Delegates from around the world meet to explore ways to boost forest education.
22 June 2021, Rome - Today sees the start of the International Conference on Forest Education<http://www.fao.org/forestry/forest-education/conference/en/> - a three-day event to shine a light on the important role forest education plays in maximizing the contributions of forests and trees to the Sustainable Development Goals and in overcoming the growing disconnect between people, nature and forests.
Over a thousand experts are attending the conference, which is organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Tropical Timber Organizations (ITTO) and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), CIFOR-ICRAF and the Secretariats of the UN Forum on Forests and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, with support from Germany.
The results of a global survey on forest education at all levels - from primary schools to universities - will be announced at the conference, which builds on a year-long effort by the FAO-ITTO-IUFRO Global Forest Education Project<http://www.fao.org/forestry/forest-education/en/> to collect, synthesise and verify the status of forest education.
"Forests are vital for combatting climate change, for the livelihoods of forest-dependent people, and for providing a secure future for generations to come," said FAO Deputy-Director General Maria-Helena Semedo. "Yet around the world, the environmental, societal and economic importance of forests is being overlooked. We urgently need to revitalize forest education so more people come to value forests for the vital natural resource they are."
The conference aims to help chart a path forward for forest education globally. Delegates including policy-makers, forest educators and forestry students will review the three pillars of forest education and knowledge: formal forest education; non-formal and informal education; and traditional and indigenous knowledge systems.
Themes that will be tackled include addressing gender and ethnicity in forest education; tailoring forest education to the needs of the job market; bringing forests into the lives of primary and secondary schoolchildren; improving the quality of forest education at tertiary level; redressing out-dated perceptions of forest careers through strategic communications; and tapping into digital opportunities to strengthen forest education.
New digital tools to improve forest education
Two new digital tools, which will help drive forward improvements in forest education, will also be unveiled at the conference.
forestra is a new online gateway to global forest education which has been created under the leadership of IUFRO as part of a joint project with FAO-IUFRO-ITTO. forestra will store and facilitate sharing of information on tertiary education, technical and vocational education and training (both short and long-term), and forest-related public environmental education.
"As the world becomes more digitally connected, the opportunity for online resource access grows", said IUFRO President John Parrotta. "The forestra platform has been developed to facilitate this access to knowledge and information related to forest education through an innovative user-friendly search function. It will create connections between education, training and forest-related environmental awareness initiatives at all levels around the world."
In addition, a free online course on Legal and Sustainable Supply Chains (LSSC)<https://lsscourse.com/course/> in the timber industry, developed under the leadership of ITTO, will help support several audiences, including businesses, to meet market requirements.
"The livelihoods of millions of people around the world depend on timber, but these are increasingly under threat from illegal and unsustainable practices," said Steve Johnson, Officer-in-charge, ITTO. "This course will help entrepreneurs, forestry professionals, government officials and students understand best practices in the timber industry while also helping to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals."
Delegates will be invited to endorse a Call to Action on Forest Education at the end of the conference that outlines key actions to strengthen forest education, training and knowledge sharing. The Call to Action will be open online for endorsement by others after the conference.
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Related links
International Conference on Forest Education<http://www.fao.org/forestry/forest-education/conference/en/>
Global Forest Education Project<http://www.fao.org/forestry/forest-education/en/>
forestra [link when live]
Online course on Legal and Sustainable Supply Chains (LSSC)<https://lsscourse.com/course/> [link when live]
Dear colleagues,
Attached you'll find the third IUFRO Division 6 newsletter, once again skilfully edited and compiled by Purabi Bose. As always, don't forget to send us your contributions for the coming issues.
I also would like to remind you of our 2nd Division 6 webinar, on June 25th (see the newsletter and the attached flyer).
Warm wishes,
Cecil
Dr ir Cecil Konijnendijk van den Bosch, AFLI
Coordination, IUFRO Division 6 'Social Aspects of Forests and Forestry'
Program Director, Master of Urban Forestry Leadership - https://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/graduate-degree-programs/maste…
Professor, Urban Forestry (on leave)
Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, UBC
2045 - 2424 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
E-mail: cecil.konijnendijk(a)ubc.ca<mailto:cecil.konijnendijk@ubc.ca>
http://profiles.forestry.ubc.ca/person/cecil-konijnendijk
Dear colleagues,
The Faculty of Forestry, Université Laval in Quebec, Canada is seeking candidates for a tenure track position in urban forestry. The position description is attached. It can also be found at the following link:
Professor in Urban Forestry | Ressources humaines (ulaval.ca)<https://www.rh.ulaval.ca/emploi/HCM/4478/emplois-professeurs>
Applications are due by the end of July.
Kind regards,
Cecil Konijnendijk
Dear colleagues,
A tree on your doorstep is a forest in your mind - how can cities contribute to a European tree awakening?
The City of Ljubljana, the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) and the Brussels Capital Region have all recently been awarded Tree Cities of the World status (TCoW). Bringing together the three cities as a partner event of the EU Green Week, European Forum on Urban Forestry (EFUF), European Forest Institute (EFI) and CLEARING HOUSE project, invite you to join an online ‘tree awakening’ activity – focus - celebration of trees to build and strengthen existing relationships at a continental level.
The 2-hour interactive online event is targeted at practitioners, researchers, policymakers and everyone eager to explore ways to work together towards a greener and more resilient future in cities around Europe and beyond.
Please register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-tree-awakening-11-june-2021-tickets-156485….
The ‘tree awakening’ will follow the main theme of the life of a tree in the city, which will be explored by a range of high-level speakers and throughout a technical panel discussion, where participants have the opportunity to engage in an interactive Q&A session.
To round off the ‘tree awakening’, attendees and urban adventurers are invited to explore trees and forests around the City of Ljubljana, the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) and the Brussels Capital Region from anywhere around the globe or in-situ to as a self-guided tree discovery excursion to learn about the manifold opportunities and challenges urban green encompasses in these three areas.
See the PDF attached to have a look at the full programme.
Looking forward to seeing you online!
Looking forward to meet you
Rik De Vreese
European Forest Institute
Dear Colleague,
Please, below is the link to our 2nd World Conference Forests for Public
Health, S. Korea 2021!
<http://www.fphcongress.org> www.fphcongress.org
Call for abstracts and registration forms are open now!
I am looking forward to meet you in person at 3nd World Conference in 2023!
May health and happiness be with you and everyone around you.
Christos Gallis.
Dr. Christos Gallis,
Research Director,
Forest Research Institute,
GR-57 006, Vassilika,
Thessaloniki, Greece.
Tel.: +30 2310 461 172,3 ext. 215
Email: cgalis(a)fri.gr <mailto:cgalis@fri.gr>
Dear all,
I still possible to join this week’s events of the European Forum on Urban Forestry 2021: The Swiss Week. A range of free, virtual events will share philosophical thoughts on social isolation in consideration of the tree and discuss the role of green spaces facing urban densification.
You can browse through and access all events at the EFUF 2021 online programme https://efuf.org/programme/ or directly through the myEFUF app.
Have a closer look at the speakers of the upcoming events:
May 19, 11:00 – 12:00 CEST
Philosophical thoughts on social isolation: in consideration of the tree
Join Naomi Zürcher (Arbor Aegis) for a philosophical discussion, reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 isolation “imposed” and relating that experience to what we impose on our urban trees. In consideration of the tree – a critical sharing of tree reality and what the practice of URBAN Forestry should encompass – the enabling of trees’ communal connections rather than isolating them – an essential element in their well-being and thus ours.
May 20, 15:00 – 17:00 CEST
Green Spaces and Urban Densification
Planning strategies for the sustainability of built habitats: How do we realise the change towards the paradigm of nature-based cities? What are the barriers to implementation? How can we better involve stakeholders, and which integrative methods can enable active and balanced participation of the different actors? You are invited to join in an interactive discussion with a focus on new stakeholder approaches.
Speakers
o Sandra Bühler, University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons
o Michael Pfister, Drees & Sommer
o Christiane Gebhardt, Drees & Sommer
o Haris Piplas, Drees & Sommer
o Alexandre Hedjazi, Université de Genève
This webinar will be moderated by Bianca Bärlocher, Urban Green Polylogue
All webinars are free and held in English language. Join in via the myEFUF app or see the online programme for details.
https://efuf.org/programme/<https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fefuforg.w…>
PROGRAMME - efuf.org<https://efuf.org/programme/>
Host: ArboCityNet, Berne and Zürich University of Applied Sciences (BFH, ZHAW)
efuf.orghttps://efuforg.wordpress.com/myefuf/
Looking forward to interactive discussions and sharing urban forestry experiences online!
Dear colleagues,
I am happy to announce the 2nd webinar in our Division 6 series, to be held on June 25th, 14.00-15.00 hrs CEST (i.e. Amsterdam/Paris time). Focus of this webinar is on the life and work of forest scientists during a global pandemic. What have been the major challenges and how have people dealt with them? Was it possible to balance work and family? What are the impacts on careers and research? Has anything good come out of this?
In the attached flyer you can read more about e.g., the excellent panellists from different parts of the world. You will also find a Zoom registration link in the document.
Hopefully many of you will be able to make it!
Warm wishes,
Cecil
Dr ir Cecil Konijnendijk van den Bosch, AFLI
Program Director, Master of Urban Forestry Leadership - https://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/graduate-degree-programs/maste…
Professor, Urban Forestry (on leave)
Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, UBC
2045 - 2424 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
E-mail: cecil.konijnendijk(a)ubc.ca<mailto:cecil.konijnendijk@ubc.ca>
http://profiles.forestry.ubc.ca/person/cecil-konijnendijk
Dear colleagues,
I would like to invite you to our online symposium "Gaurishankar Conservation Area Revisited: Status of Current Research activities" as follows:
DATE: Friday, May 7, 09:15 AM CEST, 01:00 PM (NPT)
PROGRAM: see attached PDF, alternatively: https://www.oeaw.ac.at/kioes/aktivitaeten/detail/forschung-fuer-die-gaurish…
ACCESS LINK: https://oeaw-ac-at.zoom.us/j/93417077969
NO registration required, symposium language: Englisch
Background:
Research activities in Gaurishankar Conservation Area (GCA) were initiated in 2015, with a kick-off meeting in Kathmandu on 22nd of April titled "Research Methodology for Integrated Forest Management in Gaurishankar Conservation Area, Central Nepal Himalayas". The subsequent ill-fated fieldwork campaign did not result in expected outcomes as it was suddenly interrupted by a massive (7.8Mw) earthquake, known as the Gorkha earthquake, which took place on 25th of April, 2015. The project team soon realized that pursuing the initial aims was impossible and hence a follow-up project was initiated in 2016, within the carbon offset project framework of BOKU University. The aim of the ongoing long-term carbon offset project is to provide scientific evidence for decisions that help to improve livelihoods, to increase resilience and to help overcoming negative consequences of the 2015 earthquake event, all embedded in an accountable carbon sequestration framework. For instance, a nursery was set up to enhance afforestation with the aims of increasing carbon, reduce erosion and for local production of construction and firewood.
The symposium presents the status of scientific research in GCA, both within and beyond the BOKU carbon offset project. It provides a platform to share current research of various disciplines, strengthens existing collaborations and establishing new links. The summary and discussion session aims at providing input fur future activities at GCA. Colleagues and friends from IUFRO are very welcome to attend and share their ideas, suggestions and perhaps identify potential collaboration.
Looking forward to welcome you at this virtual event!
With best wishes,
Viktor Bruckman
Dr. Viktor Bruckman
Austrian Academy of Sciences
Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2
1010 Vienna, Austria
Voice: +43-1-51581-3200
Mobile: +43 664 6127259
Email: viktor.bruckman(a)oeaw.ac.at<mailto:viktor.bruckman@oeaw.ac.at>
Web: http://www.oeaw.ac.at/kioes/
