The twenty-sixth World Conference of IUFRO, the global consortium of forestry research institutions, took place in Stockholm, 23-29 June. A total of 4,271 participants from 102 countries participated. The conference provides an international platform for people from all disciplines connected to forests and forestry science to share knowledge and exchange views. The conference also provides opportunities for dialogue with young people, people from politics and administration, leaders in the forestry sector, representatives of companies and institutions, and representatives of NGOs. There were eight representatives from Iceland, five of them from Land and Forest Iceland.

The IUFRO World Forum convenes every four to five years, and each conference concludes with a statement aligned with the chosen main theme. This year's theme, "Forests and Society towards 2050," prompted a strong call to action against climate change, biodiversity decline, ecosystem degradation, pollution, and widening social inequality. The statement emphasises the urgent need for long-term goals to address these critical challenges.

For main points of the Stockholm Statement

The statement specifies four specific points that the World Congress considers to be crucial to ensure the future of forest ecosystems and thus the well-being of people around the world. These points provide guidance to leaders on the changes needed to move towards a sustainable future.

• Strengthen forest resilience and climate adaptation.

• Maintain and enhance the social values of forests for
  sustainable societies.

• Expand the role of forests and forest products in a
  responsible circular bioeconomy that contributes
  to economic development, livelihoods, climate
  change mitigation and decarbonization of
  economic activities.

• Transform forest-related sciences for the future.

Shift to wood in construction

The declaration emphasises the significance of forests, trees, and forest products in achieving sustainable development and future prosperity. However, it acknowledges that these resources alone cannot solve all challenges and that their sustainability is jeopardised if decisive actions are not taken in other sectors and areas of human activity. Notably, the importance of transitioning to wood and other forest products as construction materials in an increasingly urbanised world was strongly emphasised, particularly in the inspiring keynote address by Professor Hans Joachim Schellnhuber during the final Plenary Session of the Conference. He highlighted the critical role of shifting to wood in construction as a vital component of the solution to address climate change.

Threats to science and the environment

The statement underlines the need to consider all dimensions of sustainability - ecological, economic, cultural, and social - to secure a responsible use of forest resources, and to develop cross-sectoral policies related to forests, ensuring greater policy coherence, and aiming at balancing trade-offs.

The IUFRO Congress emphasises the need to address threats to science and research cooperation including loss of trust in academia, the spread of misinformation, irresponsible use
of technology, failure of multilateralism, and international conflicts.

Critical challenged addressed

The Stockholm Declaration encapsulates several critical challenges that were at the forefront of the recently concluded conference. Key discussion themes included biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and the imperative for countermeasures. Additionally, gender equality and the fundamental rights of individuals and societies were prominent topics. The conference also delved into the active transfer of genetic material in tree species for adaptation, known as assisted migration, which is crucial for preserving forested areas amidst rising mean temperatures. Another significant topic of discussion was Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF), which aims to enhance forest diversity and promote the coexistence of multiple species rather than monocultures. Considerable attention was devoted to examining forest management techniques within CCF forests.

Shift towards a true gender balance

In his closing speech at the conference, John Parrota, the outgoing President of IUFRO, called on the world to "for resolute and equitable actions and the best use of the knowledge provided by the global science community for informed and far-sighted decisions". His successor, Professor Daniela Kleinschmit of the University of Freiburg, has now been elected as the new president of IUFRO. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in IUFRO's history, as she is the first woman to hold this prestigious position. This achievement marks an important change for the forest science community, where more women are increasingly assuming roles traditionally dominated by men. The shift is evident at the present World Congress, where 44% of the delegates are women, predominantly under the age of 40, reflecting a positive trend towards a true gender balance and diversity in leadership.

In summary, the message of the IUFRO World Conference 2024 is this: Listen to the science and get started!

• Further information and video interviews with prominent actors at the IUFRO2024 Conference