7:08 a.m.
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From: Williams, Geoffrey (CTR) - FS, OR
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2023 2:10:44 PM
Dear colleagues and contacts in the forest genetics world,
Please consider submitting to the following and share with your networks.
We invite you to submit "Resilience of Forest Biodiversity to Climate Change and
Pests: Civic Engagement and Conservation in Seed Banks, Public Gardens, and Wild, Urban,
and Agroforestry Landscapes". This session is organized by members of the Society of
American Foresters, Kew Gardens, Morton Arboretum, and the US Forest Service, and one of
eight linked to the International Society of Tropical Foresters. The deadline for abstract
submissions is 2 June 2023 (3 weeks from today). The session proposal is included below.
NOTE: Presently, we cannot offer funding for travel and registration; we are exploring
options and appreciate any leads you may have.
Session description
To conserve biodiversity, multiple approaches can be taken on the ground. This
mini-symposium (Panel, Flash-talks & Posters) represents experts who focus on
complementary aspects of conservation and reforestation; threat assessment, seed
collecting and banking from wild trees, collective action and civic engagement, the roles
of public gardens in conserving genetic resources, developing genetic resistance to pests
to conserve biodiversity, and the importance of conserving genetic diversity in the face
of pests and climate change.
Seed is the unit by which biodiversity is propagated, and therefore, protected. There is
ever increasing pollination disruption with shifting local climate conditions and more
fragmented and degraded native ecosystems. As forests and genetic diversity are lost, so
are mother trees for seed collection, in a time when people want to greatly scale
reforestation efforts. In addition to potential declines in seed crops, global trade,
biodiversity loss, and fragmentation increase the threat of emergent insect and pathogen
outbreaks, resulting in local or range-wide extinction of iconic tree species. Therefore,
there is a global need for threat assessments, seed collection and banking of native tree
species.
In the context of the above challenges and solutions, public gardens and arboreta are
critical to the resilience of forests and society. In addition to acting as living
collections, seed sources, and refugia of tree species, public gardens serve as
biodiversity hotspots in cities, and meeting places for public and volunteer conservation
efforts and outreach. As sentinels, trees in public gardens can be used to proactively
detect emergent disease threats. Through collective action, exchange of information,
public engagement, and local expert knowledge, "think global, act local" could
be applied to aid proactive efforts to protect forest biodiversity from the next major
pests across the world. Local experts and civic ecologists can accomplish this by
collecting seed and observing trees in native environments, plantations, public gardens,
and urban forests. Breeding or human-directed genetic improvement presents a practical
solution for restoration of species that are impacted by emergent pest epidemics, climate
change, or other threats. The utility of breeding to protect biodiversity also depends on
the prior establishments of seed banks and other germplasm resources. It is critical to
generate a prior understanding of the diversity of populations of tree species valued for
their ecological, horticultural, or economic and commercial characteristics, the observed
or potential effects of threats to those populations, and the role diversity could play in
recovery of species.
Topic areas
1: collecting seed, 2: seed banking, 3: assessing threats, 4: think global act local to
address threats with civic ecology and urban forests and botanical gardens, 5: public
gardens supporting conservation efforts, and 6/7: developing genetic resistance to
conserve biodiversity and conserving biodiversity.
Abstract submission details
The call for abstracts for IUFRO 2024 is at
https://iufro2024.com/call-for-congress-abstracts/. The abstract announcement is at
https://iufro2024.com/wp-content/uploads/IUFRO_2024-Call_for_Abstracts-1-2.…. (NOTE THAT
THE SESSION ABSTRACT DEADLINE HAS PASSED. THE CALL NOW IS FOR PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS).
Download the book of IUFRO 2024 sessions t
https://iufro2024.com/wp-content/uploads/IUFRO_2024-List_of_Sessions-1-1.pdf.
Submit your abstract at
https://www.appinconf.com/kas/Abstract?projectName=iufro2024abstracts
Abstract submission instructions
SESSION: (Search for the session of interest)
TITLE: Spell out words, do not use abbreviations. The title or text is not to indicate the
country of origin, unless it is pertinent to the topic.
AUTHORS: Names and surnames for each author must be provided. Do not include degrees or
titles. The presenting author's name will be published in bold.
AFFILITATIONS: Each author should be listed by University/Hospital, Department and
Country. Please make sure to include this complete information in the Affiliation text
box.
TEXT: The abstract must be in English, mention one of the topic areas above, and should be
a maximum of 300 words, excluding the title. It is the author's responsibility to
submit a correct abstract; any errors in spelling, grammar, or scientific fact will be
published as typed by the author, if accepted. Poor English may be a cause for rejection.
The Programme Committee will accept abstracts for the Scientific Programme (oral or poster
presentation) on scientific merit.
"Only Abstracts of registered participants will be printed. At least one of the
authors must be registered for the Conference."
We look forward to seeing you in Stockholm for IUFRO 2024.
Regards,
Jill Wagner, Geoff Williams, Denita Hadziabdic-Guerry, Sean Hoban, Lara Salido
[cid:image001.png@01D98E46.7B8021B0]
Geoff Williams, PhD
International Sentinel Network Coordinator
Forest Service
International Programs
Office of the Chief
Office: +1 (202) 263-9231
WhatsApp: +1 (208) 874-7604
geoffrey.williams@usda.gov<mailto:geoffrey.williams@usda.gov>
3101 Discovery Dr., Suite F
Lansing, MI 48910
www.fs.fed.us<http://www.fs.fed.us/>
www.fs.fed.us/about-agency/international-programs<http://www.fs.fed.us/a…
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