The Forestry Science Symposium: Showcasing Research and Innovation for a Sustainable Forestry Sector

Two months after the first in-person Forestry Science Symposium (FSS), since 2017, wrapped up on November 27, 2024, we take a moment to reflect on an event filled with inspiring, world-class research, which brought together a remarkable collection of minds with a single vision to create ‘a sustainable Forestry Sector’.

A total of 51 forestry researchers representing growers, universities, and forestry institutes shared their work during eleven sessions led by esteemed academics in their fields. The presentations covered a wide range of pertinent topics, including dynamic breeding, climate change adaptation, biotic threats, biodiversity, forest products, and precision forestry. The presenters varied from master’s students making their debut to seasoned academics sharing insights from their global research. Despite the diversity in age, background, and experience, the quality of research remained exceptionally high, earning applause from 209 delegates representing various sectors.

FSS Awards

While every presenter should take pride in their contributions, four individuals distinguished themselves and were recognized with special awards:

• Dr. Jacob Crous received the Best Full Presentation – Open Category for his insightful research on climate change predictions and adaptation in plantation forestry.
• Michelle Pretorius was awarded Best Full Presentation – Top Student for her work on bark-stripping behaviour in baboons, utilizing accelerometery.
• Dr. Danvir Ramesar took home the title of Best Speed Talk – Open Category for his assessment of Near InfraRed Spectroscopy in monitoring soil carbon and nitrogen pools in forestry soils.
• Nigel Kombora was recognized with Best Speed Talk – Top Student for his compelling analysis of defoliating insects and their impact on the productivity of E. dunnii through artificial defoliation.

In addition to the presentations, delegates were presented with 27 posters showcasing a diverse range of research across the forestry value chain. Among them, Lihan Esterhuizen’s poster earned the distinction of Best Poster, standing out for its exceptional quality.

A heartfelt thank you goes to the symposium’s sponsors: Creation Breeding Innovations, for supporting the Cocktail Party, Envu and Henchem, which each sponsored a session, and the generous contributions to the conference bags by Sappi, NCT Forestry, Envu, Pangolin, and Bluu.

Karin Nagel, CEO of ICFR, expressed her pride in the event’s success: “It was an immense honour to be selected as the first FSS hosting partner since its reinvention. Collaborating with Forestry South Africa and the South African Institute of Forestry, we delivered an exceptional event that exceeded our high expectations. The quality of presenters, the engagement of delegates, and the overall atmosphere were remarkable. I want to especially acknowledge our behind-the-scenes team; while there are too many to mention individually, their efforts were fundamental to the success of this symposium.”

As we look ahead, the momentum from this symposium lays a promising foundation for continued innovation and research in the forestry sector, ensuring a sustainable future for plantation forestry in South Africa.Top of Form