7th Forest Science Symposium

Planning for the ICFR/IUFRO 7^th Forest Science Symposium, which will take place from 18-20 July 2017 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, is well in hand and detailed information can be found on the ICFR website www.icfr.ukzn.ac.za. Please note this website is undergoing upgrades but the information will be available throughout this process.

The 2017 Symposium will also coincide with the ICFR’s 70^th anniversary celebrating our extensive experience and expertise in applied forestry research, and our role as an indispensable and preferred research partner in supporting a vibrant, sustainable, productive and globally competitive forestry sector in southern Africa.

As has been mentioned, we are co-hosting with the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), and with the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as with our research partners including FABI, NMMU and SUN. This year, our theme will focus particularly on Research underpinning the sustainability of a diverse forestry sector and will seek to explore forestry research in the broadest sense looking at natural forests, plantations and woodlands, the range of genera and species, geographical and environmental variation, and the diversity of people and products.

Please note that a special feature part of our Symposium is the we do not have concurrent sessions, and so the programme accommodates one main session with a range of types of presentations including keynotes, panels, papers, speed sessions and posters.

This is to ensure that everyone can take part and contribute towards the Symposium programme, and not miss out on any aspects.

Our aim is to showcase the depth and breadth of forestry research across southern Africa, and aims to provide a unique opportunity for the southern African forest research community, to interact with international partners and share knowledge around the work being carried out across the region.

The Programme

Abstract submission has been steady with good support from our partners in Southern Africa. The abstract submission form is attached and we hope to have many South African forestry sector contributions of paper and poster abstracts. 

Please note that abstract can be submitted in one of four categories;

• Full paper (20 mins) - unpublished work
• Full paper (20 mins) - work which has previously been published/ presented
• Short/ Abbreviated paper (5 mins)
• Poster

Please complete and submit your abstract using the attached form. This can be emailed back to sally.upfold@icfr.ukzn.ac.za

The Science Committee will review all submissions and where full papers cannot be accommodated, these may be offered short/speed or poster options.

The closing date for submission is Friday 28th April 2017.

We are also targeting keynote and invited speakers and will announce these once they confirm attendance.

Pre-Symposium Workshop

Of particular value, is IUFRO’s contribution through their Special Programme for Development of Capacities (IUFRO-SPDC), who will hold a pre- Research Symposium event focused on African countries.

This is a 3-day training workshop on systematic review in forest science

For more information on this please visit  http://www.iufro.org/science/special/spdc/actproj/twsouthafrica/.

Registration and Attendance

Registration has opened and delegates wanting to attend must complete and return the registration form with proof of payment by 30 June 2017

The Research Symposium itself is aiming for a strong regional focus, and we hope many of the forest research organisations and relevant academic and research institutions into the continent’s southern and south-eastern countries will attend.

In addition we are aiming for a strong youth focus and are working closely with the International Forestry Students Association (IFSA) who hold their annual symposium in South Africa in 2017, to ensure many of them attend and participate.