The four-day International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Regional Congress for Asia and Oceania was opened on Oct 24th in China National Convention Center, Beijing. The Congress was co-hosted by CAF and IUFRO, and organized by CAF. It was not only the first regional congress held in Asia and Oceania, but also the largest international event in forest science and technology hosted by China. The theme of the Congress was “Forests for sustainable development: The role of research”.
Mr. Luo Fuhe, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Executive Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of China’s Democracy Promotion Association, Mr. Wingfield, President of IUFRO, Mr. Chen Zhangliang, Deputy Director of the Board of the Chinese Society of Forestry, and Mr. Peng Youdong, Vice Minister of State Forestry Administration of China were present at the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Mr. Zhang Shougong, President of CAF hosted the ceremony.
Mr. Björn Hånell, Vice President of IUFRO, Mr. John Parrott, Vice President of IUFRO, and representatives from Department of Science and Technology, Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology Development Center, and International Forestry Cooperation Center of State Forestry Administration, Chinese Society of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Northeast Forestry University, Nanjing Forestry University, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Southwest Forestry University, and CAF schools in Beijing also participated in the Congress.
IUFRO Honorary Membership Award was presented at the opening ceremony. Mr. Wingfield bestowed the IUFRO Honorary Membership Award upon Ms. Su See Lee, former Vice President of IUFRO and research fellow of Forest Research Institute Malaysia. Ms. Su See Lee made a thank-you speech.
Four scientists were invited for the keynote speeches. They were Mr. Zhang Shougong, President of CAF, Mr. Don Koo Lee, Professor of Seoul National University, Republic of Korea and former President of IUFRO, Mr. Makoto Yokohari, Professor of ecological landscape and urban planning of Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Japan, and Ms. Elspeth MacRae, General Manager for biomass products R&D and manufacturing of New Zealand Forest Research Institute (Scion).
There were almost 100 scientific sessions with nearly 500 oral presentations, 200 posters, 30 exhibition stands and 24 exhibitors from China and abroad. 24 scientific sessions, 71 oral presentations and 27 posters were delivered by CAF experts.
Themes for the Congress included sustainable forest management for enhanced provision of ecosystem services, forest and landscape rehabilitation and restoration, combating desertification, disaster and risk management, and climate change mitigation and adaptation, planted forests for fostering a greener economy, innovative technologies for bio-energy, bio-materials and other products, urban forestry for human health and community well-being, social and cultural aspects of forests, including traditional knowledge, human health, community participation and gender roles, and forest and agro-forest management for food security, enhanced livelihoods and nontimber forest products.
Almost 800 formal representatives from over 60 research institutes, higher education institutions, government agencies, NGOs and enterprises, and more than 400 informal representatives, altogether more than 1200, were present at the opening ceremony.
Friendly talks were exchanged between guests and representatives of hosts and organizers.
Staff from related departments and postgraduates of CAF attended the Congress.
