James Hutton Institute to host 2019 European Forest Institute Annual Conference

"The event aims to increase awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about Europe’s forests – and promote their versatility, significance and social impact, due to the role of forests in providing commodities, welfare, health and other social benefits"

Forests are the most important and versatile ecological infrastructure in Europe. Today, they cover 35% of the pan-European landscape, hosting an important share of biodiversity and providing products and services which support the resilience of rural areas and the wellbeing of urban ones. Forests also provide crucial ecosystem services, supporting the sustainability of critical resources like water and soil, and play a key role in adaptation and mitigation to climate change.

The James Hutton Institute has been announced as host of this year’s European Forest Institute Annual Conference, to be held in Aberdeen from the 18^th to the 20^th of September 2019. It will be organised in partnership with the Institute of Chartered Foresters, and with the support of Visit Scotland and the Aberdeen Convention & Events Bureau.

Similarly, Aberdeen has been distinguished as European Forest City 2019, following on the footsteps of previous European Forest Cities Sardinia (2018), Oslo (2017), Vienna (2016), St Petersburg (2015) and Bilbao (2014).

The event aims to increase awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about Europe’s forests – and promote their versatility, significance and social impact, due to the role of forests in providing commodities, welfare, health and other social benefits.

The conference’s scientific seminar will take place on 19^th September and will discuss the role of plantation and native forests in delivering multiple ecosystem benefits in a changing climate.

It is hoped that the seminar will be a great opportunity to understand how forests can contribute to respond to the increasing wood demand induced by bioeconomy emergence, the challenge they face and their capacity to deliver multiple ecosystem services with native or non-native species.

For more information about the 2019 EFI Annual Conference visit the EFI website.