Dear Division 9 colleagues first of all, I would like to thank you all for your activities and support of IUFRO and specifically IUFRO Division 9 activities. Its been again a good year of collaboration. And I would like to take the chance to send you seasons greetings and wishes for a good start into the new year 2019 where the *XXV IUFRO World Congress*, the next biggest event for forestry researchers worldwide will be held in *Curitiba, Brazil from 29 September to 5 October 2019.* As you will have been informed earlier, the *deadline for submitting abstracts* to The World Congress is extended until *January 10th 2019*. I am pleased to say that there are plenty of sessions  organized by Division 9 - so a lot of space to discuss newest results of social scientific forest research. There is also Scientist Assistance Programme (SAP) for supporting scientists from economically disadvantaged countries whose age below 46 years old. SAP registration will be started from *1 March 2019*. Full information on this scholarship can be found here: http://iufro2019.com/scientist-assistance-program-sap/ *Young scientists are encouraged to apply!!* Please feel free to share this information to your colleagues. And I am looking forward to meet you in Curitiba. With best regards Daniela -- Prof. Dr. Daniela Kleinschmit Professur für Forst- und Umweltpolitik/ Chair of Forest and Environmental Policy University of Freiburg Tennenbacherstr. 4 D- 79106 Freiburg Tel: +49 (0) 761/203-3712 Secretariat: +49 (0) 761/203-3713