ForestNavigator presence at IUFRO2024

ForestNavigator looks back at a successful IUFRO2024 meeting!

ForestNavigator researchers from diverse research institutes presented their work on the climate mitigation potential of forests and forest-based sectors.

Forest-based models
Mykola Gusti (IIASA) discussed the impacts of climate change, CO2 fertilisation and disturbance impacts on GHG emission projections in the large-scale forest model G4M. André Nakhavali (IIASA) described how peatlands are represented in the G4M-X model.

Impact of disturbances on forests
Alexandra Runge (GFZ) presented a poster on the effect of disturbances on vertical forest structure, and Florian Kraxner (IIASA) discussed the importance of collaboration to maintain boreal forests, whereas Andrey Krasovskiy (IIASA) disucssed forest fires in mountainous regions. Andrey Lessa (IIASA) discussed how disturbances impact forest multifunctionality and adaptive strategies.

Forest-based sector in sustainability transformation
ForestNavigator coordinator Fulvio Di Fulvio and researcher Pekka Lauri (IIASA) discussed the opportunities and impacts of the forest-based sector in sustainability transformation, and Tord Snäll (SLU) discussed the impact of future forest use on biodiversity, ecosystem services and climate.
Manfred Lexer (BOKU) talked about effects of climate change and management.

Wood- and non-wood-based products in the bioeconomy
Elias Hurmekoski (UHE), Sebastian Rüter (TI), Justin Baker (UNC) and Maximilian Schulte (SLU) discussed their work on the contribution of wood-based products to climate change mitigation, and Alice Ludvig (BOKU) talked about the potential of non-wood forest productions in Europe´s bioeconomy.

Work force in the forestry sector
Barbara Öllerer (BOKU) was part of panel discussions on attractiveness of the forestry sector, and presented her MSc research on gender-specific barriers in forestry. Moreover, she presented a poster on work organisations in the Austrian forest sector.

Barbara Öllerer wins IUFRO Student Award
Barbara Öllerer (BOKU) obtained the award for her Master’s thesis “Gender-specific barriers in forestry: How do Austrian female leaders perceive barriers and what are their strategies to overcome them?” In this thesis Barbara Öllerer addresses gender issues in the Austrian forestry sector. The thesis goes beyond merely using numbers and statistics as the only measure of gender equality and examines the underlying values, norms, and structures. It conducts an empirical investigation based on qualitative interviews and addresses reasons for underrepresentation, gender-specific barriers, and goes one step further by additionally addressing ways to overcome them. Thus, the thesis is an important contribution to research in this field.

Apart from the manifold research contributions, ForestNavigator had also set up a booth about the project, where researchers could meet and discuss potential collaborations