Picture source: UBC Forestry
To engage the AP-FECM Steering Committee in advancing innovation in forestry education in the AP-FECM region and keep our communication regular, the AP-FECM Executive Office (EO) has proposed and coordinated the AP-FECM Online Seminar with the confirmation from the AP-FECM Steering Committee.
This seminar will be organized by each AP-FECM Steering Committee on a rotational basis. The on-duty steering committee is responsible for contacting the speaker and promoting the event within their universities and regions. The invited steering committee can give the talk or recommend one expert to give the talk. EO can help promote the seminars to all AP-FECM members and post them on the AP-FECM website. The seminar will be recorded and posted online.
Seminar time: The first Thursday of each month, can be adjusted to another day if necessary.
Seminar frequency and duration: Once per month, 1 hour each time. 45 min presentation+15 min Q&A is recommended.
Seminar topics: In 2025, our webinar focuses on the theme of innovation and new trends in forestry and forestry education. As a result of rapid climate change, biodiversity loss and new technological advances, the continued importance of forests to humans, and the threats that forests face, the careers of forestry professionals are evolving rapidly, especially in the Asia Pacific region. Higher forestry education in the Asia Pacific region has been evolving rapidly over the past few years to keep up with the evolving trends in the forestry sector and to accommodate the needs of students and society.
Innovation and new trends in forestry or forestry education can be shared in the webinars, for example, new trends in technology in forestry, teaching pedagogy, conceptual developments, paradigm shifts and program and curriculum innovation are all suitable topics for webinars.
Our Next Webinar:
AP-FECM webinar
Title: Forestry Education and Professional Practice in Chile
Speaker: Prof. Pablo I. Becerra
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Forestry Engineer with a Ph.D. in Ecological Sciences
Time: Thur. May 08, 2025, 7–8 PM PST (Vancouver)
Zoom Link:
Meeting ID:
Passcode:
Abstract:
The presentation will begin with an overview of the types and distribution of forests and other ecosystems of forestry interest in Chile, along with a brief summary of the process of degradation and loss of forest ecosystems in the country. Secondly, the talk will outline the various professional paths currently pursued by forestry engineers in Chile. Finally, it will present the undergraduate and postgraduate opportunities for forestry education in Chile, and explain how the forestry education program at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile is designed to encompass the full range of forestry-related activities in which students may become engaged.
Profile:
My research focuses on vegetation ecology, particularly the roles of climate, biotic interactions, and disturbances—especially wildfires—in vegetation regeneration and successional processes. I am also interested in developing ecological restoration strategies for degraded environments. Most of my research has been conducted in Mediterranean-type ecosystems in central Chile.
Currently, I teach Forest Ecology and Plant Biodiversity at the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Systems of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Since last year, I have also served as Director of the Forestry Engineering Program at the Faculty.
2025 Tentative Schedule
| Seminar time (Vancouver time) | On-duty Steering Committee (Host) | Invited Steering Committee | Speaker | Title |
| 6 PM, February 27, 2025, | AP-FECM Executive Office | Dr. John Innes, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Canada | Dr. Orlando Rojas, University of British Columbia | Bioinnovation Accelerates Through a Cross-Disciplinary Framework |
| 6PM, March 06, 2025 | Dr. John Innes | Dr. Antanas Spokevicius, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia | Dr. Christopher Weston, Associate Professor (Forest Eco, Fire & Soils), University of Melbourne | Forestry Education in Australia – Engaging the Forest Sector |
| 7PM, April 22, 2025 | Dr. Antanas Spokevicius | Dr. Mohammed Al-Amin, Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong University, Bangladesh | Dr. Guangyu Wang, Associate Dean and Associate Professor, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia | Forest Therapy: Healing Power from Forests — Origin, Theories, Challenges, and Opportunities |
| 7PM, May 08, 2025 | Dr. Mohammed Al-Amin | Dr. Cristián Bonacić, Department of Ecosystems & The Environment, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | Prof. Pablo I. Becerra, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | Forestry Education and Professional Practice in Chile |
| 7PM, June 05, 2025 | Dr. Cristián Bonacić | Dr. Xiong Li, Beijing Forestry University, China | ||
| 7PM, July 03, 2025 | Dr. Xiong Li | Dr. Hao Ren, College of International Education, Nanjing Forestry University, China | ||
| 7PM, August 07, 2025 | Dr. Hao Ren | Dr. Weibin Wang, Southwest Forestry University, China | ||
| 7PM, September 04, 2025 | Dr. Weibin Wang | Dr. Baatarbileg Nachin, National University of Mongolia | ||
| 7PM, October 02, 2025 | Dr. Baatarbileg Nachin | Dr. Jorge Mario Chavez, Faculty of Forestry Sciences, La Molina National Agrarian University, Peru | ||
| 7PM, November 06, 2025 | Dr. Jorge Mario Chavez | Dr. Juan M. Pulhin, Department of Social Forestry and Forest Governance, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Philippines Los Baños, Philippines | ||
| 6PM, December 04, 2025 | Dr. Juan M. Pulhin | Dr. DKNG Pushpakumara, Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka | ||
| 6PM, January 01, 2026 | Dr. DKNG Pushpakumara | Dr. Rachanee Pothitan, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Thailand | ||
| 6PM, February 05, 2026 | Dr. Rachanee Pothitan | Dr. Hoang Van Sam, Director of International Cooperation Division, Vietnam National University of Forestry | ||