[IUFRO RG 7.02 FORPATH] Possible IUFRO 2014 session

Dear IUFRO RG 7.02 FORPATH researchers: Do you have studies showing how biodiversity helps to manage high-value species or how high value timbers help to conserve biodiversity? Below is an idea for a technical session for the IUFRO 2014 World Congress relating high value timbers and biodiversity Any suggestions would be most welcome, including reorientation of this potential session. Collaboration with a unit of Division 7 on this session would be great. If you would like to participate in the session, could you please send me a draft title for your contribution? Please also send this on to anyone else who might be interested. Please send any ideas by April 20, since session proposals are due April 30. ********************************** *How does biodiversity help to manage high-value timber species, and vice-versa?* *Valuable timbers, such as many Meliaceae, remain in high demand, casting a shadow over prospects for these species and their forests. However, management of high-value timber species may help conserve the biodiversity of the forests they inhabit. Conversely, biodiversity may contribute to the health of individual trees and populations of high-value species. This session seeks to explore positive, reciprocal relationships between biodiversity and high-value timber species. * *We aim for a global scope, including tropical and temperate high-value timbers. Presentations might address: biodiversity and protection of high-value species from pests and pathogens, the role of plantations in biodiversity conservation, biodiversity for plantation health, enrichment planting with high value species to maintain biodiversity via intact forest instead of land use change, high-value species and the maintenance of intact forests, use of high value species for habitat rehabilitation and restoration of biodiversity, AND MORE.* ************************************ Thanks! Sheila Ward Deputy Coordinator 1.02.04 – Sustainable management and genetic resources in Meliaceae* *