The theme of the 2019 International Day of Forests is "Forest and Education". This theme will be one of the five key topics to be discussed at a scientific symposium on 21-23 March as part of the 2019 World Wood Day celebrations in Stübing, Austria.

The symposium "CHANGE – from tradition to innovation" is jointly organized by IAWA, IAWS and IUFRO. Sandra Rodríguez-Pineros from the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Mexico, and Coordinator of the Joint IUFRO-IFSA Task Force on Forest Education, will deliver a keynote speech on "Education – an essential tool for forest sustainability and wood utilization". Other symposium topics are proper tree species identification and illegal timber use, wooden buildings, wood-based musical instruments, and non-wood products.

World Wood Day is an annual event to celebrate the importance of wood, demonstrate the beauty of wood, and share the knowledge about wood. This year's celebrations will take place under the motto "CHANGE". A variety of programs such as woodcraft activities, folk art workshops and events for children will be organized for the public with free admission.

The 2019 WWD event in Austria is jointly organized by the World Wood Day Foundation (WWDF) and the International Wood Culture Society (IWCS). The event will bring more than 500 participants from over 90 countries and regions from around the world to the Austrian Open Air Stübing and Graz.

Links:

WWD Symposium: http://www.worldwoodday.org/2019/regions_event/39

WWD: http://www.worldwoodday.org/2019/home

Joint IUFRO-IFSA TF: https://www.iufro.org/science/task-forces/forest-education/

IUFRO Forest Products Culture: https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-5/50000/51500/