Dear Research Group Coordinators and friends of D5, I believe some among you are attending the IUFROLAT2013 in San Jose, Costa Rica, on 12-15 June 2013. There will be a session hosted by IUFRO at the IUFROLAT congress. The session will be held in form of a Panel discussion, moderated by the IUFRO President, · to inform IUFROLAT Participants about the structure and working modalities of IUFRO · to discuss the Role of IUFRO by addressing Issues of particular concern to Latin America and · to highlight Benefits of IUFROs’ scientific collaborations for the Latin-American science community. A panel discussion will among other issues, engage a cluster of Divisions and Task Forces (and D5 is in Cluster 3 below) to discuss targeted questions, more specifically to highlight i. the general research focus of the Division and Task Force, ii. current activities related to the question, iii. Gaps and future research needed regarding to the question. In total three questions will be asked to a cluster of Divisions and Task Forces (see format below). Division 5 falls under the cluster on "Forest Products for a Greener Economy". For each cluster a selected number of Division- and Task Force Coordinators will be asked by the moderator to respond according to the proposed outline of the targeted questions. (i., ii. & iii. above). All Division- and Task Force Coordinators will be informed in advance of the question which they are supposed to address. The detailed questions addressing the three proposed topics are yet to be announced. Each respondent will be given the possibility to show one slide in order to illustrate his/her response. These slides shall be merged according to the structure to be announced. |---------------------------------------+---------------------------------------| | Cluster 1 | Divisions / TFs | |---------------------------------------+---------------------------------------| | Cluster 2 | Divisions / TFs | |---------------------------------------+---------------------------------------| | Cluster 3 - Forest Products | Division 2 – Physiology and | | | | | for a Greener Economy | Genetics | | | | | | | | | | | | Division 3 – Forest Operations, | | | | | | Engineering and Management | | | | | | | | | | | | Division 5 – Forest Products | | | | | | | | | | | | Task Force – Education in | | | | | | Forest Science | | | | | | | | | | | | Task Force – Resources for the | | | | | | Future | |---------------------------------------+---------------------------------------| | Cluster 4 | Divisions / TFs | |---------------------------------------+---------------------------------------| 2. Forest Products for a Greener Economy 2.1 Setting the Stage In the context of the Green Economy Initiative, the Environmental Program of the United Nations (UNEP) defines green economy as “one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.” Thus green economies are not based on the demand for sacrifice, but on the idea of qualitative growth, where low-carbon and environmentally friendly technologies, as well as international cooperation in this area play a key role. ( http://www.fes-sustainability.org/de/diskussionen/green-economy-sustainable… ). Green Economy principles of valuing and investing in natural capital and people, reforming high impact sectors to address sustainability, driving investment and financial flows towards pro-environment and pro-people growth and improving governance and forging partnership are key to ensure the transition to a successful equitable and balance growth. Between 1980 and 2005 most exports of Latin America’s leading forest products (i.e. sawnwood, wood pulp, and paper and paperboard) were made by large and medium-size enterprises. The activities of small and medium-scale enterprises (SME) are often limited to local markets, and most of the wide range of forest products, including timber, fuelwood, and non-timber forest products, are also used for subsidence. Furthermore, forest- and tree-based activities have poor returns compared to agricultural practices. “Although many large forest enterprises have managed to become competitive and viable, the challenge is now to promote the development of small and medium enterprises capable of interacting with large companies in value chains based on win-win relationships”, concluded researchers of the IUFRO-WFSE study “Forests and Society – Responding to Global Drivers of Change” in 2010. Questions that can be asked to Division 5: Forest Products · What kind of research is represented by Division 5? · How has Division 5 in the past contributed to address the issue of forest products for a greener economy in Latin America? · How can your IUFRO Division help in addressing future research needs on this issue in Latin America? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hence against this background and in preparing for this session, I would be grateful to you if you could take the opportunity to share some of your thoughts about these areas and especially sharing your experiences concerning Latin America that would would benefit the audience. I will try my best to convey your views during the convened session. Your views would certainly help me and my cluster of colleagues at IUFRO tremendously to engage the audience. Look forward to hearing from you by 25 May 2013, so that I can make adequate preparations to address the session. Kind regards, Andrew Wong Andrew H.H. Wong, D.Phil. Associate Professor, Wood durability & Protection Coordinator, IUFRO Division 5 (Forest Products),www.iufro.org Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Faculty of Resource Science and Technology 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak Malaysia Tel: +6082 582936 (direct line) Tel: +6082 581000, Ext. #2936 Fax: +6082 583160 Email:ahhwong@frst.unimas.my awong.unimas(a)gmail.com _______________________________________________ IUFRO Mailing List To post a message to all list members, send email to:div5@lists.iufro.org List info and Archive:http://www.iufro.org/science/iufro-mailing-lists/overview/