Report by members of the IUFRO delegation to UNFF18

The eighteenth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF18), held in an in-person format at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, from 8-12 May 2023, was attended by approximately 400 participants from Member States, international organizations, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), and Major Groups.

This year's technical session discussed the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 (UNSPF) and highlighted synergies with other global efforts related to forests, climate change, biodiversity, land degradation and, more broadly, the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The technical work of the UNFF18 included discussions on the interlinkages between Global Forest Goals (GFGs) and SDGs under review by the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in 2023, the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and other global forest-related developments.

The various panel discussions and presentations informed the delegates about regenerative agriculture, multilateral environment funds and regional development banks, potential of carbon markets, and the nexus between forests, energy and livelihoods. Additionally, the session also reviewed preparations and received updates on the Midterm Review of the effectiveness of the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF) in 2024. The technical session paved the way for UNFF19 – a policy session focusing on policy dialogue and decision-making that will take place in May 2024.

Read on at:  https://enb.iisd.org/un-forum-forests-unff18-summary

On 10 May 2023, an IUFRO-GFEP side event on Forests and Human Health was held in conjunction with the session as part of the official UNFF18 side event program. The event presented the outcomes of the scientific assessment by the Global Forest Expert Panel on Forests and Human Health, officially launched on the International Day of Forests on 21 March 2023. In addition to the welcome remarks by the President of IUFRO and a keynote presentation by the Chair of the assessment, reflections from international bodies and organizations such as the UNFF Secretariat, CBD and FAO were invited. The Global Assessment Report "Forests and Trees for Human Health:  Pathways, Impacts, Challenges and Response Options" and the accompanying Policy Brief were also distributed to the attending delegates. 

IUFRO President John Parrotta represented IUFRO in the panel discussion on forests, energy and livelihoods, held on 11 May during the plenary. Sharing the panel with representatives from ITTO, FAO, UNDP and UNEP, Dr. Parrotta informed the delegates about the key messages of the Issue Brief on Forests, Energy and Livelihoods, developed jointly by IUFRO, the UNFF Secretariat, UNDP and FAO. The joint publication, in which IUFRO was represented by Dr. Nelson Grima as one of the lead authors, was launched on 4 April 2023. It analyses the nexus and interlinkages of forests, energy and livelihoods, including the contribution of forests and forest products to wood-based bioenergy.

The IUFRO delegation at UNFF18 was led by IUFRO President John Parrotta, accompanied by Christoph Wildburger, Nelson Grima and Andre Purret from IUFRO Headquarters.

Delegates of the International Forestry Students' Association (IFSA), representing the Major Group Children and Youth, were thrilled to have participated in the 18th UNFF session. Their participation offered them opportunities to interact with representatives from member states, gain new perspectives on the forestry policy process, and develop a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms at play within UN meetings, specifically concerning forestry.

The group of students from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, Germany, Sweden, Gambia, Brazil and Chile prepared a report and a video highlighting activities and lessons learnt: 
Click to read the full report! / Click to watch the video!

The third TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS Think Tank meeting, hosted by IUFRO and Mondi, was held in Vienna on 15-16 June 2023 and brought together over 40 representatives from science, business and other stakeholders to discuss the challenges of climate change facing pan-European forests, and jointly identify solutions and response measures.

Scientific experts presented preliminary findings of the IUFRO-Mondi synthesis study, exploring ecological, policy, socio-economic, and technological drivers for the future supply of fiber and other forest goods and services. The study considers the diversity of European forests, their ownership and management structure, the impacts of possible climate change scenarios, and the importance of policy instruments, socio-economic drivers and the role of innovation to create added value.

Business representatives also shared their perspectives on fiber supply, EU policies, climate change, and the challenges in meeting corporate sustainability targets.

In small expert groups, participants engaged in lively discussions and provided feedback on the scientific findings. They emphasized the importance of knowledge transfer, societal contributions, and the impact of EU legislation on wood sourcing.

Overall, the meeting underscored the need for collaboration and informed decision-making in addressing challenges in the forest-based sector. Participants recognized the crucial role of scientific research in shaping policies and the necessity of effective communication with society. The meeting highlighted the significance of considering diverse stakeholders and the impact of EU regulations on the forestry sector.

A full meeting summary will soon be published at: 
https://teamingup4forests.com/think-tank-meeting-2023/  

Driving Impact Through Collaboration:  When Business and Science Join Forces
Read Sustainable Forestry Article #4 in which Alexander Buck, Executive Director of IUFRO, and Dirk Längin, Group Head of Fibre Sourcing at Mondi, talk about the importance of partnership in tackling climate change across the forestry value chain.
Driving impact through collaboration:  When business and science join forces (mondigroup.com)

Dehradun, India, March 2023. After a virtual workshop in 2022, educators from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand met in Dehradun, India, to continue the discussion about current natural resources management education in view of the increasing demand for knowledge and expertise in landscape restoration. Participants also explored further opportunities for closer regional collaboration.

The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) organized this workshop in collaboration with the International Union of Forest Research Organizations under its Special Programme for Development of Capacities (IUFRO-SPDC), Global Landscapes Forum (GLF), and Wageningen University and Research (WUR). The workshop received support from the Republic of Korea's National Institute of Forest Science (NiFOS) and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA).

As part of the presentations, the participants shared examples of field training and outdoor learning sites, such as the Myanmar Forest School Training Forest. Thus far, this site allowed learners and researchers to practice traditional forest management skills and investigate indigenous tree species grown in dry hill forests and their biodiversity. Sites such as this have the potential to further serve as training areas to promote the landscape approach as part of broader restoration education, including social skills, rural economics and development and integrated landscape planning.

The workshop helped to expand ideas to share knowledge and experiences on FLR and related education through frequent online interactions, expert consultations, and the development of an online portal (including mailing lists, newsletters, blogs with comment section and Q&A, short videos, etc.), which could store educational materials, for example, a guidebook for forest restoration developed in Sri Lanka.

Participants recommended establishing exchange programs for both teaching staff and students to learn about restoration approaches and relevant educational programs in the region, including guest lectures and visits to field sites in the different countries. In addition, internships with organizations and institutions implementing restoration projects were considered.

The collaborative workplan developed during the workshop describes options for strengthening collaboration in regional projects on restoration education and FLR development.

Link to more information
Link to more resources Landscape Academy

Report by Emilia Janeczko, Deputy Coordinator, IUFRO Research Group 6.01.00 Forest recreation

The hybrid meeting held on 20 April 2023 in Birštonas, Lithuania, attracted 96 participants on site and 32 online from Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Sweden, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany and Australia. It was kindly hosted and supported by the Kaunas Forestry and Environmental Engineering University of Applied Sciences, Lithuania, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, and Institute of Forest Sciences, Poland. Visit the conference website!

One of the most visible global changes is increasing urbanization. According to estimations, 80% of Europe's population will live in urban areas by 2030. Cities play a key role in promoting and protecting health and well-being (WHO 2017). Urbanization has brought many benefits to people such as increased well-being and has improved the provision of social services (education, administration, health, etc.) in communities.

However, with advances in technology and civilization, people feel more and more disconnected from the natural world, with very negative consequences for health. Visits to nature contribute to the renewal and maintenance of mental health. Recent research has already provided reliable evidence that contact with nature helps to avoid health problems associated with chronic stress and attention fatigue.

Forests are important for human health also because they improve social relations and environmental behavior. Health and well-being are associated with maintaining good social relationships. It has already been proven that social isolation is a known predictor of morbidity and mortality.

Green space can play an important role in supporting social interaction. Increased contact with nature helps to improve social and emotional interactions in modern society, as it helps to promote an overall sense of community, reduces loneliness, and increases social support.

Recognizing the exact importance of forests for human health and well-being still requires new research approaches and in-depth studies. More research is needed to determine the relationship between greenery and people's mood and cognitive abilities. There is still a large knowledge gap in our understanding of how different types of forests may influence health differently.

The aim of the conference was to exchange ideas, strengthen cooperation between different research centers and share with each other good practices in forest therapy and green and blue infrastructure planning and design.

The conference presented the conceptual framework, results of a systematic literature review, and empirical findings in the following areas:

• human needs and public health
• the impact of greenery on humans
• green and blue infrastructure planning in cities

Changes in nature and environmental pollution are linked to many diseases. Forests contribute significantly to the maintenance and protection of human health. With increasing scientific evidence on the therapeutic effects of the forest environment, the importance of the forest in promoting public health is growing. The links between the natural environment and human health are of increasing interest to many organizations working within the public health and environmental sectors.

There are plans for a similar conference to be held in Poland in the near future under the working title "Forest and human health." A recording of the second day of the conference is now available.

Report by Hiroyuki Sase, Coordinator of IUFRO Working Party 8.04.06 Nitrogen and sulfur deposition
Meeting website:  https://www.acidrain2020.org

The meeting on 17-12 April 2023 in Toki Messe in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, was attended by 214 participants from 21 countries. It was jointly organized by IUFRO Working Parties 8.04.01, 8.04.03, 8.04.06, Japan Society of Atmospheric Chemistry, Japan Society for Atmospheric Environment, Japanese Society of Biogeochemistry, Japanese Society of Limnology, and Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.

The International Conference on Acid Deposition has been held approximately every five years since the first meeting in 1975, and the 10th conference was originally scheduled to be held in October 2020, but had to be postponed due to the global pandemic of the new coronavirus infection.

Six keynote speeches and twenty oral sessions addressed the following scientific topics:

• Emissions and their Evaluation by Monitoring and Modeling
• Atmospheric Chemical and Physical Processes
• Long-range Transport and Modeling
• Urban and Regional Air Pollution by Multiple Pollutants in Asia
• Air Pollution and Climate Change by Multiple Pollutants
• Observation and Assessment Studies of Multiple Pollutants
• Wet, Dry, and Occult Deposition
• Effects of Atmospheric Deposition and Multiple Pollutants on Terrestrial Ecosystems
• Long-term Trends of Deposition, Soil and Water Recovery
• Atmospheric Deposition and Biogeochemical Cycling
• Effects of Air Pollutants on Climate Change
• Critical Load Mapping and Health Effects Index
• Atmospheric Environment Management with Science and Policy

Scientific discussions over the last 50 years since 1975 have contributed to a comprehensive understanding of processes on air pollution, as shown in the topics above. The co-chairs of the conference and representatives of the International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB) concluded that the next conference should be held within 2 to 3 years, in line with the original schedule.

Special issues will be published in two scientific journals, Aerosol andAir Quality Research (AAQR) and Ecological Research. Manuscripts relevant to the conference scope could be accepted in the special issues. The submission deadline will be extended to August/September 2023.
Click here to read the full report!

Report by Oliver Brendel, Chuck Cannon and Keiko Kitamura, coordination team of IUFRO Working Party 2.08.05 Evolution and adaptation of Fagaceae and Nothofagaceae

The fifth international online workshop on 16 May 2023 was attended by 26 researchers from Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, UK, Japan, Mexico and USA. Three 20-minute talks were available online before the meeting. The two-hour meeting consisted of rapid introductions of these talks as well as one five-minute PhD live talk, followed by lively discussions.

John Carlson, Pennsylvania State University, USA:  A haplotype-resolved, chromosome-scale genome assembly of Quercus rubra
Barbara Neto-Bradley, University of Cambridge, UK:  How ecophysiology shapes Asian evergreen oaks and stone oaks' biogeography
Sukanya Denni/Ludovic Duvaux, INRAE, France:  Evaluate the potential of European white oaks to deal with climate change:  the role of pangenomics.
Saddan Morales, National Autonomous University of Mexico:  Phylogenomics and Ecological Niche Contrasts Lead to the Identification of Multiple and Independent Evolutionary Lineages within the Quercuslaeta complex (Fagaceae):  New Insights into the Diversification of the Leucomexicana subsection. Link to video!

The four presentations nicely highlighted the activities of this IUFRO group encompassing a broad geographic scale - from the US and Mexico to Europe and Asia - and addressing questions of species diversity and local adaptation, genome and pangenome studies, and systematics. 

The next virtual meeting is programmed for autumn 2023 and an in-person meeting for 2024 is in discussion, with Mexico as a probable candidate for the venue.

Report by Suzanne Afanou, IEFC (European Institute for Cultivated Forests) Communication Officer and Christophe Orazio, Coordinator of IUFRO Task Force Resilient Planted Forests Serving Society & Bioeconomy

During this webinar on 21 April 2023 Hervé Jactel commented on the main outcomes of the HOMED project (Holistic Management of Emerging Forest Pests and Diseases) that finished in 2022. Samantha Green informed about the citizen science to detect new damage in UK and Christophe Orazio introduced SILVALERT. Nicola Luchi focused on tools for monitoring biotic risks.
Link to webinar replay!

The presentations confirmed that the HOMED project brought about significant progress in the management of emerging pest and diseases, developing a large range of tools useful for all stages of invasion:  sentinel plantation for the prevention, traps for the detection, molecular tools for the surveillance, especially in nurseries before plantations, decision support tools for eradication, and biological control methods for the control. All these tools are available HERE

The webinar ended with a focus on citizen science for detection with the involvement of citizens for monitoring chestnut health and Observatree. The updated version of the European tool SILVALERT was also presented. Webinar series link.

Report by Teresa de Jesus Fidalgo Fonseca, Coordinator, IUFRO Working Party 1.01.10 Ecology and silviculture of pine

At the 3rd edition of the webinar series "Pine Silviculture:  International Success Factors" on 23 May, keynote speaker and IUFRO Board Member Wubalem Tadesse of the Ethiopian Forestry Development (EFD), talked about:  Pinus patula Plantations in Africa:  An Overview of its Silvicultural Traits and Use under SDG.

A total of 195 participants from 32 countries on 4 continents watched the webinar, which was kindly hosted and supported by Centro Pinus, Ethiopian Forestry Development (EFD) and University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Portugal.

Pines are one of the main wood-producing species in the world. They have a remarkable economic, social and environmental role and provide important benefits. The IUFRO Ecology and Silviculture of Pine Unit and Centro PINUS – a Portuguese NGO focused on maritime pine – invite foresters and researchers from all over the world to join this international webinar series. The series aims to discover the general outlook, analyze challenges, and compare main trends and success factors in pine silviculture.

Key issues discussed during the latest edition:

• Distribution and ecology of Pinus patula
• The importance of the species in Africa
• Fundamentals of silvicultural traits and use of Pinus patula
• Silvicultural guidelines for the management of pure P. patula plantations
• Pests and diseases affecting the species
• Effects on biodiversity and relevance on aboveground carbon stock
• Soil fungal communities under Pinus patula in Ethiopia
• Interest of P. patula within the framework of the sustainable development goal (SDG) 15

P. patula is a very fast-growing tree and the most widely planted pine species within African commercial plantations. The species is planted in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, and South Africa and is mainly used for timber and firewood. The increase in forest area and its maintenance in good conditions contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals of UN Agenda 2030.

Investment in Pinus patula is necessary due to the need to comply with the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) to fight poverty, ensure access to drinking water, enable carbon sequestration, and reduce the effects of climate change. The use of the species helps counter the degradation and deforestation trends caused by the rapid expansion of agriculture and the use of wood as a fuel.

Link for the recording in Centro PINUS YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GylBsXyZAH4

Report by Gerda Wolfrum, IUFRO HQ

On 20-22 June 2023, European forest communicators got together in Prague, Czech Republic, for the UNECE/FAO Forest Communicators' Network (FCN) annual meeting and workshop, kindly hosted by the Czech Ministry of Agriculture and the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences of the Czech University of Life Sciences (CZU).

The meeting focused on the role of innovative technology in impactful communication, such as generative artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and podcasting, and included exciting hands-on training opportunities and valuable tips and guidance for the use of these tools.

Productive brainstorming on communication activities related to the International Day of Forests with the theme "Forests and Innovation", information about the global wood promotion campaign "Growing the Solution", facts and figures about Czech forests and forestry, best-practice examples, and a field trip with a focus on urban forestry rounded off the rich and varied program.

The Czech University of Life Sciences offered participants a unique experience with state-of-the-art virtual reality equipment and informed about how this technology is applied in forestry and forest research. Communication expert Pavel Kucera introduced the participants to the art of podcasting, and journalist Juan Sebastián Gómez López of Deutsche Welle gave an inspiring talk on generative AI to help communicators understand ‘how to make AI do what they want and protect themselves'.

One of the many highlights of the event was a presentation by Jürgen P. Kropp, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Neues Bauhaus der Erde, on the potential of timber construction for climate change mitigation. He shared some eye-opening data on global urbanization trends, carbon storage capacities of timber buildings, the availability of timber for construction, and the carbon emissions of the cement-based building sector. He said, "If the cement industry were a state, it would be 3rd in terms of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions!"

A most enjoyable and informative half-day field trip to beautiful Stromovka Park managed by the City of Prague Forests (LHMP) provided insights into how LHMP manages 2,900 hectares of forests and meadows in Prague, cares for the city's parks, gardens, orchards and memorial trees, and runs a rescue station for wildlife.

Jose Bolaños and Gerda Wolfrum of IUFRO Headquarters were among the participants and truly enjoyed the valuable knowledge exchange and hands-on training experiences. They contributed to the program with presentations on the "Teaming up 4 forests" science-business platform, the IUFRO Podcast "Branching Out", and the IUFRO 2024 World Congress with its theme "Forests and Society Towards 2050".

Special thanks go to Lada Matoušková Prylová, Forest Management Institute, Czech Republic, and Marcel Riedl, Department of Forestry and Wood Economics, CZU, and their colleagues for the excellent organization of the 2023 meeting, and to Ekrem Yazici, Forestry Officer and Deputy Chief of the Joint UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section, FAO, Maria De Cristofaro, Outreach and Capacity Building Officer, FAO, and the entire FCN team led by Kai Lintunen, Head of International Communication, Finnish Forest Association, for making these meetings possible.

All forest communicators are welcome to join FCN and take part in its activities!
Click to find out more and get in touch!

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

Jose Bolaños, IUFRO HQ, and co-host Ewa Hermanowicz, from FSC and Coordinator of IUFRO's Communication and public relations Working Party, talk with IUFRO officeholders Lucy Amissah from the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Mariella Marzano from Forest Research UK, Jens Peter Skovsgaard from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and Congress keynote speaker Andrew Liebhold from the US Forest Service, 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 favorite platform or visit our website to access this episode. And don't forget to subscribe, share, and join us on this podcasting adventure. Click here!

The first episode of the UN Forest Podcast – "Urban forests hosted by Stefano Boeri" – is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and SoundCloud. Click here!

In this episode, architect and professor at Politecnico di Milano, Stefano Boeri, and Cecil Konijnendijk, professor of urban forestry, researcher and contributor to many UNECE urban forest publications, discuss how we can expand green space areas across cities that are often very dense and how we can guarantee that the benefits of urban forests are provided in a sound and inclusive way. 

Professor Konijnendijk is the lead author of the recently published IUFRO-GFEP Global Assessment Report "Forests and Trees for Human Health:  Pathways, Impacts, Challenges and Response Options. A Global Assessment Report."

In recognition of her outstanding and valuable service to IUFRO, Maria Patek, Director General Forestry and Sustainability at the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management, received IUFRO's Distinguished Service Award at the 26th Austrian Forest Forum (Waldforum) on 13 June 2023.

Among other things, Maria Patek has played an instrumental role in initiating, guiding, and supporting new collaborative activities of IUFRO along the forest-based value chain and with other sectors such as water. She has been a strong advocate for strengthening communication and improving gender equality in IUFRO and the entire forest sector.

The 26th Forest Forum also specifically focused on SDG 15 "Life on Land" and invited IUFRO to present the scientific view of the contributions of forests to the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals. Christoph Wildburger, Coordinator of the IUFRO Science-Policy Programme, informed about the series of global assessment reports published on the topic since 2009. 

IUFRO would like to congratulate Bianca Eskelson, Associate Professor in the Department of Forest Resources Management of the University of British Columbia, Canada, on receiving this prestigious award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Read more!

Dr. Eskelson is being recognized as a Humboldt fellow in support of the following research project:  Climate-sensitive tree mortality models and economic consequences of altered mortality probabilities under climate change in mixed-species stands of central Europe and interior British Columbia, Canada.

In IUFRO, Bianca Eskelson is Deputy Coordinator Division 4 Forest Assessment, Modelling and Management, and Coordinator 4.01.00 Forest mensuration and modelling.

IUFRO extends congratulations to Professor Taraneh Sowlati on receiving the Canadian Operations Research Society (CORS) Merit Award. She is being recognized for her research work in biomass utilization, with a focus on its optimization and management in supply chains.

Dr. Sowlati is Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Working Party 3.04.02 Supply chain management.
Read more!

During 10-12 March 2023, the 34th General Assembly (GA) of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) was held in Tokyo, Japan. In the General Assembly, Coordinator of IUFRO 5.16.00 Wood identification and Executive Secretary of the International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA), Professor Yafang Yin from the Research Institute of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, was elected as Executive Committee Member (2023-2026) of IUBS.

IUBS, established in 1919, is a non-governmental and non-profit organization comprising of national academies and international scientific associations and societies. The Executive Committee acts on the decisions made by the GA to fulfill the objectives of the IUBS. The Executive Committee is elected by the GA and consists of a president, a vice president, a secretary general, a treasurer and four to six other members.

"Professor Yin's new position in IUBS will contribute to invigorating collaboration between IUFRO, IAWA and IUBS, and, thus, strengthen IUFRO's important role in the science development and technology innovation of global forestry research."

Remote Sensing Technology Used in the Battle to Combat Myrtle Rust

Media release of 15 May (…) Scientists at Crown Research Institute Scion (New Zealand) have found a way to quickly detect myrtle rust days before plants show signs of infection, providing hope that nurseries in the future can start control treatment much sooner and stop disease outbreaks in their tracks.

Working in a containment laboratory, the Scion team, led by data scientist Elizaveta Graevskaya, used high precision equipment to detect myrtle rust infection in leaves of rose apple deliberately inoculated with the myrtle rust pathogen. (…)

Forest pathologist and research group leader Stuart Fraser (Coordinator of IUFRO Working Party 7.02.13 Forest health in southern hemisphere commercial plantations), leads the Ecology and Environment team investigating myrtle rust.

He describes the latest research as "incredibly promising". "As part of a wider programme of research, we've been monitoring myrtle rust's impact and seasonal progression across the North Island for several years," he says.

"It's important that we throw everything at it and use a range of available technologies to accelerate research and management, so we can reduce myrtle rust damage to our most vulnerable plants and landscapes."

Myrtle rust poses a threat to the country's most iconic plants, including pōhutakawa, mānuka, and rātā, as well as commercially grown species such as eucalyptus. (…) Read on!

IUFRO Annual Report 2022
Read about IUFRO activities clustered around these themes:  Forests for People, Forests and Climate Change, Forests and Forest-Based Products for a Greener Future, Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Biological Invasions, Forests, Soil and Water Interactions.
Link to full report
Link to short report (published in February 2023)

Latest Division 6 Newsletter Now Available!
After a welcome note by Division Coordinator Purabi Bose, you will find information about the future roles and responsibilities of the Dual Division Coordinators. As IUFRO is embracing for the first time the concept of dual coordinators for the Division, it is important that the officeholders get an orientation of what it implies. Meet the Dual Coordinators of Division 6 for the term 2024-2029! You will also find news about upcoming meetings, calls for papers, publications and job announcements. Read here!

Proceedings:  24th European Forum on Urban Forestry (EFUF2022):  Adaptive Measures in Urban Forests
Proceedings from the IUFRO 6.07.00 conference on 17-21 May 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia, published by Rik De Vreese, Clive Davies, Nicole Rösch (eds.), in 2023. Link to PDF

Science on Ecosystems and People to Support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
The open-access journal Ecosystems and People has just published an extensive editorial piece. IUFRO President John Parrotta is an associated journal editor and among the authors of this editorial. The aim of this editorial is to draw attention to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets.

Policy Brief:  SUPERB's Policy Recommendations for the EU Nature Restoration Law - Towards biodiverse and adaptive forest landscapes for Europe's people.
SUPERB aims at large scale forest restoration in Europe, combining scientific and practical knowledge to drive actionable outcomes. This Policy Brief is based on the concepts underpinning this approach and provides four recommendations for changes to the proposed EU Nature Restoration law.

Joint Webinar Series:  SUPERB and IUFRO's Task Force on Transforming Forest Landscapes for Future Climates and Human Well-Being also jointly organize the "Forest Restoration Talks", a webinar series to investigate forest restoration questions from diverse scientific perspectives, with alternating focus on the global and European levels. Find out more and watch the webinar recordings!

Ecology and Management of Castanea Species
Edited by Stacy Clark, Enrico Marcolin, Verónica Loewe, Maria Patrício (IUFRO Working Party 1.01.13 Ecology and silviculture of chestnut)
Chestnut (Castanea) contains thirteen species naturally occurring in Europe, Asia, and North America, and naturalized and cultivated populations occur in South America. Chestnut species are threatened by non-native pests and pathogens, land-use degradation, and climate change. Knowledge gaps exist in understanding sustainable methods to manage, restore or regenerate chestnut stands naturally or artificially. Link to the journal issue

Reporting on Forests and Sustainable Forest Management in the Caucasus and Central Asia - Focus on Criteria and Indicators
By Otrakcier, Tamer & Linser, Stefanie & Bastrup-Birk, Annemarie & Gaworska, Marta & Köhl, Michael & Korhonen, Kari & Talarczyk, Andrzej. (2023). April 2023.
ISBN:  978-92-1-117325-3. Link to the publication

Call for Submission of Manuscripts:  Challenges, Opportunities and Trends for the Forest Sector in Latin America
Submit by 30 November 2023
Contributions are invited for a special issue of the Journal of Forest Business Research, on the topic of ‘Challenges, Opportunities and Trends for The Forest Sector in Latin America'. This special edition aims to learn about the different aspects of the development of the forestry sectors in Latin America, discussing their current situation as well as their challenges and opportunities in a changing world.

Special issue guest editors:  IUFRO officeholders Virginia Morales Olmos - Department of Economics, Northeast Region, University of the Republic, Uruguay; Vitor Afonso Hoeflich - Postgraduate Program in Forest Engineering, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil. Details

Call for Submissions – Special Issue on Digitalization of Forest Operations
Submission deadline:  31 August 2023
The core question addressed within this special issue of the International Journal of Forest Engineering is how digital automation and IT-based applications can be used and made applicable to benefit the wood supply chain. The special issue editors Janine Schweier, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) and Angelo Conrado de Arruda Moura, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) (Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Research Group 3.01.00 Harvesting and transportation engineering).
Click for details!
Video recordings of recent 3.01.00 videos