From: Ramsfield, Tod (he, him | il, lui) <tod.ramsfield(a)NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca>
Sent: Mittwoch, 29. April 2026 17:09
Subject: Save the date - Edmonton 2027
Dear All,
Join the global forest health research community in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from August 9-13, 2027, for the IUFRO conference hosted by Division 7 - Forest Health under the theme "Global Partnerships and Sustainability." We welcome the participation of units from other IUFRO Divisions to encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration under the conference theme.
This international conference will bring together researchers from around the world who are dedicated to advancing the understanding and stewardship of healthy forest ecosystems. Participants will have the opportunity to showcase their research, exchange ideas, and build meaningful collaborations across all IUFRO divisions. We especially emphasize the importance of global and community partnerships in advancing sustainable forest management, and invite all perspectives, including Indigenous knowledge systems and research approaches.
With a strong focus on forest health, the conference will feature sessions on forest insects and pathogens, invasive species, pest management, and forest damage assessment. Researchers working in complementary fields, including silviculture, forest genetics, and biodiversity, are warmly invited to contribute to this dynamic and interdisciplinary scientific program. In line with the conference theme, contributions that explore sustainability through cross-disciplinary collaboration are welcome. We hope that you are able to join us in Edmonton in 2027.
Tod Ramsfield, Maartje Klapwijk, Nadir Erbilgin, Charles Nock, and Jennifer Klutsch
Tod Ramsfield, PhD
Co-Coordinator, IUFRO Division 7 - Forest Health
Research Scientist Forest Pathology, Canadian Forest Service
Natural Resources Canada / Government of Canada
Tod.Ramsfield(a)NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca<mailto:Tod.Ramsfield@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca> / Tel: 825-510-1303
Chercheur, Pathologie forestière, Service canadien des forêts
Ressources naturelles Canada / Gouvernement du Canada
Tod.Ramsfield(a)NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca<mailto:Tod.Ramsfield@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca> / Tel : 825-510-1303
Dear IUFRO D6 colleagues,
This is a kind reminder of the upcoming session in the IUFRO Research Group 6.05.00 “Forest Conflict Management” – Contested Forests Talks series. We are also pleased to share that we have indeed confirmed a second interesting contribution to the session.
Ontological Conflict over Arctic Forests in the Indigenous Sámi Territories
🗓 Date: 17 April 2026
⏰ Time: 11.00 UTC (to convert the time within your time zone, please use the Time Converter at the event page)
📍 Online event: Zoom (please register to receive the Zoom link)
🌐 Event page & registration:
https://www.iufro.org/events/iufro-rg-60500-contested-forests-talks-ontolog…
In this session, Doctoral Researcher Anna Ott will explore how different ways of knowing, relating to, and using Arctic forests come into tension in the Indigenous Sámi homeland (Sápmi).
Anna Ott is currently finalizing her doctoral thesis at the University of Lapland, Finland. Her dissertation examines the transformative potential of land use politics and practices of the Indigenous Sámi people. More specifically, her research investigates how land use in Northern Finland is shaped by ontological conflict, and how Sámi political practices support transitions toward alternative ways of living in and with the land.
In her presentation, she will focus on ontological conflicts over forests involving Sámi reindeer herders, the Finnish state, and private forest owners, and will discuss Rights of Nature as one potential approach to mitigating environmental conflicts in the Arctic Sámi territories.
In addition to this talk, we are delighted to welcome Inka Musta, CEO of Luontoa and Member of the Executive Board of the Sámi Parliament, as a second speaker.
Inka Musta has extensive experience in strategic leadership in nature and sustainability work, as well as in managing stakeholder relationships and sustainability risks. In her role as a member of the Sámi Parliament—the supreme political body of the Indigenous Sámi in Finland—she represents Sámi perspectives in both national and international contexts. Her contribution will bring valuable practical and political insights into current forest-related conflicts and governance challenges in Sámi territories.
This event is part of a broader effort within RG 6.05.00 to create a global platform for discussing forest-related conflicts, their cultural and political dimensions, and pathways toward more just and sustainable forest futures.
The session lasts one hour and begins with a 20‑minute guest presentation, followed by an open discussion.
We warmly welcome you to join us, listen, and take part in the discussion!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Kind regards,
Tuulikki Halla & Rebecca Ford
Coordinator & Deputy Coordinator, IUFRO RG 6.05.00 Forest Conflict Management
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Tuulikki Halla
Projektitutkija | Project Researcher
Itä-Suomen yliopisto | University of Eastern Finland
Luonnontieteiden, metsätieteiden ja tekniikan tdk | Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology
Luonnontieteiden, metsätieteiden ja tekniikan tohtoriohjelma | Doctoral Programme in Science, Forestry and Technology
UNITE Forest-Human-Machine Interplay | Suomen Akatemian Tieteen lippulaiva
https://uniteflagship.fi
Latest articles
Experiencing forests as professionals: meanings and tensions in sustainability transitions https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2026.103731
Workshop: Stories of the Understory https://doi.org/10.3897/rio.11.e164067
+358 (0)40 7373 904
tuulikki.halla(at)uef.fi
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuulikkihalla
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