Dear all,
The preliminary program of the IUFRO World Congress is now available online:
https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/events/691/program-app/program
The sessions pertaining to the Meliaceae include:
A2a: Sustaining iconic and high-value species in natural forests and
plantations; 15:30-17:30 Tuesday, 1st October, 2019
C1b: Advances in management and science for the high-value Meliaceae;
15:30-17:30 Friday, 4th October, 2019
C1c: Improving high-value Meliaceae yields in plantations; 8:30-10:30
Saturday, 5th October, 2019
Regards,
Sheila Ward
Dear Meliaceae Working party:
Below is the IUFRO Issue 7 2019 newsletter. Past editions of the newsletter
can be found at: https://www.iufro.org/publications/news/electronic-news/
Regards,
Sheila Ward
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: IUFRO Headquarters <office(a)iufro.org>
Date: Tue, Jul 30, 2019 at 11:20 AM
Subject: [IUFRO Div 5] IUFRO NEWS 7, 2019
To: Dear Reader of IUFRO News <div5(a)lists.iufro.org>
[image: IUFRO News]
Issue 7, 2019
IUFRO NEWS 7, 2019
Dear Reader of IUFRO News:
We are happy to present to you issue 7 of IUFRO News 2019, volume 48. The
newsletter is also available for download as a PDF or Word file at:
https://www.iufro.org/publications/news/electronic-news/.
You are welcome to pass on this newsletter to your colleagues!
To find out more about IUFRO, just visit https://www.iufro.org and follow
our blog http://blog.iufro.org/, Twitter: @iufro <http://twitter.com/IUFRO>
and IUFRO Facebook entries <https://www.facebook.com/iufro>.
Alexander Buck
*IUFRO Executive Director *
*IUFRO News is widely distributed among IUFRO Members, officeholders and
other interested groups. If you would like to publish in IUFRO News,
contribute to the IUFRO website content or promote a publication via IUFRO
Spotlight, do not hesitate to contact us at IUFRO Headquarters:
office(a)iufro.org <office(a)iufro.org>*
Adaptation Processes in Alpine Forest Trees
[image: Photo showing group of delegates during scientific study tour to
Mont Ventoux. Photo by Santiago C. González-Martínez.]
AForGeN (Alpine Forest Genomics Network) constitutes the conceptional
framework of IUFRO WP 2.04.11. The network aims to develop intensive
cross-border research to study adaptation processes in alpine forest trees.
This year's meeting was held on 12-14 June in the French Alps, in the
region of Mont Ventoux. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6832#c28929>*…
2019 IUFRO Tree Biotechnology Conference
[image: Photo showing Attendees of the 2019 Tree Biotechnology Meeting in
Raleigh, NC. Photo: Frederick Myburg.]
The recent conference titled "Forests, Technology and Society" in Raleigh,
NC, USA highlighted cutting-edge advancements in many facets of forest
biotechnology research, such as applications of genomic selection in forest
genetics and breeding and the social and economic impacts of genetically
modified (GM) trees. *More <http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6832#c28928>*…
Population Dynamics and Integrated Management of Forest Insects
[image: Photo showing Spruce budworm mating at Simoncouche. Photo: Andrea
Battisti.]
A joint meeting of IUFRO Working Parties 7.03.06 Integrated management of
forest defoliating insects, and 7.03.07 Population dynamics of forest
insects, was held on 8-11 July 2019 in Quebec, Canada. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6832#c28927>*…
Forests in Science, Practice and Education - 100th Anniversary of the
Faculty of Forestry in Warsaw
[image: Photo showing Participants of the study tour to Białowieża Forest
during the conference Forests in Science, Practice and Education. Photo: M.
Sławsk.]
The aims of this conference were to look at the path taken by forestry and
forest education in the last 100 years, assess the current state of forest
science, education and management, and discuss the future challenges for
forest practice and science at local, regional and global scale under
observed socio-environmental changes. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6832#c28926>*…
The Joint IUFRO-IFSA Task Force on Forest Education Excelling at the SILVA
Network Annual Conference
[image: Photo showing Mika Rekola, Deputy Coordinator of the Joint Task
Force.]
The theme of the conference was "Twenty years after the Bologna
declaration-what are the challenges ahead for higher forest education?" The
conference brought together educators, students and other relevant
stakeholders to share their experiences regarding challenges and
opportunities for higher forest education. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6832#c28925>*…
Taking the Lead in Forest Education Discussions at the Global Landscape
Forum, Bonn
[image: Photo showing IFSA representative Juliet Achieng Owour.]
On 22-23 June 2019, IUFRO in collaboration with the International Forestry
Students Association (IFSA) and Wageningen University and Research (WUR)
held a learning café session titled ‘Diving into the diversity of
high-quality landscape education'. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6832#c28924>*…
The SDG-tenure Nexus in Forest Landscapes: Applying a Rights-based Approach
This IUFRO WFSE-FAO-EFI-Luke joint event at the Global Landscapes forum in
Bonn explored questions such as: How are tenure and rights included in the
Sustainable Development Goals, and what is the evidence on the links
between rights/tenure and sustainable landscapes? *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6832#c28923>*…
Publications
Find the most recent proceedings of IUFRO conference, latest publications
of interest co-authored by IUFRO scientists, calls for submitting journal
articles, and *more <http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6832#c28917>*…
Awards
This year's Wangari Maathai "Forest Champions" Award ceremony will take
place at on 30 September 2019 from 17:30-18:00 at the XXV IUFRO World
Congress in Curitiba, Brazil! The selection process is currently underway.
Read on to learn about other awards and awardees. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6832#c28920>*…
IUFRO Meetings, IUFRO World Congress Survey
The XXV IUFRO World Congress is approaching. Find useful links here and
participate in a pre-Congress survey to contribute to the Science Meets
Stakeholders Dialogue! Also find information on upcoming meetings here. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6832#c28916>*…
Other Information
Positions <http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6832#c28919>
PhD Programs <http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6832#c28918>
Other Meetings <http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6832#c28915>
IUFRO Website Features
IUFRO Blog <http://blog.iufro.org/>
Noticeboard <https://www.iufro.org/discover/noticeboard/>
Proceedings Archive <http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=75>
Scientific Summaries <https://www.iufro.org/?id=79>
RSS Feeds <https://www.iufro.org/?id=3745>
Newsletter Archive <https://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=147>
______________________________________________
*IUFRO News Issue 7*
*, 2019, published in late July 2019 by IUFRO Headquarters, Marxergasse 2,
1030 Vienna, Austria. Available for download
at: https://www.iufro.org/publications/news/electronic-news/
<https://www.iufro.org/publications/news/electronic-news/> Contact the
editor at office(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org> or
visit https://www.iufro.org/ <https://www.iufro.org/> If you wish to
unsubscribe from IUFRO News, please reply to this newsletter by e-mail
(burger(at)iufro.org <burger(a)iufro.org>).
Imprint: https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c10402
<https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c10402>*
_______________________________________________
IUFRO Mailing List
To post a message to all list members, send email to: div5(a)lists.iufro.org
List info and Archive:
http://www.iufro.org/science/iufro-mailing-lists/overview/
Dear Meliaceae Working party:
Below is the IUFRO Issue 5/6 2019 newsletter. Past editions of the newsletter
can be found at: https://www.iufro.org/publications/news/electronic-news/
Regards,
Sheila Ward
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: IUFRO Headquarters <office(a)iufro.org>
Date: Wed, Jun 26, 2019 at 10:01 AM
Subject: IUFRO NEWS 5/6, 2019
To: Dear IUFRO Officeholder <mahoganyforthefuture(a)gmail.com>
[image: IUFRO News]
Double Issue 5/6, 2019
IUFRO NEWS 5/6, 2019
Dear IUFRO Officeholder:
We are happy to present to you double issue 5/6 of IUFRO News 2019, volume
48. The newsletter is also available for download as a PDF or Word file at:
https://www.iufro.org/publications/news/electronic-news/.
You are welcome to pass on this newsletter to your colleagues!
To find out more about IUFRO, just visit https://www.iufro.org and follow
our blog http://blog.iufro.org/, Twitter: @iufro <http://twitter.com/IUFRO>
and IUFRO Facebook entries <https://www.facebook.com/iufro>.
Alexander Buck
*IUFRO Executive Director *
*XXV IUFRO World Congress 2019*
*Explore Brazil during a post-Congress tour*:
http://iufro2019.com/post-congress-tours/
*IUFRO News is widely distributed among IUFRO Members, officeholders and
other interested groups. If you would like to publish in IUFRO News,
contribute to the IUFRO website content or promote a publication via IUFRO
Spotlight, do not hesitate to contact us at IUFRO Headquarters:
office(a)iufro.org <office(a)iufro.org>*
Kicking Off the Next Global Scientific Assessment on "Forests and Poverty"
A cross-sectoral, aligned and synergistic implementation of the SDGs needs
to consider the role of forests and trees in poverty alleviation. As this
requires reliable and synthesized scientific information, GFEP, the Global
Forest Expert Panels initiative, has made "Forests and Poverty" the focus
of its seventh assessment. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28750>*…
IUFRO at UNFF-14: Continued Contributions at the Science-Policy Interface
As the major international policy platform for forest- and tree-related
issues, the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) held its 14th session
from 6-10 May at UN Headquarters in New York, USA. IUFRO was well
represented and contributed substantially to bringing scientific evidence
to the attention of policy and decision-makers. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28749>*…
Forest Education Needed in all Schools around the World
Educators need help on the "What" and "How" of Forests: This support can be
supplied together with forest professionals and education start-ups. There
is need to provide updated content and engaging methods of delivery to
provide teachers with the tools to engage students at all levels. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28748>*…
Forest Responses to Climate Change: Why African Forests Matter
"Act now" was the key message of this year's R20 Austrian Climate Summit on
28-29 May in Vienna. In addition to the main conference a series of
breakout sessions was organized with in-depth panel discussions. One of
these sessions focused on Forests under Climate Change – Knowledge Exchange
between Austria and Africa. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28747>*…
Forests for Public Health
Forests, urban forests, and green spaces play an important role in
improving the health and wellbeing of people and should therefore be
incorporated into public health systems and policies to promote mental and
physical health. Read about the World Conference on "Forests for Public
Health" on 8-11 May, 2019 in Athens, Greece. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28746>*…
4th World Congress on Agroforestry
The motto of the Congress on May 20-23 in Montpellier, France, was
"Strengthening links between science, society and policy". The event
contributed to bridging the gap between agroforestry science and its
practical implementation especially for food security, biodiversity
conservation and mitigation of climate change effects. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28745>*…
Challenges and Opportunities for Updating Wood Identification
On May 20-22 the IAWA-IUFRO International Symposium on "Updating Wood
Identification" took place in Beijing, China. It focused on recent advances
in wood image analysis and database establishment, DNA barcoding
techniques, chemical fingerprint techniques as well as policy
implementation and combatting illegal logging. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28744>*…
Harmonized Growth, Cleaner Environment and Sustainable Forests
The biennial conference of IUFRO RG 7.01.00 Impacts of air pollution and
climate change on forest ecosystems was held in Nanning, China, on 13-17
May. New approaches were presented regarding the use of vegetation in urban
environment to reduce the concentrations of air pollutants or the impacts
of climate change on carbon sequestration, for example. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28743>*…
Diseases of Forest Trees and their Increasing Impacts Globally
The joint meeting of the IUFRO Working Parties on Shoot, foliage and stem
diseases and on Wilt diseases took place on 6-10 May in Figline Valdarno
(Florence), Italy. The spectrum of diseases addressed by the two Working
Parties has become quite diversified and, thus, the list of diseases
addressed at the meeting was long. *More
<http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28767>*…
Happy Birthday!
IUFRO Honorary Member Heinz Schmutzenhofer, IUFRO's Secretary and then
Executive Secretary between 1988 and 2003, celebrated his 80th birthday on
16 May 2019. The IUFRO Headquarters team was happy to congratulate him
personally.
Other Information
Congratulations <http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28740>
IUFRO Noticeboard <http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28768>
Publications <http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28742>
IUFRO Meetings <http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28739>
Other Meetings <http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=6807#c28738>
IUFRO Website Features
IUFRO Blog <http://blog.iufro.org/>
Noticeboard <https://www.iufro.org/discover/noticeboard/>
Proceedings Archive <http://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=75>
Scientific Summaries <https://www.iufro.org/?id=79>
RSS Feeds <https://www.iufro.org/?id=3745>
Newsletter Archive <https://www.iufro.org/index.php?id=147>
______________________________________________
*IUFRO News Double Issue 5/6*
*, 2019, published in late June 2019 by IUFRO Headquarters, Marxergasse 2,
1030 Vienna, Austria. Available for download
at: https://www.iufro.org/publications/news/electronic-news/
<https://www.iufro.org/publications/news/electronic-news/> Contact the
editor at office(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org> or
visit https://www.iufro.org/ <https://www.iufro.org/> If you wish to
unsubscribe from IUFRO News, please reply to this newsletter by e-mail
(burger(at)iufro.org <burger(a)iufro.org>).
Imprint: https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c10402
<https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c10402>*
Dear IUFRO Meliaceae Working party:
Below is IUFRO Spotlight #71. Other Spotlights can be found at:
http://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
Regards,
Sheila Ward
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: IUFRO Headquarters <office(a)iufro.org>
Date: Mon, Aug 12, 2019 at 2:30 AM
Subject: IUFRO Congress Spotlight #71 - High Time to Again Pay More
Attention to Ecological Processes in Sustainable Forest Manag
To: Dear IUFRO Officeholder <mahoganyforthefuture(a)gmail.com>
[image: IUFRO Spotlight]
IUFRO Congress Spotlight #71 - High Time to Again Pay More Attention to
Ecological Processes in Sustainable Forest Management
*IUFRO Spotlight issues up to September 2019 will primarily focus on the
XXV IUFRO World Congress that will take place on 29 September-5 October
2019 in Curitiba, Brazil.*
*Individual Congress sessions will be highlighted in order to draw
attention to the broader Congress themes, the wide variety of topics that
will be addressed at the Congress and their importance on a regional and
global scale.*
*Visit the Congress website at http://iufro2019.com/
<http://iufro2019.com/> or https://www.iufro.org/events/congresses/2019/
<https://www.iufro.org/events/congresses/2019/>.*
High Time to Again Pay More Attention to Ecological Processes in
Sustainable Forest Management
PDF for download
<https://www.iufro.org/fileadmin/material/publications/spotlights/congress-s…>
[image: Photo showing introduction of nitrogen-fixing tree species of
Erythrophleum fordii into Eucalyptus plantation for preventing soil
fertility degradation while enhancing soil carbon sequestration in the
Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry (ETCF), Chinese Academy of
Forestry, Pingxiang city, Guangxi Autonomous Region, PR. China. Photo: Guo
Wenfu, ETCF.]
Introducing nitrogen-fixing tree species of Erythrophleum fordii into
Eucalyptus plantation for preventing soil fertility degradation while
enhancing soil carbon sequestration in the Experimental Center of Tropical
Forestry (ETCF), Chinese Academy of Forestry, Pingxiang city, Guangxi
Autonomous Region, PR. China. Photo: Guo Wenfu, ETCF.
Human needs and our environment continue to change. Because of that, forest
management practices, in terms of sustainable forest management (SFM), need
to be updated, said Dr. Liu Shirong, Professor of Forest Ecology and
Hydrology and President of the Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.
"Forests are the key component of terrestrial ecosystems and play an
important role in regulating global carbon cycling, protecting biodiversity
and other ecological processes such as hydrology and nutrient dynamics,"
said Dr. Liu, who is also a Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Division 8 – Forest
Environment.
"We must learn to take the ecological processes and interactions into
consideration when we manage forests. Harvesting, thinning, mixed wood
management, riparian vegetation management and road construction can all
greatly influence those processes and consequently their associated
ecological functions and services," he said.
"Understanding the responses of these critical ecological processes –
biodiversity, carbon, water and nutrients – and their interactions to
various forest management practices is essential for designing suitable,
sound and sustainable forest management strategies."
Dr. Liu will lead a session entitled: *Forest Management Practices and the
Responses of Soil Carbon, Water, Nutrients and their Interactions* at the
IUFRO World Congress in Brazil this autumn.
"Our session will discuss basic ecological processes and their interactions
in various forest ecosystems as well as biodiversity and ecosystem
functions and services in relation to forest management.
"Combining new and existing ecological knowledge, innovation and shared
understanding, we hope to provide information that will address obstacles
and enhance SFM approaches and processes."
He said the lack of updating is "a concern for all forests, and speakers
will be covering a range of forest types including tropical, temperate and
boreal.
"Unfortunately, many forests are being managed without taking the
ecological processes and interactions into consideration."
There are two main reasons for that, Dr. Liu said, both of which revolve
around the extent of our understanding.
"One is that our understanding of the interactions is limited. For
instance, the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
has been widely discussed globally. But, how biodiversity regulates
ecosystem functioning at different temporal-spatial scales and what the
underlying mechanisms are, remains a matter of debate.
"The second relates to our understanding of the impacts and implications of
management practices on the ecological processes and interactions within
forests and the wider landscape, which is still quite limited," he said.
"That means we need further research – both basic and applied – on the
processes and interactions that underpin ecosystem services as they relate
to forest management."
Short-term economic return and maximizing profits are two of the obstacles
that can prevent the processes and interactions from being factored into
management decisions, he said. "Ecological and long-term economic elements
should both be recognized and accommodated at the same time to ensure SFM.
"Timber production and stand growth are only part of the forest management
equation. A range of ecosystem services – water conservation, carbon
sequestration, site productivity, soil quality and biodiversity protection
– need to be taken into account.
"In this regard, multipurpose forest plantations, for example, have an
advantage over monoculture or timber-centred plantations by increasing
synergy and reducing trade-off potentials or conflicts among different
ecosystem services," Dr. Liu added.
His session will cover a wide range of topics related to the effects of
forest management practices on critical ecological processes and
interactions.
Interest in those topics is evidenced by the fact that the session received
more than 70 abstracts. "It was a super big challenge," he said, to winnow
the session down to eight speakers from six countries, five 'lightning'
oral presentations and, space permitting, four other speakers, as well as
posters.
"Our goal is to improve understanding of how ecosystem services are
affected by key ecological processes and their interactions. We also want
to look for innovative silvicultural approaches that will enhance forest
resilience in response to climate change, and strategies to enhance forest
ecosystem services to meet diversified social needs," Dr Liu said.
*See you at the IUFRO 2019 World Congress*!
Visit *http://iufro2019.com/ <http://iufro2019.com/>* * Look out for
*#IUFRO2019
<https://twitter.com/hashtag/iufro2019?f=tweets&vertical=default&src=hash>*
on Twitter and *XXV IUFRO World Congress 2019
<https://www.facebook.com/events/1881111872132294/>* on Facebook
------------------------------------------------
*IUFRO Spotlight* is an initiative of the International Union of Forest
Research Organizations. Its aim is to introduce, in a timely fashion,
significant findings in forest research from IUFRO member organizations
and/or involving IUFRO officeholders to a worldwide network of decision
makers, policy makers and researchers.
*The findings reported here are submitted by IUFRO Member Organizations.
IUFRO is pleased to highlight and circulate these findings to a broad
audience but, in doing so, acts only as a conduit. The quality and accuracy
of the reports are the responsibility of the member organization and the
authors.*
Suggestions for reports and findings that could be promoted through *IUFRO
Spotlight* are encouraged. To be considered, reports should be fresh, have
policy implications and be applicable to more than one country. If you
would like to have a publication highlighted by *Spotlight*, *contact:
Gerda Wolfrum, wolfrum(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org>*.
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is the
only worldwide organization devoted to forest research and related
sciences. Its members are research institutions, universities, and
individual scientists as well as decision-making authorities and other
stakeholders with a focus on forests and trees. Visit:
https://www.iufro.org/
------------------------------------------------
*IUFRO Congress Spotlight #71 published in August 2019 by IUFRO
Headquarters, Vienna, Austria. Available for download at:
**https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
<https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/>*
*Contact the editor at office(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org> or
visit https://www.iufro.org/ <https://www.iufro.org/?id=104>*
*You are receiving this message, because you are an IUFRO member or
officeholder or have registered for one of our web-based email distribution
lists. If you wish to unsubscribe from **IUFRO Spotlight, please email us
at: burger(at)iufro.org <burger(a)iufro.org>.*
*Imprint: https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c18944
<https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c18944>*
Dear IUFRO Meliaceae Working party:
Below is IUFRO Spotlight #70. Other Spotlights can be found at:
http://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
Regards,
Sheila Ward
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: IUFRO Headquarters <office(a)iufro.org>
Date: Wed, Jul 31, 2019 at 6:51 AM
Subject: IUFRO Congress Spotlight #70 - Explaining forest research findings
to non-scientists: Some tools and ideas to facilitate
To: Dear IUFRO Officeholder <mahoganyforthefuture(a)gmail.com>
[image: IUFRO Spotlight]
IUFRO Congress Spotlight #70 - Explaining forest research findings to
non-scientists: Some tools and ideas to facilitate communication
*IUFRO Spotlight issues up to September 2019 will primarily focus on the
XXV IUFRO World Congress that will take place on 29 September-5 October
2019 in Curitiba, Brazil.*
*Individual Congress sessions will be highlighted in order to draw
attention to the broader Congress themes, the wide variety of topics that
will be addressed at the Congress and their importance on a regional and
global scale.*
*Visit the Congress website at http://iufro2019.com/
<http://iufro2019.com/> or https://www.iufro.org/events/congresses/2019/
<https://www.iufro.org/events/congresses/2019/>.*
Explaining forest research findings to non-scientists: Some tools and ideas
to facilitate communication
PDF for download
<https://www.iufro.org/fileadmin/material/publications/spotlights/congress-s…>
[image: Photo showing child with smart phone in a forest. By Анна Куликова
from Pixabay (edited).]
By Анна Куликова from Pixabay (edited)
Communication has been defined as the process of passing information and
understanding from one person to another. But, to be effective, the
information passed must be in a language and terminology that the person or
persons receiving it will understand.
"While the rigor of science and the underlying data can be appreciated by
other scientists, wider communications demand more than a peer-reviewed
publication," said Jennifer Hayes, Director, Science Application and
Communication, United States Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research
Station and Deputy Leader of the FAO-UNECE Forest Communicators Network.
"The general public want to know why they should care; and decision-makers
want to know what the data means and how they should interpret the findings.
"If you can successfully get your message across about why your research is
important, it makes everything so much easier – whether it be successfully
getting stakeholder buy-in, informing sound forest management decisions, or
sharing good reasons to continue funding your research," Ms. Hayes said.
Ms. Hayes is the session organizer for: *Delivering and communicating
forest science for people and a greener future* at the IUFRO World Congress
in Curitiba, Brazil this fall.
For scientists, she said, in terms of communicating more widely, there can
sometimes be fear of dealing with the media, or fear of colleagues'
reactions to their interviews, or a lack of time – or interest – in
carefully honing messages and, in some cases, there is simply an apathetic
attitude toward communication.
"Our session hopes to address multiple aspects of these obstacles and
issues. We will hear from scientists – 10 of them – who are successfully
communicating their research and learn from their experiences (e.g. climate
simulation experiences in Kenya). We will deep-dive into some specific
communication tool use and from this will see how some of those tools might
be applied to other topics (e.g. augmented reality).
"And, we will look at how we are helping inform the next generation about
the importance of forests and forest management," she said.
"As communicators, we're working with scientists to co-produce knowledge
about best practices – figuring out what works for a given audience," she
said. "We are trying to create an informed public that knows at least a
little bit about how forest science relates to the world around them, and
this is where many tools can play a role.
"If, for example, we are looking to help a small, rural landowner help
improve a food forest's productivity, we might possibly find a visual flow
chart, an in-person consultation, or a publication most useful," Ms. Hayes
said.
"On the other hand, if we're trying to share a message widely about science
findings that predict wildfire potential for a season, we might use social
media, press conferences, webinars, or email blasts."
One of the challenges is that a lot of people in the general public don't
even know where to go to access science, or they don't have the time to
sort through hundreds of publications on a topic. So synthesizing and then
creating easily understandable communication that highlights findings is
crucial.
"I think one critical skill is for scientists to be able to use simplified
(non-technical) language so they can summarize, in 30 seconds or less, why
what they do is important," Ms. Hayes said.
"I suggest to the scientists I work with that they ask a neighbor or a
relative who does not work in natural resources to listen to their summary
and see if they understand it.
"Then they have the listener repeat back what they heard. Usually the
person paraphrasing it back does it in a shorter amount of time than the
researcher and, they only hold onto and repeat back what – to them – is the
most important information. It helps the scientist see what resonates, and
what needs work.
"Obviously," she added. "This won't work for all forest science. But we are
seeing a rise in popularity of info-graphics and text-over videos and short
snips. That's because they are accessible and people can view them anywhere
from their phones in short segments that do not require a lot of their time
to digest."
She pointed out that "the public sees some of what happens related to
forest management as ‘bad' for forests, when in fact it is good for forests
and the species that depend on them. Research can help shift perspectives
by providing scientific proof of how activities positively, negatively, or
neutrally impact forests – this information can then be used to help shape
policy."
"We hope participants will learn practical skills, get ideas for techniques
and approaches they can use, and create a network of others interested in
better communicating their research. They should feel empowered to get out
there and interact with the public and non-scientists about their research
and why it matters," Ms. Hayes concluded.
*There will also be a Congress sub-plenary session on forest communication
on 1 October with Ms Hayes as one of the speakers.*
*See you at the IUFRO 2019 World Congress*!
Visit *http://iufro2019.com/ <http://iufro2019.com/>* * Look out for
*#IUFRO2019
<https://twitter.com/hashtag/iufro2019?f=tweets&vertical=default&src=hash>*
on Twitter and *XXV IUFRO World Congress 2019
<https://www.facebook.com/events/1881111872132294/>* on Facebook
------------------------------------------------
*IUFRO Spotlight* is an initiative of the International Union of Forest
Research Organizations. Its aim is to introduce, in a timely fashion,
significant findings in forest research from IUFRO member organizations
and/or involving IUFRO officeholders to a worldwide network of decision
makers, policy makers and researchers.
*The findings reported here are submitted by IUFRO Member Organizations.
IUFRO is pleased to highlight and circulate these findings to a broad
audience but, in doing so, acts only as a conduit. The quality and accuracy
of the reports are the responsibility of the member organization and the
authors.*
Suggestions for reports and findings that could be promoted through *IUFRO
Spotlight* are encouraged. To be considered, reports should be fresh, have
policy implications and be applicable to more than one country. If you
would like to have a publication highlighted by *Spotlight*, *contact:
Gerda Wolfrum, wolfrum(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org>*.
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is the
only worldwide organization devoted to forest research and related
sciences. Its members are research institutions, universities, and
individual scientists as well as decision-making authorities and other
stakeholders with a focus on forests and trees. Visit:
https://www.iufro.org/
------------------------------------------------
*IUFRO Congress Spotlight #70 published in July 2019 by IUFRO Headquarters,
Vienna, Austria. Available for download at:
**https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
<https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/>*
*Contact the editor at office(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org> or
visit https://www.iufro.org/ <https://www.iufro.org/?id=104>*
*You are receiving this message, because you are an IUFRO member or
officeholder or have registered for one of our web-based email distribution
lists. If you wish to unsubscribe from **IUFRO Spotlight, please email us
at: burger(at)iufro.org <burger(a)iufro.org>.*
*Imprint: https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c18944
<https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c18944>*
Dear IUFRO Meliaceae Working party:
Below is IUFRO Spotlight #69. Other Spotlights can be found at:
http://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
Regards,
Sheila Ward
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: IUFRO Headquarters <office(a)iufro.org>
Date: Wed, Jul 17, 2019 at 7:13 PM
Subject: [IUFRO Div 8] IUFRO Congress Spotlight #69 - Sifting through
underlying values and ethics to make sound nature management decisions
To: Dear Reader of IUFRO News <div8(a)lists.iufro.org>
[image: IUFRO Spotlight]
IUFRO Congress Spotlight #69 - Sifting through underlying values and
ethics to make sound nature management decisions
*IUFRO Spotlight issues up to September 2019 will primarily focus on the
XXV IUFRO World Congress that will take place on 29 September-5 October
2019 in Curitiba, Brazil.*
*Individual Congress sessions will be highlighted in order to draw
attention to the broader Congress themes, the wide variety of topics that
will be addressed at the Congress and their importance on a regional and
global scale.*
*Visit the Congress website at http://iufro2019.com/
<http://iufro2019.com/> or https://www.iufro.org/events/congresses/2019/
<https://www.iufro.org/events/congresses/2019/>.*
Sifting through underlying values and ethics to make sound nature
management decisions
PDF for download
<https://www.iufro.org/fileadmin/material/publications/spotlights/congress-s…>
[image: Photo showing Ema. Image by arqgilson from Pixabay]
Ema Image by arqgilson from Pixabay
How does one decide how to manage a forest ethically?
One could simply say: do the right thing. But, the right thing for whom?
And defining right and wrong – concepts that can vary according to moral
climate or individual circumstance – is not all that simple.
Forest stakeholders have different wants, different needs, and different
values. Additionally, times, perspectives and situations also change. And
all those differences come into play when dealing with any human-nature
interactions, including forest management.
Dr. Christian Gamborg, Associate Professor in Natural Resource Ethics at
the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, will present a session entitled: *Ethics
and values in relation to forest, recreation and wildlife management* at
the IUFRO World Congress in Brazil this fall, in which he will explore the
underlying values and ethical aspects related to those issues.
"There are often different views on issues. And societies are becoming
increasingly pluralistic in terms of values. So what was considered prudent
or 'necessary' forest management, say 20 years ago, may now be the source
of conflict," said Dr. Gamborg.
"For example," he said, "intensive timber production might not always be
welcomed by all stakeholders anymore; perhaps based on the idea that
through such intervention, naturalness might be lost. So, what one party
sees as ethical or respectful, might be seen by another as exactly the
opposite.
"Controversies about humans' relations with nature have become increasingly
widespread and intense. A lot, if not most, of such controversies arise
from underlying conflicts involving differences in value commitments and
ethical judgments.
"However, these values and ethical commitments are often not explicitly
articulated, or perhaps even realized as such – so it's not a question of
deliberate omission," he said.
And identifying underlying values and ethical positions is often done
indirectly, he added. "Sometimes that means inferring from what kind of
prioritizations are made and, perhaps, through the kind of justification
given for certain actions and management interventions. Less often are such
values and positions explicitly stated.
"We need to address the concerns of all stakeholders and try to understand
what value commitments might be underlying their positions. Partly in line
with this is the perennial question of defining, or interpreting, what
sustainability in SFM (Sustainable Forest Management) should entail," he
said.
"Accepting the plurality of views and opinions is a first step, but
obviously not a silver bullet in any way. It might, however, help start
dialogues that can lead to mutual commitments on the future of forests and
their protection, management and use.
"Nature professionals need to get a better understanding of such
controversies, to be able to form reasoned judgments and subsequently use
these judgments to inform management decisions related to forests,
recreation and wildlife,"
Dr. Gamborg added.
His session, he said, will "flag the importance of identifying and
understanding value commitments and ethical judgments underlying management
of nature. By so doing, we can reduce conflict and increase robust
compromises that hold benefits for both forests and people."
"Conflicts can occur over the means as well as the ends. Disagreement can
be over what the land use should be (e.g. designating a certain tract as a
nature reserve or using water as a resource for electricity generation –
hydro power).
"But even if agreement exists on the goals, the way a certain decision or
project is carried out, can give rise to conflict. For example, if there is
a perceived lack of local stakeholder consultation," he said.
"Consequently, consensus among stakeholders must not only be reached on
goals but also on the means employed to reach these objectives."
There are many well-known factors that can cause conflict. He noted
scarcity of resources, poverty, imbalances in power and in distribution of
benefits and harms.
"But," he added, "we can also point to the lack of careful, rigorous
thought. This session – and forest and environmental and natural resource
ethics as such - aims to help develop such thought, especially for those
who manage landscapes and-or forest resources, or who carry out research
about nature, or those who aspire to do so.
"An example of an area where those underlying values and commitments are
key to understand conflict – though it's been going on in various forms for
decades – would be human-wildlife conflict," he said. "It is about the
competing values – e.g. the conversion of forest land to agriculture with
ensuing loss in habitat, ecosystem services and biodiversity.
"Having said that, there are certainly places where there are fewer
controversies, and examples in most regions of the world where people are
striving to implement SFM in a transparent way, assisted by certifying
organizations and by decision makers being able to secure society's basic
needs," Dr. Gamborg said.
For session attendees, gaining a clearer understanding of a range of values
and ethical positions will help equip them to enter into dialogue with
those who hold other points of view. "Something that is particularly timely
now, and probably, for years to come," he said.
At the session there will be a range of presentations focusing on case
studies and theoretical reflections from all over the world. Among them:
wildlife management by recreational hunting; valuation of ecosystems
services; public values and forest management in relation to combatting
climate change; pest control and population conservation.
*Dr. Gamborg is Coordinator of IUFRO Research Group 6.05.00 – Forest
ethics: https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-6/60000/60500/
<https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-6/60000/60500/>*
*See you at the IUFRO 2019 World Congress*!
Visit *http://iufro2019.com/ <http://iufro2019.com/>* * Look out for
*#IUFRO2019
<https://twitter.com/hashtag/iufro2019?f=tweets&vertical=default&src=hash>*
on Twitter and *XXV IUFRO World Congress 2019
<https://www.facebook.com/events/1881111872132294/>* on Facebook
------------------------------------------------
*IUFRO Spotlight* is an initiative of the International Union of Forest
Research Organizations. Its aim is to introduce, in a timely fashion,
significant findings in forest research from IUFRO member organizations
and/or involving IUFRO officeholders to a worldwide network of decision
makers, policy makers and researchers.
*The findings reported here are submitted by IUFRO Member Organizations.
IUFRO is pleased to highlight and circulate these findings to a broad
audience but, in doing so, acts only as a conduit. The quality and accuracy
of the reports are the responsibility of the member organization and the
authors.*
Suggestions for reports and findings that could be promoted through *IUFRO
Spotlight* are encouraged. To be considered, reports should be fresh, have
policy implications and be applicable to more than one country. If you
would like to have a publication highlighted by *Spotlight*, *contact:
Gerda Wolfrum, wolfrum(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org>*.
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is the
only worldwide organization devoted to forest research and related
sciences. Its members are research institutions, universities, and
individual scientists as well as decision-making authorities and other
stakeholders with a focus on forests and trees. Visit:
https://www.iufro.org/
------------------------------------------------
*IUFRO Congress Spotlight #69 published in July 2019 by IUFRO Headquarters,
Vienna, Austria. Available for download at:
**https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
<https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/>*
*Contact the editor at office(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org> or
visit https://www.iufro.org/ <https://www.iufro.org/?id=104>*
*You are receiving this message, because you are an IUFRO member or
officeholder or have registered for one of our web-based email distribution
lists. If you wish to unsubscribe from **IUFRO Spotlight, please email us
at: burger(at)iufro.org <burger(a)iufro.org>.*
*Imprint: https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c18944
<https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c18944>*
_______________________________________________
IUFRO Mailing List
To post a message to all list members, send email to: div8(a)lists.iufro.org
List info and Archive:
http://www.iufro.org/science/iufro-mailing-lists/overview/
Dear IUFRO Meliaceae Working party:
Below is IUFRO Spotlight #68. Other Spotlights can be found at:
http://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
Regards,
Sheila Ward
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: IUFRO Headquarters <office(a)iufro.org>
Date: Wed, Jul 10, 2019 at 8:10 AM
Subject: IUFRO Congress Spotlight 68 - Forest Trees and the Climate Change
Challenge: Survival May Mean Diving into the Gene Pool
To: Dear IUFRO Officeholder <mahoganyforthefuture(a)gmail.com>
[image: IUFRO Spotlight]
IUFRO Congress Spotlight 68 - Forest Trees and the Climate Change
Challenge: Survival May Mean Diving into the Gene Pool
*IUFRO Spotlight issues up to September 2019 will primarily focus on the
XXV IUFRO World Congress that will take place on 29 September-5 October
2019 in Curitiba, Brazil.*
*Individual Congress sessions will be highlighted in order to draw
attention to the broader Congress themes, the wide variety of topics that
will be addressed at the Congress and their importance on a regional and
global scale.*
*Visit the Congress website at http://iufro2019.com/
<http://iufro2019.com/> or https://www.iufro.org/events/congresses/2019/
<https://www.iufro.org/events/congresses/2019/>.*
Forest Trees and the Climate Change Challenge: Survival May Mean Diving
into the Gene Pool
PDF for download
<https://www.iufro.org/fileadmin/material/publications/spotlights/congress-s…>
[image: Altitudinally marginal population of Pinus mugo in Italy. Source:
http://map-fgr.entecra.it/?page_id=1377. Photo by Piero Belletti.]
Altitudinally marginal population of Pinus mugo in Italy. Source:
http://map-fgr.entecra.it/?page_id=1377. Photo by Piero Belletti.
Because of climate change, forest tree species have three options. They can
adapt, migrate, or extirpate.
"The outcome depends upon the tree species and population, its genetic
variation, its reproductive biology and flowering synchronization, its
migration potential and whether the environments in the areas it can
migrate will be hospitable enough to allow it to survive," said Dr.
Paraskevi Alizoti of the Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Improvement
in the School of Forestry and Natural Environment at Aristotle University
of Thessaloniki, Greece.
"The adaptation attempt of a population or species to changing climate
conditions doesn't hamper its migration procedures. Both can go on at the
same time without one impeding the other, she said. "But the successful
outcome of both depends on those other factors I mentioned above."
Dr. Alizoti, who will present a session at the IUFRO World Congress in
Curitiba, Brazil, this fall entitled *Trees on the move: range shifts,
potential for genetic adaptation and assisted migration*, said: "Migration
– range shifting – is a universal phenomenon for species since climate
change has an impact across the globe, though some regions may be more
vulnerable, according to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
predictions."
Tree migration has been reported in the forests of the eastern United
States where pines are moving north, while oaks and maples are heading west
and north; in northeastern Spain, European beech has shifted to higher
altitudes; and in the Swedish Scandes, mountain birch, Norway spruce, Scots
pine, rowan and willows have advanced to colonize moderate snow-bed
communities.
Forest tree species have generally long life spans and grow in niches –
locations that fulfill their environmental requirements. And, within each
species and population, genetic variation is the cornerstone for its
survival in the long term, and also for its potential to adapt to
environmental fluctuations or new conditions.
"However", Dr. Alizoti explained, "climate change causes notable changes in
the niches. This imposes severe pressure on the species and populations
growing there, challenging their existing genetic variation and even
survival – especially in the case of geographically marginal populations,
or even environmentally marginal populations growing within the core of a
species distribution".
"Genes that will enable tree species and populations to survive, grow and
reproduce under the climate change conditions need to exist in their gene
pools, so that those forest trees can potentially adapt to the changes they
are experiencing".
"A population or species with low levels of genetic variation is expected
to be less adaptable to new threats due to climate change, resulting in few
individuals surviving extreme environmental episodes (i.e. extreme drought,
temperature increases)," she said.
"If the number of surviving and reproductively mature trees is below the
minimum viable population number, further loss of genetic variation in the
next generations will occur. Then, inbreeding build-up and extinction are
expected to follow".
"Marginal/Peripheral populations have been usually neglected, but they may
differ genetically and harbour unique genes for specific adaptations," she
added.
At the session she will explore the "progress and promise of forest
genetics research for assessing genetic variations in marginal populations,
their gene pool changes over time and their extirpation possibility".
"Assessing these issues will allow us to reach the most suitable decisions
for the conservation, use and management of their genetic resources," she
said.
The session aims to raise awareness of the significance of marginal
populations and their potential genetic differentiation, as a result of
their growth in marginal niches and of their potential isolation from other
populations of the same species. The session will examine their unique gene
pools, and the risks they face due to climate change. The main goal for
their management, she said, is securing their existence and conserving
their genetic resources.
"The fast rate of climate change may exceed a species' ability to adapt to
the changing conditions and in some cases even to move, through seed
dispersal, to more suitable environments," Dr. Alizoti added.
With that in mind, she said that assisted migration - deliberately moving
trees to more suitable ranges - may play a significant role in the future,
especially if the rate of climate change is much faster than that of
natural migration of tree species. But before assisted migration starts,
the identification of species or populations at risk is necessary, as well
as an assessment of the feasibility of such an undertaking, she said.
Using the genetic material of marginal populations as well as trying to
enrich the gene pools of other populations with the unique genes for
specific adaptations that those marginal populations may harbor, could help
in facing climate change impacts. This could be facilitated via 'assisted
gene flow' and intraspecific hybridization.
"This is a subject that's of interest to researchers around the globe," she
said, noting that there will also be a subplenary and a technical session
on the topic.
*Dr. Alizoti is Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Working Party 2.02.13 –
Breeding and genetic resources of Mediterranean conifers:
https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-2/20000/20200/20213/
<https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-2/20000/20200/20213/>.*
*See you at the IUFRO 2019 World Congress*!
Visit *http://iufro2019.com/ <http://iufro2019.com/>* * Look out for
*#IUFRO2019
<https://twitter.com/hashtag/iufro2019?f=tweets&vertical=default&src=hash>*
on Twitter and *XXV IUFRO World Congress 2019
<https://www.facebook.com/events/1881111872132294/>* on Facebook!
------------------------------------------------
*IUFRO Spotlight* is an initiative of the International Union of Forest
Research Organizations. Its aim is to introduce, in a timely fashion,
significant findings in forest research from IUFRO member organizations
and/or involving IUFRO officeholders to a worldwide network of decision
makers, policy makers and researchers.
*The findings reported here are submitted by IUFRO Member Organizations.
IUFRO is pleased to highlight and circulate these findings to a broad
audience but, in doing so, acts only as a conduit. The quality and accuracy
of the reports are the responsibility of the member organization and the
authors.*
Suggestions for reports and findings that could be promoted through *IUFRO
Spotlight* are encouraged. To be considered, reports should be fresh, have
policy implications and be applicable to more than one country. If you
would like to have a publication highlighted by *Spotlight*, *contact:
Gerda Wolfrum, wolfrum(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org>*.
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is the
only worldwide organization devoted to forest research and related
sciences. Its members are research institutions, universities, and
individual scientists as well as decision-making authorities and other
stakeholders with a focus on forests and trees. Visit:
https://www.iufro.org/
------------------------------------------------
*IUFRO Congress Spotlight #68 published in July 2019 by IUFRO Headquarters,
Vienna, Austria. Available for download at:
**https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
<https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/>*
*Contact the editor at office(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org> or
visit https://www.iufro.org/ <https://www.iufro.org/?id=104>*
*You are receiving this message, because you are an IUFRO member or
officeholder or have registered for one of our web-based email distribution
lists. If you wish to unsubscribe from **IUFRO Spotlight, please email us
at: burger(at)iufro.org <burger(a)iufro.org>.*
*Imprint: https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c18944
<https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c18944>*
Dear IUFRO Meliaceae Working party:
Below I am forwarding a comunication on IUFRO2019.
Regards,
Sheila Ward
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: IUFRO Headquarters <office(a)iufro.org>
Date: Thu, Jun 13, 2019 at 11:53 AM
Subject: Communiqué regarding the IUFRO World Congress 2019 in Brazil
To: Dear IUFRO Officeholder <mahoganyforthefuture(a)gmail.com>
<http://www.iufro.org/>
* International Union of Forest Research Organizations *
Communiqué regarding the IUFRO World Congress 2019 in Brazil
Communiqué regarding the IUFRO World Congress 2019 in Brazil
*Forest Scientists Addressing Critical Issues Where They Occur.*
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) will hold
its 25th World Congress from 29 September to 5 October 2019 in Curitiba,
Brazil. It will be the first IUFRO Congress to be convened in Latin
America. This is considered as a great opportunity not only for the forest
science community of Latin America to become much more visible globally but
also for taking a closer look at forest-related topics on the continent. It
will also be an important milestone in the already established and
long-term cooperation of IUFRO with scientists and research institutions in
the region.
Curitiba was selected as the Congress venue by the IUFRO Board in 2013 as a
result of a robust international bidding process. The scientific programme
is being developed by an international scientific committee based on over
4,000 abstracts submitted for the Congress. The organization of the
Congress is jointly undertaken by two local hosts - the Brazilian Forest
Service and Embrapa Florestas, both important IUFRO member organizations.
Against the background of recent political changes in Brazil and growing
international concerns regarding increasing deforestation, forest
degradation and land-related conflicts, some scientists have voiced their
reservations about holding the IUFRO World Congress in Brazil. As a
strictly non-political organization, IUFRO as a matter of principle
refrains from commenting on national politics. Rather, IUFRO seeks to
provide platforms for critical discussion regarding problems of global
concern affecting forests and people, and to deliver robust scientific
evidence that can help to resolve these problems. IUFRO also aims to
support and strengthen forest research skills within Brazil and Latin
America, and this will help to provide the evidence that will inform policy
decisions in the longer term.
The IUFRO World Congress will address the problems of deforestation, forest
degradation and land-related conflicts as part of the scientific programme.
Related Congress outcomes will be disseminated broadly to stakeholders and
the international media. In this way, IUFRO seeks to make a substantial
contribution to raising public awareness regarding these and other
important issues. As a scientific organization, IUFRO offers platforms such
as its World Congress for in-depth scientific discussion and
interdisciplinary research to provide the material for evidence-based
decisions to be made.
"Evidence shows that IUFRO can achieve the greatest positive impact on
management and policy decisions affecting forests and people by
scientifically addressing critical problems where they occur, in
collaboration with the scientists and research institutions in affected
countries and regions, and broadly communicating their findings. It is my
sincere hope that the members of our scientific community and our
stakeholders share this view and will use the Congress as a platform for
open discussions on critical issues and for voicing their concerns", said
IUFRO President Mike Wingfield.
IUFRO is a strictly scientific, independent, non-profit, non-governmental
and non-discriminatory organization, which is dedicated to international
science cooperation embracing all fields of research related to forests and
trees. The Union aims to advance research excellence and knowledge sharing,
and to foster the development of science-based solutions to forest-related
challenges for the benefit of forests and people worldwide. IUFRO pursues
this aim by connecting scientists and research organizations throughout the
world, and by promoting the dissemination and application of research
results to potential users, including policy and decision makers. As a
member of the International Science Council, IUFRO promotes the free and
responsible practice of science, underpinned by international human rights
instruments relevant to science and scientists, as well as inclusive and
collaborative structures and processes. Held every four to five years, the
IUFRO World Congresses constitute one of IUFRO's premier mechanisms to
advance its objectives.
*Michael J. Wingfield Jerry Vanclay
Alexander Buck IUFRO President Congress Scientific
Committee Executive Director*
*Pretoria/Lismore/Vienna, 13 June 2019*
PDF for download:
https://www.iufro.org/uploads/media/iwc19-iufro-2019-communique-190613_01.p…
---------------------------------------
*You are receiving this message, because you are an IUFRO member or
officeholder or have registered for one of our web-based email distribution
lists. *
*IUFRO Headquarters, Marxergasse 2, 1030 Vienna, Austria. Website:
https://www.iufro.org/ <https://www.iufro.org/> - Email: office(a)iufro.org
<office(a)iufro.org>*
*Imprint: https://www.iufro.org/legal/ <https://www.iufro.org/legal/>*
Dear IUFRO Meliaceae Working party:
Below is IUFRO Spotlight #67. Other Spotlights can be found at:
http://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
Regards,
Sheila Ward
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: IUFRO Headquarters <office(a)iufro.org>
Date: Tue, Jun 11, 2019 at 11:53 AM
Subject: [IUFRO Div 8] IUFRO Congress Spotlight #67 - Tapping the potential
of restoring disturbed tropical forests
To: Dear Reader of IUFRO News <div8(a)lists.iufro.org>
[image: IUFRO Spotlight]
IUFRO Congress Spotlight #67 - Tapping the potential of restoring
disturbed tropical forests
*IUFRO Spotlight issues up to September 2019 will primarily focus on the
XXV IUFRO World Congress that will take place on 29 September-5 October
2019 in Curitiba, Brazil.*
*Individual Congress sessions will be highlighted in order to draw
attention to the broader Congress themes, the wide variety of topics that
will be addressed at the Congress and their importance on a regional and
global scale.*
*Visit the Congress website at http://iufro2019.com/
<http://iufro2019.com/> or https://www.iufro.org/events/congresses/2019/
<https://www.iufro.org/events/congresses/2019/>.*
Tapping the potential of restoring disturbed tropical forests
PDF for download
<https://www.iufro.org/fileadmin/material/publications/spotlights/congress-s…>
[image: Photo showing Secondary forests in Costa Rica. Photo: Geoffrey
Venegas, CATIE.]
Secondary forests in Costa Rica. Photo: Geoffrey Venegas, CATIE.
Since the 1980s most deforestation globally has occurred in tropical
countries – Africa, South America and Asia. The high rate of deforestation
and degradation contributes to the disappearance of 13 million hectares of
tropical forests each year.
The effects of deforestation have, over time, led to immense areas of
secondary and degraded forests.
This fall, at the 2019 IUFRO World Congress in Curitiba, Brazil a session
entitled: Will active restoration of Secondary and Degraded Forests (SDFs)
help to address sustainably the gap between wood demand and supply? will
examine ways to address the challenge of restoration in secondary and
degraded tropical forests.
The session, organized by Dr. Marie Ange Ngo Bieng and Dr. Plinio Sist, of
CIRAD (Dr. Sist is also Coordinator of IUFRO's Research Group Tropical and
Subtropical Silviculture) and Dr. Bryan Finegan of CATIE, (and Deputy
Coordinator of IUFRO's Forest Biodiversity Research Group) will focus on
restoring SDFs as a way to protect the remaining natural tropical forests
and also as a way to address the growing gap between wood demand and supply
in a sustainable fashion.
There are several partly overlapping definitions of secondary and degraded
forests. Secondary forests are forests regenerating largely through natural
processes after significant human and-or natural disturbance resulting in
major differences in forest structure and-or species composition with
respect to nearby primary forests on similar sites. More generally, a
degraded forest delivers a reduced supply of goods and services from a
given site and maintains only limited biological diversity.
The reasons for concentrating on tropical forest restoration are simple,
Dr. Ngo Bieng said. Tropical forests are both crucial and endangered. They
account for nearly half of the world's forest ecosystems – 1,770 million
hectares. They draw in carbon dioxide and emit oxygen and have, for good
reason, been called the "lungs of the planet".
Some 50-70% of species living in terrestrial environments are housed in
those forests, which play a crucial role in providing, among other things,
vital ecosystem services, drinking water, and woody and non-timber forest
products.
And about 2/3 of that forest area is considered SDF, so restoring and
utilizing SDFs in sustainable, productive ways makes a lot of sense.
"SDFs supply firewood and non-wood forest products but have rarely been
considered for their potential for timber production," Dr. Ngo Bieng said.
"Although they have been heavily exploited in the past and currently are
very poor in terms of commercial timber stocks, growing commercial timber
trees in SDFs is possible, though variable, depending on local conditions.
"But," she went on, "these tropical SDFs could contribute more to timber
supply and forest environmental services. We propose concepts for
sustainable timber production in SDFs in the tropics. It adds value to
these types of often-neglected forests."
Dr. Ngo Bieng said their session will look at three main things:
- the increase in future wood demand worldwide and the related urgent
need to find alternative sustainable wood sources;
- the potential of SDFs in that context and the current challenges
related to wood production in tropical SDFs in different countries; and
- case studies of active restoration associated with successful wood
production and commercialization of timber in SDFs for higher value end
products.
The session organizers recognize that there are significant challenges
between them and a successful restoration initiative. Among them:
re-establishing productive forest systems where there are serious
biophysical limitations; initiating relevant silvicultural practices for
effective restoration; weak institutional frameworks and-or a lack of
sectoral policies; and competing visions of how the landscape should be
used.
Dr. Ngo Bieng is hopeful that the "international context" which has
underlined an increasing demand for wood products can provide opportunities
to move forward. The increase in demand for wood calls for sustainable
alternative wood production.
"The remaining logged and production forests will not, by themselves, be
able to fulfill the increased demand for tropical wood products while also
playing a major role in providing environmental services," she said.
"We urgently need alternative sustainable wood sources."
She noted that her colleague, Dr. Sist, is involved in the Tropical managed
Forests Observatory (TmFO) initiative. "It's a pan-tropical network
examining the long-term effects of logging on tropical forest ecosystems.
"Their findings will provide policy-makers and foresters guidance in
sustainable forest management and conservation of tropical forests. That
knowledge will certainly be useful for the future management of productive
SDFs," she said.
*See you at the IUFRO 2019 World Congress*!
Visit *http://iufro2019.com/ <http://iufro2019.com/>* * Look out for
*#IUFRO2019
<https://twitter.com/hashtag/iufro2019?f=tweets&vertical=default&src=hash>*
on Twitter and *XXV IUFRO World Congress 2019
<https://www.facebook.com/events/1881111872132294/>* on Facebook!
------------------------------------------------
*IUFRO Spotlight* is an initiative of the International Union of Forest
Research Organizations. Its aim is to introduce, in a timely fashion,
significant findings in forest research from IUFRO member organizations
and/or involving IUFRO officeholders to a worldwide network of decision
makers, policy makers and researchers.
*The findings reported here are submitted by IUFRO Member Organizations.
IUFRO is pleased to highlight and circulate these findings to a broad
audience but, in doing so, acts only as a conduit. The quality and accuracy
of the reports are the responsibility of the member organization and the
authors.*
Suggestions for reports and findings that could be promoted through *IUFRO
Spotlight* are encouraged. To be considered, reports should be fresh, have
policy implications and be applicable to more than one country. If you
would like to have a publication highlighted by *Spotlight*, *contact:
Gerda Wolfrum, wolfrum(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org>*.
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is the
only worldwide organization devoted to forest research and related
sciences. Its members are research institutions, universities, and
individual scientists as well as decision-making authorities and other
stakeholders with a focus on forests and trees. Visit:
https://www.iufro.org/
------------------------------------------------
*IUFRO Congress Spotlight #67 published in June 2019 by IUFRO Headquarters,
Vienna, Austria. Available for download at:
**https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
<https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/>*
*Contact the editor at office(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org> or
visit https://www.iufro.org/ <https://www.iufro.org/?id=104>*
*You are receiving this message, because you are an IUFRO member or
officeholder or have registered for one of our web-based email distribution
lists. If you wish to unsubscribe from **IUFRO Spotlight, please email us
at: burger(at)iufro.org <burger(a)iufro.org>.*
*Imprint: https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c18944
<https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c18944>*
_______________________________________________
IUFRO Mailing List
To post a message to all list members, send email to: div8(a)lists.iufro.org
List info and Archive:
http://www.iufro.org/science/iufro-mailing-lists/overview/
Dear IUFRO Meliaceae Working party:
Below is IUFRO Spotlight #66. Other Spotlights can be found at:
http://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
Regards,
Sheila Ward
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: IUFRO Headquarters <office(a)iufro.org>
Date: Tue, Jun 4, 2019 at 8:58 AM
Subject: IUFRO Spotlight #66 - A forest mix may best address global change
To: Dear IUFRO Officeholder <mahoganyforthefuture(a)gmail.com>
[image: IUFRO Spotlight]
IUFRO Spotlight #66 - A forest mix may best address global change
*IUFRO Spotlight* is an initiative of the International Union of Forest
Research Organizations. Its aim is to introduce, in a timely fashion,
significant findings in forest research from IUFRO officeholders and member
organizations to a worldwide network of decision makers, policy makers and
researchers.
IUFRO will encapsulate, and distribute in plain language, brief, topical
and policy-relevant highlights of those findings, along with information on
where/how to access the full documents. The *IUFRO Spotlight* findings will
be distributed in a periodic series of emails as well as blog postings.
*________________________________*
A forest mix may best address global change
PDF for download
<https://www.iufro.org/fileadmin/material/publications/spotlights/spotlight6…>
[image: Photo showing Mixed stand of Pinus sylvestris and Quercus pyrenaica
in Matas Forest (Valsaín), Central Spain. Photo: Andrés Bravo-Oviedo.]
Mixed stand: Pinus sylvestris / Quercus pyrenaica.
Managing a mixed forest in the context of environmental and social change
is the focus of a recent publication put together by members of IUFRO
Research Group 1.09.00 (Ecology and Management of Mixed Forests).
The structure, dynamics and functioning of such forests are increasingly
relevant topics for researchers.
There are several reasons for this. According to the European Network on
Mixed Forests (EuMIXFOR), mixed forests present more resistance to human
and non-human disturbances; have higher biodiversity levels; have higher
carbon storage capacity and thus higher potential for mitigation
strategies; allow for better adaptation strategies for global change; and
have higher productivity and support for ecosystem services.
The new publication, which looks at the interplay among environmental
drivers, social demands and forestry alternatives, is the final outcome of
a European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action that funded
EuMIXFOR, said Dr. Andrés Bravo-Oviedo, of the Department of Biogeography
and Global Change, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Spanish National
Research Council and one of the editors of *Dynamics, Silviculture and
Management of Mixed Forests*.
"Even if we agree that mixed forests are the most resilient option to cope
with changing conditions such as climate, we still know little about the
response of mixtures," said Dr. Bravo-Oviedo, who is also coordinator of
IUFRO RG 1.09.00. "Our publication gives some hints to help implement
correct management of existing mixed forests and the creation of new ones."
Among the issues the publication delves into are:
- What species mixture is better adapted to current environmental
conditions and social demands?
- What species composition would cope better with climate change?
- Are mixtures always more productive than monocultures?
- What are the drivers of stability in mixed stands?
- How do ecosystem processes and functions in mixed forests affect the
delivery of ecosystem services?
For practitioners, the book offers different silvicultural methods,
including regeneration and plantation designs for managing mixed-species
forests. Students will be able to take advantage of recent research
findings on forest dynamics, like growth and structure, and the public will
be informed about the role of mixed forests in a changing world, he said.
Dr. Bravo-Oviedo noted that mixtures are complex systems whose behavior
depends on species interactions that can be positive or negative depending
on environmental conditions.
"Human systems and their changing demands on ecosystem services add more
complexity to the picture. Decision makers must be aware that changes in
any system can affect policy outcomes, and it is difficult for policy
makers to make decisions when the outcomes are ‘open' and uncertain," he
said.
"Human societies," he went on to explain, "are requiring more services from
forests – both commodities and amenities. Sometimes the demand is high for
services that might have trade-offs, and the prevalence of one or another
demand would depend on market availability and-or societal context (users'
preferences)."
In terms of policy implications, Dr. Bravo-Oviedo said: "We presented an
integrated framework of relationships between drivers of change and forest
components under the umbrella of socio-ecological systems.
"Policy makers could use this framework to assess whether their decisions
on mixed forests will affect negatively or positively either the ecological
or the social system – or both.
"Building resilient forest systems in the context of Global Change requires
increased tree species richness," he added.
"Policies encouraging the use of mixed forests can help in accomplishing
international commitments like the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, (the 20
measureable, time-bound targets of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity that
should be met by 2020) the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Global
Forest Goals or Paris' Agreement.
"However," he went on, "it will take time to fully understand the dynamics
of mixtures and the impacts of forest management on the delivery of
ecosystem services from species-rich forests."
He explained that the publication gathers the knowledge and expertise from
more than 200 EuMIXFOR participants and summarizes, among other things, the
current practice of silviculture for mixed forests and the role of
mixed-species plantations to increase resilience in Europe, Argentina and
Chile.
"Researchers are doing their part to bridge knowledge gaps but the full
understanding will require the participation of all stakeholders: policy
makers, industry, forest managers and civil society," he said.
The publication can be found at:
https://www.springer.com/la/book/9783319919522
About IUFRO Research Group 1.09.00 - Ecology and silviculture of mixed
forests: https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-1/10000/10900/
*________________________________*
The findings reported in *IUFRO Spotlight* are submitted by IUFRO
officeholders and member organizations. IUFRO is pleased to highlight and
circulate these findings to a broad audience but, in doing so, acts only as
a conduit. The quality and accuracy of the reports are the responsibility
of the member organization and the authors.
Suggestions for reports and findings that could be promoted through *IUFRO
Spotlight* are encouraged. To be considered, reports should be fresh, have
policy implications and be applicable to more than one country. If you
would like to have a publication highlighted by Spotlight, contact: Gerda
Wolfrum, wolfrum(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org>.
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is the
only worldwide organization devoted to forest research and related
sciences. Its members are research institutions, universities, and
individual scientists as well as decision-making authorities and other
stakeholders with a focus on forests and trees.
Visit: https://www.iufro.org/
*________________________________*
*IUFRO Spotlight #66, published in June 2019*
*by IUFRO Headquarters, Marxergasse 2, 1030 Vienna, Austria. Available for
download at: **https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
<https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/>*
*Contact the editor at office(at)iufro.org <office(a)iufro.org> or visit
https://www.iufro.org/ <https://www.iufro.org/> You are receiving this
message, because you are an IUFRO member or officeholder or have registered
for one of our web-based email distribution lists. If you wish to
unsubscribe from IUFRO Spotlight publications, please send us a short note
by e-mail (burger(at)iufro.org <burger(a)iufro.org>).*
*Imprint: https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c18944
<https://www.iufro.org/legal/#c18944>*