Forests are the lungs of the earth, providing essential ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, oxygen production, and habitat for countless species. They are vital in regulating the climate, purifying water, fostering soil fertility and maintaining biodiversity. For many, forests also hold deep spiritual significance. However, agricultural expansion is fuelling unprecedented rates of deforestation, placing the very ecosystems that sustain agriculture in jeopardy. Transitioning to sustainable agri-food systems able to safeguard the multi-benefits of forests is imperative to ensure food security. It is up to all of us to decide the future of these and take action to protect and restore them.
From June 23rd to 29th in Stockholm, these critical issues will take centre stage at the 26th IUFRO World Congress. The event will gather over 3,000 participants from all around the world, including representatives from governments, NGOs, civil society and industry, to convene around the theme “Forests and Society Towards 2050”. By providing a platform for leading forest experts to meet and collaborate, the event aims to set the future research agenda and roadmap for next generations.
Recognising the intricate connection between food systems and forests, SIANI actively participates in the congress and collaborates with longstanding partners such as the Forests, Trees and Agroforestry Partnership (FTAP), Focali, Vi Agroforestry and SLU Global. With this participation, SIANI aims to stay at the forefront of the food, forests, energy and water nexus – acting as a convener between actors from different sectors. Experts from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) will also be present, lending their perspectives on pivotal topics encompassing bioeconomy, circularity and agroforestry.
SIANI’s participation at IUFRO
- Policy brief launch: Leveraging agroforestry for bioenergy security in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia
- Tuesday, June 25th, 12:45 to 13:00 CEST
The Agroforestry Network, of which SIANI is a member, plans to launch its policy brief “Leveraging agroforestry for bioenergy security in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia” at IUFRO.
Join Selorm Kugbega and the Agroforestry Network on IUFRO’s innovation stage as they explore a world free from energy poverty, where smallholder farmers are empowered through innovative agroforestry systems that integrate woody perennials with crops and animals. This policy brief highlights the crucial role of agroforestry in providing sustainable bioenergy for households and small-scale industries, focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. It addresses market, production, and labour challenges, and emphasises the importance of improved cookstoves, briquettes, and biogas infrastructure in fostering concurrent food and fuel production.
- Side event: networking mingle
- Wednesday, June 26th, 15:00 to 18:00 CEST
SIANI, Focali, SLU Global, and SEI are organising a networking event to connect IUFRO attendees with other Sweden-based actors who share interests in global forests and sustainable development. Taking place on Garnisonen’s rooftop terrace, the mingle will offer a space to connect with fellow experts in the field, exchange collaboration ideas, and enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Sub-plenary Session 5.1: Forest Futures
- Friday, June 28th, 14:30 to 15:30 CEST
This sub-plenary session will explore and attempt to reconcile diverse and often conflicting perspectives on forest futures in 2050, considering demands and trade-offs related to climate, carbon, biodiversity, bioeconomy, food security, and income generation. Highlighting key macro trends that affected forests since 2000, the session aims to identify how these tends can be aligned by mid-century to create a desirable future. Experts will present flash talks on forest trajectories and future scenarios, followed by a panel debate to discuss how these futures can be integrated into long-term forest policies and cross-sectoral sustainable development efforts by 2050.
The session is organised by FTAP and its partners, where SIANI is involved as a co-chair. SEI Senior Research Fellow, Toby Gardner, is one of the panellists invited to share evidence-based stories on forest trajectory from 2000 to 2050. He will focus on: “Forests under environmental threats: climate, biodiversity, tipping points and cascading effects”.
- Agroforestry Network Booth
SIANI will be present at the Agroforestry Network booth throughout the whole week. We invite you to come and find us at the booth, where our team will be available to discuss agroforestry related topics. Do not miss this opportunity to connect with us and learn more about our initiatives!
SEI’s participation at IUFRO
SEI researchers Francis X. Johnson, Eileen Torres Morales and Rob Bailis will each bring insights from SEI Asia, Headquarters and US, respectively. They will discuss the governance of a bio-resource-based bioeconomy in the Global South, biochar production from residual biomass in Colombia, land-use-based mitigation for resilient climate pathways and sustainable woodfuel production.
- Sub-plenary Session 2.1: Governance of a Bio-resource-based Bioeconomy in the Global South
- Monday, June 24th, 12:30-13:15 CEST
- Technical Session 2.9 – Exploring Biochar Production from Residual Biomass in Colombia: Potentials, Prospects, and Barriers
- Tuesday, June 25th, 08:30 to 10:30 CEST
- Poster Session: Land-use based mitigation for resilient climate pathways (LANDMARC)
- Thursday, June 27th, 12:30 to 13:30 CEST
- S2.3 Sustainable Woodfuel Production in Sub-Saharan Africa – Social, Economic and Environmental Dimensions
- Thursday, June 27th, 14:30 to 15:30 CEST
Conclusion:
The IUFRO World Congress presents a unique opportunity to shape forest futures that are sustainable, rights-based, and inclusive. For SIANI, it serves as a crucial platform for connecting the dots between food systems and forests, recognising that the sustainability of one depends on transformative changes in the other. Forests, trees, and tree-based systems are fundamental to safeguarding food security and nutrition, highlighting their indispensable role in sustaining life on our planet. By engaging with diverse perspectives and fostering collaborative efforts, SIANI can pave the way for integrated solutions that benefit both ecosystems and communities worldwide.