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Mission and Programme


IUFRO-SPDC’s mission is:

to expand and foster forest research capacity in developing and economically disadvantaged countries.


In strengthening the forest science community in developing countries and their role in shaping forest policy and management, SPDC is contributing to broader economic, environmental and social development objectives such as poverty alleviation, improvement of livelihood of rural people and their access to resources, environmental protection and the sustainable utilisation of forests.


History

IUFRO-SPDC was established by IUFRO in 1983 at the request of the international donor community following a declaration of the XVII IUFRO World Congress in Kyoto, Japan in 1981. The declaration aimed to increase international support for the development of forestry research in less developed countries.


Strategy and Programme

The current programme builds on some of the strengths from former programmes but adds a number of new elements and approaches to the delivery of IUFRO-SPDC activities and products.

In order to enhance the ability of research institutions to generate and deliver scientific information and advisory services on forest and trees and their sustainable utilisation IUFRO-SPDC implements the following programme components:

· Training of scientists,
· Collaborative research networking,
· Scientist assistance programme

Besides research management issues high priority is given to the role of scientists in translating good science into forest policy and management. Thus, topics and themes addressed in training and research networking activities are directed towards streng-thening the bridge between science and application involving practitioners and scientists alike.

Programmes in planning involve the use of modern information technology tools, forest policy formulation, and public relations in forest science.