20-07-2015 - On June 17-18 2015 the Forest Research Institute in Poland celebrated the 85th anniversary of its founding.

The history of the Institute goes back to the year 1930, when the Experimental Department of the State Forests was organized. Four years later it was transformed into the Research Institute of the State Forests and after World War II reformed into the Forest Research Institute.

From the beginning the Institute, which has been an IUFRO member since 1933, has consistently implemented its scientific mission of developing research programs which enrich our knowledge that is needed for managing forest resources. The Institute is also a place where past connects with present and science with practice cooperating for the good of Polish forests.

The Institute consists of 6 scientific departments and 3 laboratories that carry out scientific research and developmental work in the fields of forest afforestation and reforestation, tending, utilization and protection, ecology, nature conservation, genetics, forest economics, policy and remote sensing.

The 85th anniversary provided the occasion to summarize and reflect, and also to draw up plans for the future and to set courageous goals for the development of forest science. The event included an honorary session of the Scientific Board as well as the international conference, "Challenges and opportunities of forestry in the 21st century" with a poster session. Alexander Buck, IUFRO's Executive Director, attended the celebrations and during the conference gave a speech on "The National Forest Programmes in Shaping Forestry of the XXI Century".