This International Conference on the topic of cooperation in forest sector provides an opportunity to discuss recent trends and developments in forest education, science and industry in Europe and Russia in the context of a globalised economy. The conference will discuss how collaboration between science, education and industry can be improved, for the benefit for the forest sector. Special focus will be on retraining programs for professional foresters, such as those prepared by teachers at Mari State Technical University (MarSTU) for specialists of forestry enterprises in the framework of the Tempus IB_JEP-26038-2005 “Training, Networking and Capacity Building for Sustainable Forestry in Povolgie”.
The International Conference will be held in Yoshkar-Ola, Russia, during 2-5 June 2009. The event comprises several sessions with keynote speakers from leading European universities, Russian forestry ministry authorities and other institutions. The organising committee intends to set a wide scientific and international scope for the conference. Parallel oral sessions and videoconferences will be scheduled, focusing on the latest retraining programs, academic research and innovations with paper presentations. Topics to be discussed during the conference will include innovative techniques and practices for sustainable management of forest resources, enhancing the various forest functions, and maintaining forest ecosystems. The organisers therefore call for presentations in various fields related to sustainable forest management, to be given both forest scientists and forestry practitioners.