Dear Colleagues, Forest bioenergy is one of six thematic areas included in the IUFRO Strategy 2010-2014. In this context, I would like to draw your attention to the High-level Research Conference "The Future Role of Bio-energy from Tree Biomass in Europe" that will be held from 6 to 11 November 2011 in Vienna, Austria. The conference is organized by IUFRO in collaboration with the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) and the European Science Foundation (ESF), the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, and the Austrian Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW). The new IUFRO Task Force on Forest Bioenergy has played a key role in developing the scientific programme of the conference. In 2011, the International Year of the Forest, the conference will contribute to understanding bio-energy drivers, options and impacts on forest growing, management and production of traditional goods and services in the future. The scientific programme will focus on - Availability of biomass - Biodiversity, landscape ecology and soil water quality - Supply chain and system evaluation - Forest biomass as feedstock for the energy and biorefinery sector The Conference will feature lectures by invited high-level speakers, short talks by young and early stage researchers, poster sessions and open discussion periods as well as a forward look. You can find detailed information about the conference at <http://www.esf.org/index.php?id=8196> http://www.esf.org/index.php?id=8196. You are strongly encouraged to register your participation by 1 August 2011 at <http://www2.esf.org/asp/esfrcaf.asp?confcode=378&meetno=1> http://www2.esf.org/asp/esfrcaf.asp?confcode=378&meetno=1 Kind regards, Alexander Buck IUFRO Executive Director