What do Indonesia, Malaysia, and Korea have in common with Denmark, Ireland and Switzerland?

These diverse groups of nations, along with others from Austria, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, and the USA have a common interest in biodiversity.

They will all be represented at the International Union of Forest Research Organizations Conference at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC, where delegates will discuss topics related to biodiversity in forest ecosystems and landscapes August 5-8.

The conference, held to allow participants to share knowledge, discuss new trends, reflect on future directions in biodiversity management for sustainable forestry, and provide a stronger scientific basis for biodiversity management in forest landscapes in the light of climate change, represents a unique opportunity, said co-organizer Tom Dickinson.

“This conference will provide a unique opportunity to gather all the working parties of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Division 8 Research Group on Forest Biodiversity,” he explained.

The conference theme and purpose has special relevance in the Kamloops area.

“Local forest managers continually strive to balance the demand for timber with environmental issues. Forest biodiversity concerns receive attention in regional, local and site level forest management plans, and cattle grazing also takes place in the forest and lower elevation grasslands.

“Delegates will have an opportunity to learn about grassland and forest management in the dry forests surrounding Kamloops and gain an overview of the enormous impact of the mountain pine beetle on the ecosystems of lower elevation ponderosa pine and upper elevation lodgepole pine forests,” said Dickinson.

Local forest and grassland ecology studies, including some which examine the impact of the vast mountain pine beetle epidemic on regional pine species, will be featured in the in-conference field tour, while post-conference tours will provide an opportunity to visit other forest types in British Columbia.

Contact: Dr. Tom Dickinson at 250.828.5447 or check the conference website at https://www.tru.ca/iufro.html