51吃瓜

UNFFS Director at 2024 IUFRO World Congress

On 25 June 2024, UNFF Secretariat Director Ms. Juliette Biao delivered a keynote speech at the 2024 World Congress of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) in Stockholm, Sweden. In her speech, Ms. Biao called for expanded research in key areas such as women鈥檚 role in the bioeconomy, gender perspectives on pests and diseases in agroforestry, the potential of non-wood forest products for a bio-based economy and understanding the interplay between gender diversity and leadership dynamics in the forest sector. Her address emphasized the necessity of acknowledging and valuing women鈥檚 contributions in all spheres of forestry and beyond.

In an for IUFRO World Congress TV, Ms. Biao provided further insight into the intersections of gender, forestry, and sustainable development, drawing on her own background as the first female forester in West Africa. She stressed that the engagement of women in forestry has to start from their education in technical and scientific fields. At the same, it is important to recognize the specific knowledge possessed by women in forest-dependent communities, who are on the frontlines of forest management, conservation, and regeneration.

The IUFRO World Congress is one of the largest forest-related events globally, attracting participants from academia, governments, industry, and civil society. With a focus on forest contributions to the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2024 edition aimed to help streamline forest research agendas, furthering dialogue and cross-sector cooperation, and promote the multi-functionality of forests and their services.