Dear all,

I would like to thank everyone, who was part of our IUFRO RG9.06.00 Symposium Legal aspects of European Forest Sustainable Development in Sopron, Hungary, September 29 – October 2, 2026 organized together with University of Sopron. Congratulations to Norbert Frank and all organizational team from Sopron University for well-organized event and taking care for every detail to make our stay in Sopron pleasant.

It is time to move forward with new opportunities and cooperation:

Common initiative from colleagues from Romania and Hungary to work on comparative legal research (see detailed information about idea in attached proposal). If you are interested in participating, please fill in the application form. Or if you know somebody, who would be interested in participating, please sent this information to relevant person. It would be nice to present results of this work in our RG.9.06.00 session in IUFRO World Congress in Kenya 2029.

https://forms.gle/weYXxz8fXsqA6drPA

In 2027 IUFRO Division 5 is organizing their whole division conference in Tartu, Estonia, May 30- June 3 (https://www.iufro.org/events/all-division-5-conference-future-forest-use-advancing-wood-science-and-forest-products-for-a-circular-bioeconomy). We are involved in joint session with RG 5.12.00. Please those who are interested in participating, you can get more detailed information from Vitalie Gulca (Vitalie.gulca@gmail.com) Deadline for abstracts is October 26!

Sustainability and Governance of Wood Products: Integrating LCA, Certification and Legislation into a Circular Bioeconomy

Organizer: Vitalija Gulca, Research Group 5.12.00 – Sustainable Use of Forest Products, Moldova

Session Co-Organizer(s): Xufeng Zhang, Beijing University of Technology, China, 5.12.01. Working Group Coordinator / Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Working Group T55

Līga Menņģele-Stillere, Latvian State Forest Service, Research Group 9.06.00. – Forest Law and Environmental Legislation

Vitalija Gulca Deputy Coordinator of Working Group 8.02.05. – Wildlife Protection and Management

IUFRO Division 5 Participating Unit (Research Group, Working Group): RG 5.12.00 Sustainable Use of Forest Products; WP 5.12.01 Life Cycle Assessment of Forest Products

Description: The session addresses the integration of sustainability assessment methodologies and management systems that support the transition to a circular bioeconomy in forest value chains. It considers how life cycle assessment (LCA), forest certification systems, sustainability indicators and carbon accounting of harvested wood products can be effectively integrated with forest legislation, environmental legislation and policy instruments. Particular attention is paid to regulatory developments related to climate policy, biodiversity strategies, ESG frameworks and circular economy initiatives, which are increasingly influencing the implementation of sustainability indicators in practice. The aim of the papers will be to explore methodological advances in environmental assessment, the role of legal and institutional frameworks and the interaction of scientific tools and governance mechanisms. The session aims to strengthen interdisciplinary dialogue between the wood science, sustainability assessment and forest policy communities, as well as to highlight science-policy interfaces that support climate-smart, legally compliant and circular use of forest resources.

I am truly glad for everybody who is part of our RG 9.06.00 and hope to meet you next time! You are welcome to share all your research ideas on forest and enviornmental legal aspects and wilingness to organize international meetings for our research group!

Warm wishes!

Liga Mengele-Stillere

Coordinator of IUFRO RG 9.06.00.