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Episode 8: Holistic approach to forest environment
144 Plays1 month ago
This episode, hosted by Jose Bolaños from IUFRO HQ, focused on IUFRO Scientific Division 8 – Forest Environment. The episode, featuring Co-Coordinators Alexia Stokes (INRAE, France) and Chabi Djagoun (University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin), along with co-host Paz Constanza Zenteno Painemal (Conny), from IFSA and an intern at IUFRO HQ, delved into the crucial role forest science plays in confronting global environmental challenges.
Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast! Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts, and don't forget to follow us! More at iufro.org!
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Transcript
Introduction to Branching Out Podcast
00:00:02
Speaker
If you're working in a forest ecosystem, especially if you're working in restoration and protection, it is important to understand in any international setting that you must consider the local ecological, geopolitical and historical context.
00:00:26
Speaker
Hello everyone, I'm your host José Bolaños from the International Union of Forest Research Organizations, IUFRO, the Global Network for Forest Science Collaboration, and you are listening to Season 2 of Branching Out, the Forest Podcast.
00:00:39
Speaker
It's great to have you with us as we explore more forest science.
Focus on IUFRO Scientific Division 8
00:00:42
Speaker
Today, we are spotlighting IUFRO Scientific Division 8, Forest Environment, and we are thrilled to have its co-coordinators with us.
00:00:50
Speaker
And as it is tradition for this season, I would like to present my co-host, Connie Constanza, from the International Forestry Students Association, IFSA. I'm currently an intern at IUFRO headquarters.
00:01:02
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Could you please introduce yourself and tell us what and where are you currently studying?
Constanza's Introduction and Conservation Passion
00:01:07
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Thank you Jose for your invitation to be our co-host of the Easteresting Podcast. I'm Constanza from Chile, I'm a junior forestry engineering with a deep passion for wildlife, forests and finding ways to protect our natural world.
00:01:23
Speaker
I love connecting with people, sharing ideas and learning from experience around the world to make a positive impact on forest conservation. So this is the reason why I'm really excited to be here today, especially to introduce ah the Division A of Euphra.
00:01:39
Speaker
Welcome to Branching Out and I hope you enjoy your time at Euphra headquarters. Next, let's learn more about who leads the Division. Alexia and Xavi, over to you. Will you tell us a little bit about yourselves?
Roles in Forest Conservation
00:01:53
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Hello, Josie and Constanze, and thank you for the invitation to speak today. My name is Alexia Stokes and I am a scientist at INRAE, the French National Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research.
00:02:09
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I study the biophysical relationships between vegetation and soil, and in particular, I try and to help forest managers find solutions for protecting against soil erosion, landslides and windstorms.
00:02:23
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and Hello everyone, my name is Shabhi Diaboul, Associate Professor in Conservation Biology at the University of Abu-Riqalavi in Benin.
00:02:35
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My work focuses on wildlife ecology, biodiversity conservation, and community-based management for sustainable resource use. Drabi and I have been coordinating Division 8 together for the last year.
00:02:50
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I think we're very complementary with our different specialities and geographical locations.
00:02:57
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Thank you Alexia and Xavi for introducing yourselves.
Youth Influence and Multidisciplinary Research
00:03:02
Speaker
So the first question is, can you share what and drives your work in Division 8?
00:03:09
Speaker
Yes, of course. What drives our work in Division 8 is the potential that youth members have to make real changes to the way that forests are managed.
00:03:21
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EUFRO provides a forum for scientists and researchers to directly get their message across to forest managers and policy makers. Therefore, in Division 8, we are able to perform multidisciplinary research, knowing that we can really make changes to the system.
00:03:39
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I would like to build on what Alicia is saying that Division 8 activities aim to provide a platform and network for scientific progress and exchange across all related fields through the organization of meetings, symposia, electronic conferences, and state of the reports.
Forest Ecosystems and Climate Change
00:04:03
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All forest biomes of the world are considered within Division 8 scope. Moreover, strong connections are maintained with other divisions and task forces addressing complementary topics such as civic cultures, ah physiology, genetics, forest operations, modeling, wood products, social science, and forest health.
00:04:31
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So we hear a lot about the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. And this is what you are all addressing when you look at the forest environment.
00:04:44
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Like we did on previous episodes, we like to discuss the bigger picture, the links between forest ecosystems and the three crises between forests and water and changes in the forest landscapes.
Local Stakeholders in Forest Restoration
00:04:59
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How can interdisciplinary approaches that integrate ecology, governance and community knowledges help build adaptive strategies?
00:05:10
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I think this is a very important question, Jose. ah Someone asked me last week, how can we include theoretical ecological concepts into concrete restoration plans for degraded forest landscapes?
00:05:24
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I answered that ecology is only a small part of the bigger picture. If you want to restore a forest ecosystem, you need to take a holistic view of the social ecological system.
00:05:37
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So yes, you look at ecological characteristics, plant species present, and climate, soil type and so on. But you also need to take into account the local stakeholders.
00:05:48
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You need to talk to the local communities. What do they want from the forest? What ecosystem services are they interested in? Will the forest be for wood production only, or for other services such as hunting or even truffle production?
00:06:03
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Also, is very important to talk to the elder members of the community. They are the living memory of what was there before. They can tell you what the landscape was like decades ago.
00:06:17
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It is important to understand the past so as not to make the same mistakes again, especially in an uncertain future global climate.
Scientific and Traditional Knowledge Integration
00:06:26
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Indeed. The triple planetary crises are profoundly interlinked with forest ecosystems.
00:06:36
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Forests regulate the climate by storing carbon conservation biodiversity by providing habitat for cutlery species and maintain water and soil quality.
00:06:50
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When forests are degraded, the impacts cascades across these three dimensions. Addressing so such complexity requires interdisciplinary approaches that connect ecological research with governance, economics, and community knowledge.
00:07:08
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By combining scientific evidence with traditional and local practices, we can co-design adaptive strategies that enhance ecosystem resilience, promote sustainable use, and strengthen the capacity of communities to cope with environmental change while surveying the vital services forests provide.
New Task Forces in Forest Management
00:07:36
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Are there new developments from the Division that are shaping how we manage forests in a changing world? Yes, absolutely, Connie. In Division 8, we're strongly supporting several new task force initiatives that you throw, such as the International Network of Living Labs,
00:07:53
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where scientists and practitioners can exchange knowledge and identify synergies across Living Labs with a view to pushing forward recommendations for policymakers. Living Labs are dynamic, open innovation systems where research and innovation unfold in real-life environments rather than in isolated laboratories.
00:08:13
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Division 8 also contributes to a task force on post-conflict forest landscape restoration or Make It Back Better Again. The mission of this task force is to support the development of resilient forest landscapes that can thrive despite the challenges posed by armed conflicts and ongoing global changes, which unfortunately is a real threat to forests in the current global context.
00:08:40
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Also, the Task Force on Forest-Water-Lithelihood-Governance Nexus allows us to focus on transdisciplinary approaches to addressing global forest management priorities, water, ecosystem services, livelihood sustainability, and innovative governance.
00:09:03
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I think we are all concerned by this task force. every Everyone has seen how forests are affected by the extremes of water supply, ranging from drought to floods.
00:09:14
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And many foresters simply don't know how to manage a forest under these extreme conditions. Through the knowledge produced in this task force, we can help provide new solutions.
00:09:25
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I can add that Division 8 is shaping new ways of andest understanding and managing forests in the face of the global change.
Strengthening Forest Resilience
00:09:35
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Our work focuses on strengthening forest us resilience, sustaining ecosystem services, and promoting adaptive management on the increasing climate and land use pressures.
00:09:49
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We encourage holistic approaches that connect ecological insights with social, economic and governance realities. By comparing experiences across forest regions from Borea to tropical,
00:10:06
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we identify effective models for restoration and nature-based solutions. In doing so, Division 8 bridge science and policy, equipping decision-makers with the acknowledge and tools needed to start seeing forest functions, enhance livelihood, conserve biodiversity in an era of profound environmental transformation.
Upcoming IUFRO Conferences and Events
00:10:35
Speaker
Everyone changed, somebody needs to implement that change. So very interesting to hear that. And whether you are a student, a researcher or a foreign enthusiast, you can always join the conversation, right? So you can always follow the Division 8 work. So what should we look forward? Is there any upcoming event? Absolutely.
00:10:55
Speaker
ah Following the success of the um sixth international conference on the use of of vegetation to stabilize slopes against landslaze and erosion that took place in Mexico this summer, we have several exciting international conferences in the coming months.
00:11:10
Speaker
And just to name a couple, in particular we have the sixth international Euphro conference on forests and water and the changing environment that takes place in Beijing, China in October,
00:11:22
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And forests as hubs of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Anthropocene that is being held in in Patagonia in in your home country, in Chile, and Costanza.
00:11:34
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So that will be held in March next year. And and I think Chabby knows of her some actions and events too. I would like to add to the list the upcoming 27th IFRO World Congress, which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, the first time this prestigious event will be held in Africa.
00:11:54
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Regular updates on the events and related activities are available on IFRO websites. For certain conferences, AIFRO also provides sponsorship for participants from developing countries through the SBDC program.
00:12:13
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Membership in airro AIFRO is open to all institutions, academic, governmental, non-governmental, commercial or individual that are engaged in the promotion support or conduct of research related to forestry and forest products.
00:12:32
Speaker
I strongly encourage everyone to start informed and take advantage of these opportunities to network. Very good call to action, Xavi.
00:12:43
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Thank you very much. I will ask now, Connie, do you have any takeaway messages for
Understanding Local Contexts and Sharing Knowledge
00:12:49
Speaker
today? Yeah, I'd like to highlight how interesting it is to see the connection between the academia and the research with a real-life forest management and fieldwork. As a young people, it's truly inspiring to see how science can directly contribute to better decisions, so sustainable practices, and deeper understanding.
00:13:10
Speaker
tend of all forests. This is especially motivating for me for the young people knowing that these topics are being suited and shaded. As Alexia said, the upcoming conference in Patagonia this the next March is especially focused biodiversity. a big example what Division 8 do is ah such exciting opportunity to see the research in action, connect connect with experience, and I truly hope more young people get involved in this type of events and become part of these conversations and activities.
00:13:46
Speaker
Thank you, Alexia and Chavin, for sharing this. What you do? If I had a take-home message today, it would be... If you're working in a forest ecosystem, especially if you're working in restoration and protection, it is important to understand in any international setting that you must consider the local ecological, geopolitical and historical context.
00:14:11
Speaker
It's necessary to take a holistic approach that encompasses the entire social ecological system. And so you must listen to the local communities. Try and find out past history to better adapt to the future.
00:14:24
Speaker
Also, the success of any intervention depends on the attitude and work of the people involved. So be passionate and transfer your enthusiasm for forests. I strongly believe that the future of the forest environment depends on equity and the use of bottom-up approaches.
00:14:44
Speaker
We must share knowledge, successful experiences in forest management, and opportunities more fairly to build resilience restore ecosystems and secure a sustainable and inclusive future for all of Thank you.
Conclusion and Next Episode Tease
00:15:01
Speaker
And with that, I'd like to thank our guests here today. Thanks to Alexia, to Xavi, to Constanza. And thank you, our listeners. We are almost at the end of the season. So look out for the last episode where we will explore Division 9 of Ayufro.
00:15:15
Speaker
And if you would like to know more about Ayufro, follow us on social media or click on the link on the show notes. Goodbye.