May 2011: The Forestry Leaders Summit on forestry education and research, in which the International Year of Forests is a partner, brought together senior representatives of education and research institutions, as well as international organizations such as the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF), the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO), the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), to discuss improving the skill set of forestry graduates and enhancing forestry research’s responsiveness to global forest policies.

The Summit took place from 27-29 April 2011, at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, in celebration of the International Year of Forests (IYF) 2011. Delegates to the meeting discussed how better and more collaborative partnerships among education and research institutions could advance effective and more relevant forestry education and research.

Delegates recommended that, inter alia: forestry education and research look beyond the traditional forest sector, to include all related activities in the landscape; further joint training and research partnerships be fostered between developing and developed countries; and new business models that highlight the role of forests, forestry and forest products in sustainable development be nurtured. Delegates further called for the creation of a global forum for deans and directors of forest research institutions and a special programme for international forest internships. They recommended that a statement be delivered at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) on the need to strengthen partnerships in forestry education and research, and that forest education and research be discussed at the 10th Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF). Delegates called for the allocation of 1% of forest financing and 2% of funds from REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) initiatives to research and education. [Forestry Leaders Summit Website] [IISD RS Sources]