Prof Ilaria Germishuizen (ICFR), Prof Brett Hurley (FABI) and Dr Wegayehu Fitawek (FABI) joined researchers, forestry practitioners and policymakers across Africa and internationally at the IUFRO Small-Scale Forestry and Forest History and Traditional Knowledge Joint Conference, held at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) in July 2026.
The conference focused on the supply of forest products and services from small-scale forests, agroforestry, farms, and community lands, providing an ideal opportunity to showcase research contributions from ICFR and FABI in the ACIAR-funded project ‘Management of pests and diseases of forest crops in Ethiopia’.
This project is a collaboration between the University of the Sunshine Coast, ICFR, FABI, CIFOR and Ethiopian Forestry Development (EFD) that aims to strengthen smallholder forestry in Ethiopia through species diversification, improved site-species matching, enhanced resilience to pests and diseases and capacity development.
The conference presentations and field visit to smallholder farms emphasised the diverse stakeholders in forestry and that small growers, agroforestry systems and community-managed trees have an important role to play in supplying products, supporting rural livelihoods and helping to address deforestation, habitat degradation and climate change. It was also a valuable platform for strengthening professional networks and highlighting the potential of extending knowledge and innovations developed in one part of Africa for solutions elsewhere on the continent.