2021 IBFRA WEBINARS

The goal of this series of three webinars is to provide a reference and to sparkle discussions in preparation of the 2021 IBFRA conference. For the first webinar, Pr. Merritt Turetsky, director of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado Boulder, discussed ecological legacies in taiga ecosystems in the context of permafrost thaw. Below is a link to the recording of Pr. Turetsky's presentation.

Our second webinar was held on May 20th, 2021 at 9:00 AM AKT, 10:00 AM PDT, 1:00 PM EDT, 7:00 PM CEST, 8:00 PM MST.

For the second webinar, Pr. John Innes, Dean of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia, talked about the implications of the ecological impacts of climate change on societies in the boreal forest. Below is a summary and a link to the recording of Pr. Innes's presentation.

Abstract:

While much concern in the past has focused on temperate and tropical forests, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the boreal forest is not only highly sensitive to climate change, but it is in the boreal that some of the biggest temperature changes are being experienced. The changes in the ecosystem resulting from climate change will fundamentally affect the communities that live there and that depend on the goods and services provided by forests. The changes will also have broader implications for society, especially if the changing climate results in increased emissions of greenhouse gases from boreal forests. The societal implications will depend on the way that individuals use the forest. For Indigenous communities heavily dependent on the forests, there may be changes to the animal populations that support them, including changes to caribou and to fur-bearing animal populations. Access to these communities may be disrupted, for example by changes in the timing of spring break-up. There may also be phenological changes that can disrupt traditional activities. For the forest industry, including Indigenous-owned enterprises, a warmer climate may curtail the logging season and shorten the operating time of roads. Changes in the magnitude and frequency of fires and other disturbances will affect all aspects of society. Many of the societal changes induced by these ecological changes may have cumulative impacts on the societies, undermining the fabric of communities and accentuating some of the widespread social problems that are already present.

Our final webinar was held on July 22nd, 2021 at 9:00 AM AKT, 10:00 AM PDT, 1:00 PM EDT, 7:00 PM CEST, 8:00 PM EEST.

For this last webinar, Dr. Päivi Abernethy, Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Institute of Finland (Luke), will talk about knowledge co-production and sustainable boreal forests in the context of climate change. You can register by clicking the button below. Following is an abstract describing her presentation.

Abstract: Climate change poses significant threats to boreal forests. To govern forests sustainably in the midst of today’s challenges requires new ways of working, thinking, and acting. Knowledge co-production is one of the mechanisms identified as potentially useful for navigating the complexity of forest governance and related research, yet there are some critical components that need explicit attention to achieve the desired outcomes. The webinar will share findings from successful case studies, highlighting drivers for effective and meaningful knowledge co-production and ways to overcome the most common barriers experienced in failed efforts. The objective of this talk is to help future inter- and transdisciplinary research more effectively strengthen social and ecological resilience in boreal forests.