23rd IUFRO Conference for Specialists in Air Pollution and Climate Change Effects on Forest Ecosystems

Rationale

Public concerns, evidence from research, and increasing scientific knowledge are all driving widespread discussions on air pollution, climate change, and forest health problems. There is evidence that effects of air pollutants on forests can be seen as a multi-pollutant, multi-effect problem for forest ecosystems. The impacts on forest ecosystems have been traditionally treated separately for air pollution and climate change. However, the combined effects may significantly differ from a sum of separate effects. Simultaneous addressing of air pollution and climate change effects on forests is an opportunity for capturing synergies in future research and monitoring.

Timberline associated forest ecosystems are of particular interest because they are expected to undergo significant changes within the next century. Compared to always occurring natural changes in conditions for tree and plant life which are commonly rather slow, current human induced global changes by contrast are more rapid.

Key topics

According to the frame work of the IUFRO Division 7.01.00 ‘Impacts of Air Pollution and Climate Change on Forest Ecosystems’, the major part of the conference will be structured around the five working groups of the division. A leading paper presented by an invited speaker will set the stage for each session. Each session will be complemented by complementary or contrasting views of participants, selected from the extended list of submitted abstracts. The designated chairs and rapporteurs of each session will combine the results and call for a plenary discussion after each session. The outcome of each session will be the basis for a review paper, published in a special issue on ‘Impacts of Air Pollution and Climate Change on Forest Ecosystems’ in a peer reviewed ISI journal.

Expected scientific impact

On behalf of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), this conference will bring scientists from different disciplines and policy makers together to communicate and discuss the latest developments in the above outlined research area. The IUFRO Division 7.01.00 will be organizing and hosting this conference, providing an international platform to encourage an interactive process between scientists, policy makers and representatives of local to regional governments and institutions, in order to share scientific knowledge and harmonize effective strategies aimed to reduce the risk for forests related to air pollution and climate change.

The conference will be attended by 146 participants representing 28 countries from Europe, North- and South America and Asia which will review the links between air pollution and climate change and their interactive effects on forest ecosystems. A simultaneous addressing of the air pollution and climate change effects on forests may result in more effective research, management and monitoring as well as better integration of local, national and global environmental policies.

The outcome will be published in special issues of renowned ISI journals.