IUFRO - Call for New Task Force Proposals for the Term 2024-2029 - REMINDER!

IUFRO Task Forces are established on a temporary basis to advance inter‐disciplinary forest science cooperation in fields spanning IUFRO Divisional interests. They focus on emerging key issues that are of strong interest to policy makers and groups inside and outside the forest sector, and contribute to international processes and activities. Since 1991, nearly 50 IUFRO Task Forces have brought together scientists, policy-makers and other stakeholders to conduct innovative work across a broad range of topics.

The activities of Task Forces in support to IUFRO strategy are varied, but commonly involve: development of expanded global collaboration and information-sharing networks on their focal topics, the organization of meetings or workshops, publication of interdisciplinary scientific syntheses as books or in special issues of peer-reviewed journals, and presentations in major regional or global science-policy platforms. Task Force coordinators are non-voting members of the IUFRO Board, and are invited and expected to attend IUFRO’s annual Board meetings. For more information on the activities and accomplishments of current and earlier Task Forces please visit: https://www.iufro.org/science/task-forces/former-task-forces/).

In order to encourage activities across the full spectrum of IUFRO’s disciplinary expertise, we encourage Applicants to propose to establish the Task Forces on a periodic basis throughout the 2024‐2029 Term to take advantage of emerging needs and opportunities. All approved Task Forces will be expected to conclude their work at the end of the Board term 2024-2029 in August 2029 (together with the XXVII IUFRO World Congress 2029 in Nairobi, Kenya).

SELECTION  CRITERIA

Proposals for new Task Forces will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Potential to strengthen inter‐Divisional collaboration on specific topics of global relevance related to one or more IUFRO Thematic Areas and/or Institutional Goals of the IUFRO Strategy;
• Specific contribution of the proposed Task Force to addressing broader policy processes or interdisciplinary science‐policy initiatives;
• Engagement of two or more Divisions by involving relevant Divisional units (Research Groups and/or Working Parties). Proposal should be jointly developed with the relevant IUFRO Divisions and their units, but may involve additional experts currently outside of the IUFRO network and partner institutions, as required.
• Task Force activities should not duplicate current work within IUFRO Divisions, but rather complement and expand their activities;
• Rationale for their involvement of (non-IUFRO) partner institutions (if relevant);
• Task Force membership reflecting required spectrum of scientific expertise (including both natural and social sciences), as well as geographical, cultural and gender diversity, and providing opportunities for early-career scientists
• Clarity of timelines for proposed Task Force activities and their deliverables.
• Clarity of operational aspects (roles and responsibilities of Task Force coordinator and members, roles and responsibilities of partners involved, if any), budget for activities and funding sources.

PROCEDURE FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW TASK FORCES FOR THE 2024-2029 TERM

We invite IUFRO officeholders and members to prepare, by 1 September 2024, a short 1-2 pages Concept Note that provides a brief statement of the objectives/aims and proposed activities of the Task Force. Please submit your concept notes to IUFRO Vice-President Task Forces Elena Paoletti (elena.paoletti@cnr.it) with a copy to IUFRO HQ Operations Manager Andre Purret (purret@iufro.org). The concept notes will be reviewed by IUFRO Board members in mid-October 2024, who will provide comments as well as suggestions regarding scientists from the Divisions who may be particularly interested in joining the proposed Task Force.

If the Task Force concept note is viewed favorably by the Board, then a full proposal will be requested, with a due date for full proposals of 30 November 2024. All proposals will be reviewed by 31 December 2024 by the Vice‐President for Task Forces in consultation with the members of the IUFRO Board. If revisions are required following proposal review, prospective Task Force coordinators will be asked to prepare a final revised proposal by 31 January 2025, after which a final decision on the establishment of new Task Forces will be made by the IUFRO Board by the end of February 2025.

FORMAT FOR FULL PROPOSALS FOR NEW TASK FORCES

Note: Proposals should include the following as concisely as possible, preferably within 10 pages.

• Name of proposed Task Force
• Name of proposed Task Force coordinator, affiliation (including IUFRO position) and contact information
• Names of proposed Task Force members, their affiliations (including IUFRO positions), experience, proposed roles in the Task Force, and contact information
• Brief overview of the rationale, goals, and objectives of the proposed Task Force (1 paragraph)
• Description of specific proposed Task Force activities, deliverables and timelines. This should include planned focused meetings with tangible outputs such as ‘state‐of‐knowledge' reviews, journal papers, dedicated volumes, books, etc.
• Budget table listing major activities and funding sources, if known – indicate if these funds are already secured.
• Narrative addressing the following:
  • Contribution to implementation of the IUFRO Strategy;
  • How the proposed Task Force will strengthen cross‐Divisional interaction on specified topics related to IUFRO Strategy's Thematic Areas and/or Institutional Goals, and how the Task Force will complement and/or expand activities of existing IUFRO Divisional units;
  • Specific contribution of the proposed Task Force to addressing broader policy processes or interdisciplinary science-policy initiatives.

TIMELINE
 

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