The 22nd International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) World Congress will be held 8-13 August 2005 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
The theme for the 2005 Congress is Forests in the Balance: Linking Tradition and Technology.
The congress will interest government agencies, non-government organisations, scientists, researchers, managers and scientific societies.

Recent Congresses in Finland (1995) and Malaysia (2000) have attracted in the vicinity of 2,500 delegates comprising the full range of stakeholders concerned with forest and forest-related issues of a cultural, social, environmental or economic nature.
Congress Theme
The theme for the Congress, Forests in the Balance: Linking Tradition and Technology, was jointly developed by the Congress Organising Committee (COC) and Congress Scientific Committee and subsequently signed off by the IUFRO Board:
To create an interest amongst not only scientists but also the full range of stakeholders with an interest in forests and process technology.
To reflect the importance of tradition and technology, including the increasing importance of indigenous knowledge.
To recognise the role of indigenous peoples, not only as residents but also increasingly as future land managers.
Congress Logo
The Congress Organising Committee commissioned local indigenous artist Laurie Nilsen to design the Congress logo. The logo incorporates cross hatching which represents an indigenous presence on the land. The two leaves represent the northern and southern hemispheres, and reflect the element of balance. The motif under the leaves is representational of communication and the flow between the water and land elements.
Key Links
For further information on International Union of Forest Research Organizations please visit their website www.iufro.org; www.dpi.qld.gov.au; www.affa.gov.au
Forestry’s international conscience
Up to 60 scientists from developing and economically disadvantaged countries will travel to Australia in August to attend four special programs aimed at reducing poverty through sustainable forestry.
A group of leading forest scientists and training experts from around the world will travel to Brisbane (Queensland, Australia) to help teach their colleagues from developing countries how to achieve long-term economic, cultural and environmental gains.
The programs are just one way the international forestry community is supporting global issues through the Special Programme for Developing Countries (IUFRO-SPDC), an initiative of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO).
SPDC coordinator Dr Michael Kleine said that for the past 20 years, the program’s mission has been to expand and foster forest research capacity in developing and economically disadvantaged countries.
“Through training and collaborative research networking we are able to enhance the ability of young and mid-career scientists and build on their existing strengths so that they can make a difference in their country,” Dr Kleine said.
“The programs, which vary from year to year, allow us to help shape forest research agenda, forestry policy and management by providing practical skills and learnings from our own experiences.
“Once equipped with these skills, scientists can enhance the ability of research institutions to deliver information and advisory services on forests and their sustainable use, which are significant achievements,” he said.
Dr Kleine said the latest courses will run as precursors to the IUFRO World Congress, which will be held in Brisbane from 8 – 13 August 2005.
The courses will cover topics such as using information and communication technology in forest research, linking science with practice in implementing international initiatives through national forest programs, making science work for policy and management, and enhancing sustainable forest management criteria and indicators through science.
“Besides research management issues, high priority is also given to the role of scientists in translating science into good forest policy and management,” Dr Kleine said.
“The topics and themes we address during training and research networking activities are always directed towards strengthening the bridge between science and application, involving scientists and practitioners alike,” he said.
The XXII IUFRO World Congress, hosted by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries on behalf of the Australian forestry community, will be the largest gathering of world forestry experts since Kuala Lumpur hosted the event in 2000. More than 2,000 international forest scientists and commercial operators are expected to attend the Congress, which will explore ways of incorporating traditional and cultural methods of forestry into modern forest management through the theme of ‘Forests in the Balance: Linking Tradition and Technology’.
For more information on the SPDC pre-Congress training courses and the XXII IUFRO World Congress, visit www.iufro2005.com.
Further information: Sarah Martin, Senior Media Officer, Ph: +61 7 3224 8837
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
Strategic Communication & Marketing
GPO Box 46, Brisbane Qld 4001 Ph: +61 7 3239 6380
DPI&F Call Centre 13 25 23 (weekdays 8 am to 6 pm)
Congress News
Keynote Speaker
Mr Eugene van As has accepted the invitation to provide the Tuesday keynote presentation at the 2005 IUFRO World Congress in Brisbane, Australia. His presentation will focus on the importance of wood science and forest science in helping developing countries develop viable forest industries. Mr van As will also address the challenges and rewards of R&D in the products sector, and how knowledge can be utilized to generate economically productive forest industries in developing countries.

Mr van As is highly regarded in the forest industry and is currently the Non-executive Chairman of Sappi Limited - the world's leading producer of coated fine paper. He joined Sappi in 1977 as the Managing Director of Sappi Kraft (Pty) Limited and in 1978, became the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sappi Limited. Mr van As was appointed as Executive Chairman in 1991 and Non-executive Chairman on his retirement as an Executive Director in 2003. He is also a Director of Sanlam Limited and Chairman of the African Self-Help Association.