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!
 

Files:

branching-out-episode-6.mp374 Mi

branching-out-episode-6-transcript.docx63 Ki