Letter by the IUFRO President and Executive Director
Vienna, March 8th, 2022
Letter by the IUFRO President and
Executive Director
We are deeply shocked and horrified by the
ongoing Russian military assault on the
independent sovereign democratic nation of
Ukraine, the grave humanitarian crisis that
it is creating, and the disastrous impacts
it will have on the scientific community. We
stand with the international community in
condemning this invasion, and with our
forest science colleagues in Ukraine and
elsewhere, including in Russia, who have
courageously raised their voices against
this war and its associated violation of
human rights.
IUFRO is a global, non-profit,
non-governmental and non-discriminatory
network that unites member organizations in
more than 120 countries representing over
15,000 scientists. Throughout our 130-year
history we have provided a vital platform
for international science collaboration in
line with the principle of free and
responsible practice of science.
While remaining true to our fundamentally
non-political identity, we cannot overlook
the blatant disregard of international rule
of law on display by the government of the
Russian Federation and its disastrous
impacts on the forest science community in
Ukraine. For this reason, IUFRO has already
cancelled the annual Board Meeting and
Regional Conference that were to be held
this September in Russia. Moreover, we are
suspending our formal contacts with Russian
State institutions.
The current situation challenges but does
not alter IUFRO’s unshakable commitment to
fostering international scientific dialogue
and collaboration for the benefit of forests
and people worldwide, and to supporting our
member organizations and scientists,
especially those affected by conflicts and
war anywhere in the world. We are determined
to support IUFRO member organizations and
scientists in Ukraine along with other
academic and research institutions worldwide
that are offering opportunities for
Ukrainian students and scientists at this
critical time.
John
Parrotta
Alexander Buck
IUFRO
President
IUFRO Executive Director
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