1. GLOBAL SITUATION AND TRENDS IN FOREST RELATED RESEARCH
XXII IUFRO WORLD CONGRESS
PRESIDENT’S DISCUSSION
GLOBAL SITUATION AND TRENDS
IN FOREST RELATED RESEARCH
Peter Mayer

2. Contents Statistics of replies Research priorities Driving factors
Research infrastructure
Financing trends
Partners
The role of IUFRO

3. Replies by Divisions
172 responses to questionnaire

4. Replies by regions

5. Research priorities ten years ago
air pollution
biodiversity
forest dieback
forest operations
genetics
SFM and certification
wood quality

6. Research priorities today
agro forestry
climate change
carbon sequestration
forest restoration
plantations
policy and governance
sustainable use of wood and NWGS
wood consumption

7. Future research priorities
adaptation of forests to climate change
Biotechnology
forests and landscape (and restoration)
forests and water
GMO
reduced impact logging
recreation and valuation of NWGS
social aspects (incl. gender, forest workers, communication)

8. Driving factors for forest research
other factors: effects of global markets, public opinion

9. Changes in research infrastructure

10. Mergers with other institutes
New names: natural resources, environment

11. Financing trends

12. Average decrease of funds
National public %
National private %
International public 32%
International private 38%

13. Financing trends

14. Average increase of funds
International public 43%
National public %
National private %
International private 24%

15. Future financing means

16. Main partners for forest research
ecosystem research
environmental sciences
genetics
modelling
policy science
soil science
wood science

17. Future Partners for forest research
agro forestry
biotechnology
economical sciences
environmental science
health sciences
microbiology
social and policy sciences

18. The role of IUFRO for scientists

19. The role of IUFRO for collaboration

20. Conclusions
Research priorities over the last ten years have shifted from more technical to environmental issues
For the future an increasing focus on social issues is expected
Infrastructure and financing trends for forest related research vary
A decrease in national public funding has taken place in many countries
A majority identifies national public funds as main funding source of the future
The role of IUFRO for science collaboration is rather positive