities and challenges of restoring tree and forest cover to address regional and global environmental challenges that threaten human well-being and compromise sustainable development.

It examines forest restoration commitments, policies and programs, and their planning and implementation at different scales and contexts, and how forest restoration helps to mitigate environmental, societal, and cultural challenges.

The chapters explore the concept of forest restoration, how it can restitute forest ecosystem services, contribute to biodiversity conservation, and generate benefits and synergies, while recognizing the considerable costs, trade-offs, and variable feasibility of its implementation. The chapters review historic and contemporary forest restoration practice and governance, variations in approaches and implementation across the globe, and relevant technological advances.

Using the insights from the ten topic-focused chapters, the book reflects on the possibility of sustainable and just approaches to meet the challenges that lie ahead to achieve ambitious international forest restoration targets and commitments.

Contribute to a Special Issue of Evolutionary Applications!
Genomic Assessment of Adaptive Potential of Populations to Environmental Challenges:  Applications to Management and Conservation"

Deadline for submissions:  1 March 2025
Details

Understanding the adaptive potential of populations in the face of environmental challenges is crucial for effective management and conservation strategies. Genomic approaches offer valuable insights into this adaptive potential, but their application in this context still requires further development.

This Special Issue aims to delve deeper into how genomic variation influences responses to environmental pressures. By examining the genetic basis of adaptation potential, a better understanding of the mechanisms can be gained that enable populations to cope with changing environments. Such knowledge is essential for predicting how populations will respond to future environmental changes, such as climate change, new pest and disease outbreaks, habitat fragmentation and destruction, and pollution.

Guest editors:   Maren Wellenreuther, Plant and Food Research, New Zealand; Dr. David Chagné, Plant and Food Research, New Zealand; Dr. Santiago González-Martínez, INRAE, France; Prof. Lesley Lancaster, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom; Assoc. Prof. Sam Yeaman, University of Calgary, Canada; Prof. Juntao Hu, Fudan University, China; Dr. Yiyong Chen, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Summary for Policymakers:  The First Synthesis Report on Climate Change Impact Assessment for Forest Sector

National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS) (2024). The first synthesis report on climate change impact assessment for forest sector:  Summary for policymakers. Cho, J.H., Yang, H., Choi, W.I., Park, G.E., Kirn, E.S., Jang, K., Yim, J.S., Lee, B., Jung, J.Y., Choi, H.T., Jang, Y., Kirn, C., Um, Y., Kirn, S., Kwon, C., Eu, S., Nam, Y., Cho, Y., Park, Y., Park, C.R., and San, D.C. National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 59 pp.
ISBN 979-11-6019-911-6 (93520).

Like the IPCC's Summary for Policymakers (SPM), which distills the implications of scientific findings presented in its synthesis report, this summary aims to highlight the principal findings from the First Synthesis Report on Climate Change Impact Assessment in the Forest Sector; it seeks to elucidate the policy implications,
thereby facilitating the decision-making process concerning climate change adaptation efforts.

The report by NIFoS was prepared by a specialized working group consisting of 35 members including representatives from one center, seven departments, and three research institutes within the NIFoS, in addition to the staff of two divisions of the National Arboretum.
Download link  (report in Korean/use translation tool if necessary)