Pre-Conference Training Workshop

organized in conjunction with the Conference "Mountain Forests in a Changing World"


Venue:
Vienna, Austria

Date: 31 March - 1 April 2008

Jointly organized by: IUFRO's Special Programme for Developing Countries (IUFRO-SPDC) and the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU)

Sponsors:

  • Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management
  • Others: currently being identified

The detailed workshop programme is now available. Please click here.


Background and Objectives

The need for sound scientific information in the development of public forest policies at the local, national and international levels has grown significantly in recent years. So too has the need for such information within the private forestry sector and among non-governmental organizations, whose role in the development, sustainable management and conservation of forest resources in all regions of the world, including mountain forests, is steadily increasing in importance. In order to generate value for society, research results should be used by someone – policy-makers, forestry practitioners, landowners, investors, educators and other researchers. The science-policy interface is all about utilising scientific knowledge more effectively.

With this end in mind, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) in cooperation with the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna, Austria will organise a training workshop for forest scientists from developing countries who are involved in research and development of mountain forests. During the two-day training event, held at BOKU University from 31 March to 1 April participants will learn about concepts and methods on how to plan, conduct, and organise research activities so that results can more quickly and easily be transformed into usable information for problem-solving and policy-making.

The training is based on the work of international experts convened by IUFRO in its Task Force on Science-Policy Interface. In addition, resource persons from various national and international research institutions will present a wide spectrum of case studies from Africa, Asia and Latin America that demonstrate successes and challenges of working at the science-policy interface. Examples include ongoing international policy processes, national forest programmes as well as pro-poor policy making at the level of rural communities.


Target Audience

The training workshop will bring together early- and mid-career scientists from developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America who wish to increase the impact of their scientific work (i.e., research, advocacy, supervision etc.) on policy making through adequate contribution of research results and scientific knowledge to policy-making processes, addressing broader environmental and socio-economic issues.
A total number of about 20 participants will be accepted in the training workshop.


Workshop Organization

Venue: The workshop will take place at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.


Time Schedule

•    Arrival of participants in Vienna on 30 March, 2008
•    Training workshop: 31 March to 1 April, 2008
•    Participation in the International Conference on Mountain Forests in a Changing
      World 2 to 4 April, 2008
•    Field Trip on 5 April, 2008
•    Departure of participants on 6 April, 2008.


Workshop Language

English (No simultaneous translation will be provided.)


Workshop Programme

Please click here for the detailed workshop programme.


Traditional Forest Knowledge Conference


 doc