26 September 2014: The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) released two ‘Spotlights’ in September, 2014. ‘Spotlight #28 – American Indian Forestry: blending science and tradition’ investigates indigenous approaches to forestry in the US, while ‘Spotlight #27 – Genes the means to screen future forest scene’ focuses on forest genetic resources.

Spotlight #28 looks into conflict and opportunity with regard to traditional management of forests by American Indians and non-native forest managers. In particular, it notes three challenges: fire and other forest hazards spreading from non-thinned stands to forests managed by indigenous peoples, a disparity in funding in which indigenous forest managers received only 30% of the funding levels of federal lands, and differences between science-only approaches and approaches that combine traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge.

Spotlight #27 introduces the Bioversity International, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) publication, titled ‘Genetic Considerations in Ecosystem Restoration Using Native Tree Species.’ The publication considers the knowledge requirements for the appropriate integration of genetic considerations in forest restoration, including the suitability of germplasm, regeneration potential, and quality of the genetic pool used. [Publication: Congress Spotlight #28 – American Indian Forestry: blending science and tradition] [Publication: Spotlight 27 – Genes the means to screen future forest scene]