The International IUFRO Conference on Integrative Forest Governance, Policy, Economics Beijing, China, October 9–11, 2025

Sponsor:

Renmin University of China

Chinese Academy of Forestry

TU Dresden

IUFRO

Organizer:
School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Renmin University of China

Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry

Conference Background
This international scientific, English language conference will serve as a global forum for the latest research in forest-related social sciences, extending to broader environmental contexts. It will spotlight innovative research in the broad field of forest governance, policies, economics, and integrated management for biodiversity conservation across disciplines such as ecology, political science, economics, sociology, anthropology, human geography, development studies, environmental history, legal studies, and livelihoods analyses. Open to all research groups and working parties in IUFRO Division 9, Division 9 related Task Forces and Special Programs and Projects, the conference will include a special focus on the importance of forests for meeting the Global Environmental Crisis, Sustainable Development Goals, and International environmental agreements. Meanwhile, under the China-EU Framework Cooperation Agreement, both China (Grant number: 2023YFE0112800) and the EU (Grant number: to be filled) are implementing projects focused on integrative forest management for multiple ecosystem services and enhanced biodiversity. Through preliminary discussions, the two parties have agreed to facilitate cross-project collaboration and strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The conference will include four scientific plenaries, tens sessions, posters and one day field trip, as well as a conference dinner. Thematic areas include (but are not limited to):

● Forest Governance through Policy (international, national, and local scales)

● Urban Forests and Garden Mega-cities

● Nature Conservation Policy

● AI and Digital Technology, Information and Communication

● Forest Sector Innovation

● Forest-related Indigenous Knowledge and local knowledge

● Forestry Economics and Management

● Environmental Policy and Economics related to Forests

● Biodiversity Conservation and Multiple ecosystem services enhancement in Forest ecosystems

● Integrated Forest Management (Would it be possible to organize a Task Force by CAF under Division 9)

● Forest Law and Legislation

● Green Job and Forest-based Community Livelihoods

● Forest History

The conference invites only mature empirical or review studies from that wide range of disciplines, combining theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions. It serves as a central event for IUFRO Division 9 “Forest Policy and Economics”, in particular its Unit 09.05 “Forest Policy and Governance”, and acknowledges China's growing role in contemporary forest governance and related research. Established and emerging researchers from around the world are invited to join during Beijing’s scenic autumn season, and enjoy garden mega-city for sharing future of harmonization between people and nature.

Pre-conference “Autumn School” Training Camp
Before the conference, the organizers will conduct an “autumn school” training camp for PhD candidates and other early-career researchers such as Postdocs. The number of participants will be limited to 30, including 10 from China. A separate call will follow.

The tentative proposed instructors (t.b.c.) include Prof. Georg Winkel from Wageningen University and Research, Prof. Liu Jinlong from Renmin University of China, Prof. Max Krott from Göttingen University, Prof. Lukas Giessen from TU Dresden.

Sections

Forest and land governance in the tropics: discourse, capital and global trade

Tropical forests and forest lands are governed for oftentimes competing interests and actors, domestic and international, such as Europe and China. The production of commodities such as timber, rubber and oil palm compete with areas designated for conservation, mining, social forestry and other activities. Flows of material, finance and ideas are enabled through networks of actors, institutions, and discourses. They produce benefits and burdens in the different localities of production and consumption. The session uses a critical global political economy perspective to analyse the often unequal outcomes of global forest governance. Our aim is to identify, together with the audience, pathways that allow to break with current patterns of inequality in the governance of forests and forest lands. Our target audience are scholars of different backgrounds and career stages, and decision makers involved in the governance of forests and markets.

Green Jobs and Forest-Based Community Livelihood

Forests play a crucial role in sustaining the livelihood of forest-adjacent communities in a myriad of ways such as direct resource provision (food, fuel, medicine, construction materials), provision of environmental services (water regulation, soil formation, climate change mitigation, biodiversity) and economic activities for income and job creation). However, unsustainable practices such as over-extraction, overgrazing, and the emergence of invasive species disturb the proper ecological functioning of these ecosystems. The decentralization of forest management has empowered community members to be well-organized through community forest associations which, according to practitioners is considered a sustainable governance system. Nature-based enterprise (NBE) development through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) ensures compliance with legal frameworks and supports management through data-driven approaches. Additionally, NBEs serve as a sustainable pathway for implementing national, regional, and global policies, help reduce pressure on forests through alternative livelihoods, contribute to ecosystem service valuation, strengthen resilience to climate change, and foster gender inclusivity and community well-being for improved agriculture and food security. The main aim of this session is to learn from global experiences on the sustainable use of forest resources in the establishment and upscaling of Forest-related Nature-Based Enterprises (NBEs) and how these have resulted in green jobs. These include but are not limited to sustainable timber harvest, production, use, and marketing of Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) among others.

Changing traditional forest-related knowledge and CBNRM for social-ecological resilience

Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM), which emphasizes the application of traditional forest-related knowledge (TFRK), is considered to be a method or institution that can promote the resilience of social-ecological systems. There has been a lot of literature on TFRK that can help communities adapt to climate change and enhance the resilience of social-ecological system. There may be two main reasons for this: (1) TFRK is accumulated through experience, learning and transmission from generation to generation, and it can deal with the complexity and uncertainty of CBNRM; (2) communities with TFRK accept other knowledge such as scientific knowledge or policy knowledge in development and governance, and the diversity of knowledge systems can enhance the resilience of social and ecological systems. However, in the process of globalization, the TFRK of indigenous communities is constantly being lost or changing. Can changing TFRK improve the resilience of social-ecological system of the communities? What will happen to the mechanism of influence? Is there a threshold beyond which the social-ecological system becomes less resilient when the TFRK changes? These questions have not been empirically studied. This session aims to bring together cases from around the world on the relationship between specific TFRKs (or indigenous eco-cultures) and the resilience of the eco-communities, explore the specific changes of each TFRK, and the mechanism by which it affects the resilience of social-ecological systems, comparing the cases among various countries, and accumulating the answers to the questions.

Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation

This session explores the conceptualization, implementation, and impact assessment of Integrated Forest Management (IFM) as a holistic approach to harmonize biodiversity conservation with the enhancement of ecosystem services. It will begin from the theoretical frameworks of IFM, followed by the assessment of IFM on ecosystem services and biodiversity, including key principles and implementation strategies. Discussions will then focus on optimizing IFM frameworks to balance ecological, economic, and social benefits. A focal component will be the systematic assessment of the impacts of IFM on ecosystem services and biodiversity through robust indicator systems and evaluation methodologies. Comparative analyses of different IFM modes will highlight best practices and trade-offs and synergies among ecosystem services. Designed for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, this session aims to advance knowledge on sustainable forest management by integrating interdisciplinary perspectives. Through comparative case studies, participants will explore diverse IFM approaches, identifying best practices that optimize multifunctional landscapes.

Understanding Forest Transition Theory and its Implication in Achieving Goals Set in the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use

The driving mechanism of the "forest transition" in which a country (region)'s forest area changes from decreasing to increasing during the process of socio-economic development is a hot topic of concern in resource and environmental research. Most economies likely expect forests to be affected increasingly by climate change, natural disasters, and the failure to mitigate other deforestation and forest degradation drivers. The literature review suggested that the infancy of theories that adequately explain shifts from forest cover decline and degradation to forest cover increase and sustainable management. Deep analysis with local or landscape-scale case studies are necessary for sharing learning among the economies, including the role of forest governance, such as formal and informal, domestic and international institutions and their enforcement. This session aims to establish a platform to exchange success stories why forest cover increased through afforestation and forest restoration among the economies. We invite contributions that focus on analyzing factors driving forest cover changes, and map the policy to address these drivers and understand why works or not works with the state-of-arts theory including forest transition. This session will also contribute to the 2030 goals set in the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use.

Building pathways toward equity in biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation

Equity is a core principle of sustainability; however, current interventions aimed at enhancing biodiversity and mitigating climate change often fail to adequately address this connection. Promoting equity requires transdisciplinary solutions that bridge conservation and climate change science, policy, and international cooperation, ensuring that equity is prioritized in both processes and outcomes. This session offers a platform for sharing experiences in integrating equity into policy, science, and practice, as well as exploring key challenges and tensions. We invite contributions that focus on engaging and collaborating with policymakers and local communities, evidence-based policy design and decision-making, and the role of science at various spatial scales concerning the three dimensions of equity: distributional, procedural, and re-cognitional equity.

Governance of Forest Commons in a Changing Social, Economic, and Policy Context

Forest commons refer to forest resources collectively owned, used, or managed by communities or social groups. Historically, forest commons have been essential for local livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable resource management, particularly in rural and indigenous communities worldwide. However, ongoing social, economic, and policy transformations—including rapid economic development, demographic shifts, urbanization, policy decentralization, market integration, and evolving environmental governance frameworks—pose significant challenges and opportunities for the governance of forest commons. Understanding how governance arrangements adapt or fail to adapt in response to these transformations is critical for informing sustainable and equitable forest management policies. This session aims to foster scholarly dialogue on the dynamics, resilience, and sustainability of forest commons governance amid these profound contextual shifts. This session invites theoretical, empirical, and methodological contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following topics: 1) Institutional adaptation and evolution in forest commons governance; 2) Policy innovations and their implications for forest commons sustainability; 3) Impacts of economic and demographic transitions on local management practices; 4) Dynamics of and interactions between customary governance systems and state-led or market-based governance arrangements; 5) Emerging conflicts, cooperation, and negotiation strategies among stakeholders in forest governance.

Revisiting the State: Exploring Diverse Perspectives on Government's Role in Forest Governance

While decentralization and market-driven approaches have long shaped forest governance, escalating environmental pressures and recurring shortcomings of traditional governance models have sparked renewed debates over the state’s role. This session invites both theoretical and empirical contributions that critically examine the evolving involvement of governments in forest governance. We encourage submissions that offer diverse analytical frameworks, case studies, and policy insights to reimagine how state capacities can be revitalized in the face of contemporary challenges. Through interdisciplinary and cross-national dialogue, this session aims to illuminate new pathways for reinforcing the state's pivotal role in establishing resilient and sustainable forest governance systems. Submissions may explore, but are not limited to, the following themes: 1) State-Led Approaches Under Authoritarian Environmentalism: Examining cases where governments harness their authority and resources to implement decisive, large-scale environmental protection measures and deliver rapid responses to ecological challenges. 2) The State as a Meta-Governor: Investigating the potential of the state to serve as a coordinating hub—integrating market, hierarchical, and network mechanisms—to develop cohesive and adaptive governance frameworks. 3) Collaborative Platforms for Co-Governance and Policy Innovation: Discussing how governments can build multi-stakeholder platforms that foster dialogue, joint decision-making, and innovation, thereby bridging expertise across public, private, and civil society sectors.

Living-lab approaches: solutions for adapting forests to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service improvement

The urgency and scale of the global environmental challenges for scientists, stakeholders, and users of forest socio-ecosystems have made researching, testing, validating, and implementing adaptation solutions a major priority. Living labs provide a valuable opportunity to organize close collaborative research between scientists and stakeholders, ensuring that research questions are more closely aligned with stakeholder concerns. This section aims but not least: 1) practical experiences sharing among living lab to enhance science-society collaboration; 2) developing strategy and approaches involving various stakeholders, in particular local communities; and 3) developing tools, approaches, and resources to support the creation of forestry living labs.

Encouragement for Early-Career Researchers and Inclusivity
We particularly welcome proposals from early-career researchers, post-doctoral scholars, and interdisciplinary teams. Proposals that integrate perspectives from multiple disciplines or regions are encouraged, supporting IUFRO’s commitment to inclusivity and international collaboration.

Submission and Review Process
Session proposals should be submitted to IUFRO9Beijing@ruc.edu.cn in accordance to the below timelines. Submissions will be selected by the Organizing Committee merely based on quality.

Timelines and key dates

● Call for paper abstracts           May 15 - July 15 2025

● Notification of paper acceptance    before July 30 2025

● Pre-conference training camp         October 5 - 7 2025

● Conference              October 9 - 11 2025

Registration Fees:

Participants from developed countries: 400 US$.

Participants from developing countries: 200 US$.

Students including post-doc: 100 US$.

Financial Support
Renmin University of China and Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry will provide foods and drinks during the conference to all participants and up to 15 selected participants from developing countries for local support (funded by EU-China Integrative Forest Management for multiple ecosystem services and enhanced biodiversity, Grant number: 2023YFE0112800).   IFURO will provide some support to selected young participants through SPDC program.

Please send your registration form(Registration Form)and abstract to IUFRO9Beijing@ruc.edu.cn.

For further inquiries, please contact us at IUFRO9Beijing@ruc.edu.cn or visit

website: http://zhonglalvse888.texiaozhan.com/Conference/2025IUFROdiv9.