The theme of the 22nd session of the International Poplar Commission (IPC) is “The Contribution of Poplars and Willows to Sustainable Forestry and Rural Development.” The IPC meets every four years and is a statutory body of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Poplars and willows are used extensively to combat desertification, rehabilitate degraded lands, provide carbon sinks and produce wood products in forestry and integrated forestry-agricultural land-use systems. Associated study tours will visit Chile and Argentina to support the theme.  

dates: 28 November-9 December 2004  
location: Santiago, Chile  
contact: Graciela Andrade, International Poplar Commission, Forestry Department, FAO  
e-mail: Graciela.Andrade@fao.org  
www: http://www.fao.org/forestry/ipc2004