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SILVA Network 2022 Conference: Higher Forestry education in times of multiple crises: crises as framework conditions, challenges and triggers for improvements
June 28, 2022 @ 12:00 pm - June 30, 2022 @ 6:00 pm
Resilience is the ability to emerge stronger from crisis situations. But how resilient is higher education in forestry? How does teaching and learning about forests address or respond to crises?
It could be said that higher education in forestry only really developed as a result of a crisis; in response to the devastation of forests and the great demand for wood for mining and smelting, Hans Carl von Carlowitz had already described a way out of the crisis in 1713. His idea of sustainable forestry had to be taught in order to become accepted in forestry practice. Since the found150ation of the first forest universities in the 19th century, forestry education has faced many crises that had left their impact on learning and teaching in forest sciences and related fields of study. Even today we are confronted with multiple crises like climate change, the Corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine. These crises set new frameworks, (re)define teaching topics, and influence society, forests, forestry, and the universities themselves. However, crises often also open up new perspectives for us, allow better alternatives to come into focus, and thus become a window for new opportunities. Crises often are the origin of improved practices and products.
Crises can occur at various timeframes (short-, medium-, long-term) or scale (local, regional, global). At the global level, climate change and the Corona pandemic in particular have influenced forestry teaching for several years. Transnationally, we are experiencing environmental hazards as well as economic, demographic and armed crises. Locally, we are dealing with criticism of forest management and timber production practices. At the micro level, we are repeatedly facing new problems and challenges in teaching. These crises affect us as individuals and as a society and can require changes in issues, organization, infrastructure, and resources. Are we addressing these adequately?
Draft Programme
Tuesday: 28th June 2022, 12:00 – 17:30. Conference opening, Welcome addresses, Keynote speeches, Technical Session
Wednesday: 29th June 2022, 09:00 – 18:30. Technical Sessions, General Assembly
Thursday: 30th June 2022, 08:30 – 18:00. Field visit to the forests of County Wicklow