[cid:image003.jpg@01DC2BF9.C87DF020]Dear Colleagues: You are invited to attend the 16th conference of "Root & Stem Rots" to be held at The Veracruz University in Xalapa, MEXICO. A Meeting in the Heart of the Cloud Forest Set in the highlands of Veracruz, surrounded by Mexico's rare tropical montane cloud forest, Xalapa offers a unique backdrop where science and history meet for the 16th International Conference of IUFRO Working Party 7.02.01 "Root & Stem Rots". Indoors, participants will engage in focused scientific sessions on genomics and plant–pathogen interactions; systematics, taxonomy and phylogeography; ecology; population genetics; etiology and epidemiology; disease management and control; New reports in both urban and rural forests, and diagnostic methods for monitoring - addressing global forest health priorities and local cases such as the newly described Armillaria mexicana. Outdoors, guided excursions will lead into mist-shrouded cloud forests and pine–oak woodlands of the Veracruz highlands, where towering oaks, liquidambar, and a remarkable diversity of tree species thrive alongside vibrant epiphyte communities. These forests are not only biodiversity hotspots, but also living laboratories for studying root and stem rot dynamics, forest regeneration, and conservation under climate change. Shaped by centuries of trade, tradition, and academic pursuit, Xalapa is an important cultural center and home to the second-largest anthropology museum in Mexico, which preserves artifacts from the Olmec, Totonac, and Huastec civilizations. Its cobblestone streets, historic churches, and surrounding coffee-growing estates create a unique atmosphere, enriching the experience of gathering here for science, education, and collaboration. 📌Details at https://www.iufro.org/events/16th-international-conference-of-iufro-working… 📌Full program, call for abstracts, and registration details coming soon! IUFRO Working Party 7.02.01 Coordinators and Conference Organizers