We're excited to invite you to "Branching Out: The Forest Podcast," Season 2, Episode 6, where we talk about the work of IUFRO's Division 6: Social Aspects of Forests and Forestry. Hosted by Jose Bolaños, IUFRO HQ, and Ngozi Edum, IFSA, this episode features Purabi Bose, Co-Coordinator of Division 6. 

For too long, the social dimension of forests and forestry was seen as a "soft skill", with people's participation often overlooked. This episode addresses that challenge, emphasizing that people's participation is crucial. You'll uncover how Division 6 serves as a key platform, fostering cooperation and interdisciplinary communication within the scientific community.

Purabi Bose highlights the evolution of social aspects, moving from government-run programs to a focus on community-based forest management and conservation, especially involving local and Indigenous communities. Learn about recent scientific developments, including how funding is now increasingly decentralized and directed to local communities, and the growing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion in forest work.

The discussion touches upon critical topics researched by Division 6, such as forest recreation, nature-based tourism, conflict resolution, urban forestry, gender in forest science, forest education, and rural governance. This is an opportunity to explore how these social elements are not peripheral but central to sustainable forestry.

Don't miss this insightful conversation that calls for more voices and diverse ideas to highlight the social aspects of forests and forestry. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast! Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts, and don't forget to follow us!

Find this and other episodes at: IUFRO - Podcast

The Short Rotation Woody Crops International Conference is a biennial meeting of the Short Rotation Woody Crops Operations Working Group with the aim of promoting information exchange and collaborative efforts for short rotation woody crop (SRWC) operations and research. The 14th biennial Short Rotation Woody Crops International was hosted by the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry from May 13-16, 2024 in Columbia, MO. 

A joint meeting of the Short Rotation Woody Crops International Conference and the Poplar and Willow Council of Canada (PWCC), the 2024 conference brought together members of leading SRWC and agroforestry organizations, including the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, the International Commission on Poplars and Other Fast-Growing Trees Sustaining People and the Environment (IPC) Working Party on Environmental and Ecosystem Services (WP-ENV), the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Working Party 1.03.00 (Short Rotation Forestry), the IUFRO Working Party 1.06.01 (Phytotechnologies for Degraded Sites in Rural and Urban Communities), and the IUFRO Working Party 2.08.04 (Physiology and Genetics of Poplars and Willows). 

With the theme of "The Future is Green: Integrating Short Rotation Woody Crops (SRWCs), Agroforestry, and Ecosystem Services for Sustainable, Productive Landscapes", the objective of the 2024 conference was to highlight current SRWC and agroforestry research with the goal of enhancing information exchange and fostering collaboration for integrating SWRC into agroforestry systems. 

Additionally, unique to this conference, there were multiple student-focused initiatives throughout, including: 

1) the first ever Woody Crops Scholars Program,
2) a student career panel discussion, and 
3) a student presentation competition. 

These initiatives enhanced student participation and engagement at the conference. The conference consisted of 2 plenary presentations, 31 oral presentations and 17 poster presentations from a variety of topic areas including agroforestry, biomass production, economics, ecosystem services, genetics, physiology, and phytotechnologies. In addition, Dr. Benjamin Knapp from the University of Missouri presented a welcome plenary about the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry. 

These proceedings detail all presentations that were given to the over 60 people who attended the conference.