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 Wednesday of each month, starting from January 2024, 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: Broad issues in the regional forestry industry or forestry education. For example, regional forestry practice and forester training programs, curriculum changes in forestry education in the past ten years, forestry education exchange programs, regional career paths in forestry, and challenges and opportunities in forestry/forestry education.
Our Next Webinar:
AP-FECM webinar
Title: Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Global Forestry: AP-FECM’s Role in Sustainable Forestry Innovation and Education for the APEC Economies
Speaker: Dr. Cristián Bonacić
Department of Ecosystems & The Environment
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Time: Tue. April 23, 2024, 7-8 pm PST (Vancouver)
Zoom registration:
Abstract:
The APEC economies boast a significant portion of the world’s remaining forest area, with countries like Canada, China, and Chile actively engaged in tree-planting initiatives for various purposes, including habitat restoration and innovative utilization of plant-derived fibers. In this dynamic context, the global industry and forestry education mechanism face multifaceted challenges and opportunities, requiring continuous innovation across various domains. This talk aims to highlight four new educational dimensions to strengthen forestry curricula for the emerging challenges of the forestry industry within the APEC economies. Particularly focusing on skills for the global carbon market and climate change challenges, the human dimensions of forestry production and ecosystem services in urban environments, and the need for new skills to understand the current fast-paced technological challenges of the forest industry in a globalized world. The final aim of this talk is to demonstrate that forestry production and environmental conservation are not only possible but also essential in the 21st century.
Profiles:
Professor Cristian Bonacic holds the University Chair of Biodiversity and Sustainability (funded by CMPC Forestry company). With 35 years of research and teaching experience in forestry, his expertise encompasses ecology, biodiversity conservation and protected areas, climate change, and biodiversity. His research has pioneered the understanding of how business and biodiversity should be combined in a globalized world. Professor Bonacic’s work in innovating forestry curricula includes at least three significant academic processes over the last 25 years. As a leader in curricula innovation, he has contributed to the inclusion of conservation and ecology in forestry students’ curricula. The forestry program at Catholic University currently includes skills and theoretical content oriented toward achieving the sustainability triad and following sustainable development goals. Professor Bonacic serves as a Steering Committee member of the Asia Pacific Forestry Education Coordination Mechanism since 2023 and was a guest speaker at the Annual Chinese National Forestry Deans meeting in 2018. His current ecological work focuses on invasive alien species and forest fires globally on benchmarking sustainability and biodiversity strategies of the world’s largest forestry industries.
2024 Tentative Schedule
| Seminar time (Vancouver time) | On-duty Steering Committee (Host) | Invited Steering Committee | Speaker | Title |
| 5PM, January 10, 2024, | AP-FECM Executive Office | Dr. John Innes, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Canada | Dr. John Innes | Teaching about old-growth forests in a Faculty of Forestry: preservation or harvest? |
| 7PM, February 15, 2024 | Dr. John Innes | Dr. Mohammed Al-Amin, Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong University, Bangladesh | Dr. M. Al Amin | Climate resilient reforestation program to manage endangered tree species and conserve the watershed of river Halda in Bangladesh: a success story |
| 7PM, March 20, 2024 | Dr. Mohammed Al-Amin | Dr. Antanas Spokevicius, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia | Prof. Mark Hunt, University of Tasmania | National initiatives underway across the university sector to support the education in the plantation forest industry |
| 7PM, April 23, 2024 | Dr. Antanas Spokevicius | Dr. Cristián Bonacić, Department of Ecosystems & The Environment, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | Dr. Cristián Bonacić | Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Global Forestry: AP-FECM’s Role in Sustainable Forestry Innovation and Education for the APEC Economies |
| 7PM, May 01, 2024 | Dr. Cristián Bonacić | Dr. Xiong Li, Beijing Forestry University, China | Dr. Huaguo Huang, School of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, China | Smart Forestry |
| 7PM, June 05, 2024 | Dr. Xiong Li | Dr. Hao Ren, College of International Education, Nanjing Forestry University, China | Prof. Yuanchun Yu, Nanjing Forestry University | Current Status and Sustainable Management of Plantation in China |
| 7PM, July 03, 2024 | Dr. Hao Ren | Dr. Weibin Wang, Southwest Forestry University, China | Prof. Dr. Weibing WANG, Southwest Forestry University, China | The Close-to-nature Forest Management in Yunnan Province, CHINA |
| 7PM, August 07, 2024 | Dr. Weibin Wang | Dr. Baatarbileg Nachin, National University of Mongolia | Dr. Baatarbileg Nachin, National University of Mongolia | Deforestation over Central Asia: Empty breadbasket needs attention |
| 7PM, September 04, 2024 | Dr. Baatarbileg Nachin | Dr. Jorge Mario Chavez, Faculty of Forestry Sciences, La Molina National Agrarian University, Peru | ||
| 7PM, October 02, 2024 | 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 | ||
| 7PM, November 06, 2024 | Dr. Juan M. Pulhin | Dr. DKNG Pushpakumara, Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka | Prof. DKNG Pushpakumara | Prospects and challenges for Forestry and Forestry Education in Sri Lanka |
| 6PM, December 04, 2024 | Dr. DKNG Pushpakumara | Dr. Rachanee Pothitan, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Thailand | Dr. Damrong Pipatwattnakul | Opportunity and Obstacle in Higher Forestry Education: Lesson learned from FREAME Project |
| 6PM, January 08, 2025 | Dr. Rachanee Pothitan | Dr. Hoang Van Sam, Director of International Cooperation Division, Vietnam National University of Forestry | Dr. Hoang Van Sam | Bamboo in Vietnam: Products and Culture |