In this episode of Branching Out , host Jose Bolaños is joined by Franka Brüchert and Roger Meder, Co-Coordinators of IUFRO Division 5 Forest Products, to explore how wood can define the 21st century. From traditional timber to cutting-edge innovations like beech wood textiles featured at Berlin Fashion Week, the conversation dives into the versatility, sustainability, and future potential of forest products. Discover how wood is reclaiming its place in architecture, fashion, and global markets—...
Jun 11, 2025•21 min•Season 2Ep. 5
How can we manage forests for a future we can’t fully predict? In this episode of Branching Out: The Forest Podcast , we dive into the work of IUFRO Division 4—Forest Assessment, Modelling and Management. Co-coordinators Dr. Bianca Eskelson and Dr. Don Hodges share how data, simulation tools, and emerging technologies like AI are helping forest scientists and decision-makers explore alternative futures. From wildfire risk to green jobs, we explore the science behind forest planning in an uncerta...
Apr 23, 2025•24 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Dante Bertocci (International Forestry Students’ Association, IFSA) joins Jose Bolaños (IUFRO HQ) to talk to one of Co-Coordinators of IUFRO Division 3: Forest Operations, Engineering, and Management. René Zamora-Cristales (Oregon State University and World Resources Institute) explains that this Division focuses on how forestry activities are carried out - from seed collection and forest restoration to logging and resource management. He emphasizes that forest operations go far beyond timber ha...
Mar 05, 2025•14 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Nilo Wijaya (IFSA), a forest policy student at the University of Gadjah Mada in Indonesia, joins Jose Bolaños (IUFRO HQ) to discuss IUFRO Division 2 Physiology and Genetics with Amanda de la Torre (Nothern Arizona University) and Santiago González-Martínez (INRAE) , Division Co-coordinators. Santiago shared his fascination with conifers, showcasing their remarkable adaptations to diverse environments, such as fire resistance of species in the Canary Islands, and Amanda reflected on her journey f...
Jan 16, 2025•23 min•Season 2Ep. 2
The first episode of the podcast second season features Division 1, Silviculture , with its two new co-coordinators: Pil Sun Park from Seoul National University, Republic of Korea, and Teresa De Jesus Fidalgo Fonseca from the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal. The guest host for this episode is Alexander Watson from the International Forestry Students' Association ( IFSA ) and a master's student in Tropical Silviculture and Forest Ecology at the Georg-August University of Götti...
Nov 20, 2024•24 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this special episode, Jose Bolaños from IUFRO HQ talked with Daniela Kleinschmit , professor of forest and environmental policy at the University of Freiburg, Germany, and incoming President of IUFRO; Woodam Chung , professor of forest engineering at Oregon State University, U.S.A., and incoming IUFRO Vice-President for Divisions; and Isabelle Claire Dela Paz , President of the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA). One of the highlights of the discussion was the outlook on the ...
Apr 29, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 6
This episode delves into four distinct sections, each shedding light on crucial aspects of the IUFRO World Congress 2024 theme "Forests for Sustainable Societies." We are excited to present the newest episode of Branching Out. Join us as we discuss nature-based solutions (NBS) and links between forests and human health, power and equity in the forest sector and the complexity of forest governance. Co-hosted by Yasmeen Sands from the USDA Forest Service and Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO‘s Communica...
Feb 07, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 5
On this episode, we discuss the relationship between biodiversity and other services our forests provide. Featuring co-host Peter Edwards, senior researcher at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, New Zealand, along with Sally Aitken, from University of British Columbia, Marjana Westergren from the Slovenian Forest Institute, K.M.A. Bandara Conservator General of Forests from Sri Lanka, and Nazmus Sadath from Khulna University in Bangladesh, who together provide information about genetics, societ...
Nov 27, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 4
On this episode, we venture into responsible forest bioeconomy. Listen how forest bioeconomy contributes to sequestering carbon, mitigating climate change, creating jobs and developing rural areas. Featuring co-host Ida Wallin, from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), along with Anne Toppinen from University of Helsinki, Nellie Oduor from the Kenyan Forest Research Institute, Verónica Loewe Muñoz from the Instituto Forestal de Chile, and Jinlong Liu from the Renmin University ...
Sep 20, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Originally published on 1 June 2010, during this podcast, Tarun Bathija interviews Michael Kleine (IUFRO-SPDC Project Coordinator) to get a better understanding of the International Union of Forest Research Organization's - Special Program for Developing Countries. The mission of the Special Programme for Developing Countries (in short IUFRO-SPDC) is to expand and foster forest research capacity in developing and economically disadvantaged countries. According to the programme's strategy for 200...
Aug 18, 2023•8 min
Explore what stresses forests and how society responds in our latest podcast episode We are excited to present the newest episode of Branching Out. Join us as we discuss the topic of strengthening forest resilience and adaptation. Listen how people, trees and ecosystems adapt and resist to stress. Featuring co-host Ewa Hermanowicz, from FSC and Coordinator of IUFRO’s Communication and public relations working party, along with Lucy Amissah from Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Andrew Liebho...
Jun 28, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Branching out: the forest podcast first episode with Elena Paoletti, Fredrik Ingemarson, John Parrotta and Sarah Burns chatting about what you can expect from the IUFRO World Congress 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden. Hosted by Jose Bolaños (IUFRO HQ) and featuring Jennifer Hayes, US Forest Service. Do not miss it and share the podcast with your friends and colleagues.
Mar 31, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1
During this podcast, Tarun Bathija interviews Alexander Buck(IUFRO-SPDC Project Coordinator) to get a better understanding of the International Union of Forest Research Organization's - Global Forest Expert Panel Programme, which provides a mechanism for effectively communicating information and scientific expertise to governments and intergovernmental processes related to forests and trees.
Jul 14, 2010•5 min
In this IUFRO podcast episode, Tarun Bathija interviews Gerardo Mery who is the project coordinator of one of IUFRO's special programs, IUFRO-WFSE. The Special Project on World Forests, Society and Environment (IUFRO-WFSE) is a global, open, non-profit, collaborative network of scientist and experts steered by ten international research organizations. On the basis of existing scientific knowledge, IUFRO-WFSE looks for innovative solutions to support and advance the formulation and implementation...
Apr 19, 2010•12 min
The Global Forest Information Service (GFIS) provides the framework to share forest-related information through a single gateway at www.gfis.net. It promotes the dissemination and sharing of forest and tree-related information and knowledge among the global forestry community by developing common information exchange standards, building capacity and enhancing partnerships among forestry information providers and users. This podcast is an introduction to GFIS, how it works exactly, what its futur...
Feb 02, 2010•7 min
