Branching out

IUFRO

Welcome to Branching out: the forest podcast, where we connect forests, science and people. We aim to break down complex forest related topics so you can discover the role of forests and trees for people and nature, and also inform you about what is going on in the world of forest research. This podcast is brought to you by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations, IUFRO.

DISCLAIMER

The views and opinions expressed in the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy and position of IUFRO. Their appearance on the show does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

Play

Open in

20 episodes
every few months
Avg 25 min
English

Episodes 20

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Monday · 37 min
Episode 7: Under real-world conditions
Season 3 of Branching Out: The Forest Podcast explores how IUFRO scientists work across disciplines to address emerging issues through Task Forces. In the seventh episode, we focus on the IUFRO Task Force on Forest Living Labs for Sustainable Climate Adaptation (FORLIVS) and will hear how effective solutions start with listening, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. Host Gerda Wolfrum from IUFRO Headquarters and co-host Ritikaa Gupta, a forest communication consultant based in Italy and IUFRO Communications Working Party Deputy Coordinator, spoke with Task Force co-leads Claire Depardieu, Atlantic Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, and Maria Nijnik, Principal Researcher at The James Hutton Institute, UK. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast! Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to follow us! Visit: https://www.iufro.org/podcast
S3 · E6
July 22 · 31 min
Episode 6: In difficult terrain
Season 3 of Branching Out: The Forest Podcast explores how IUFRO scientists work across disciplines to address emerging issues through Task Forces. In the sixth episode, we focus on the IUFRO Task Force on Health, Safety and Social Dimensions of Forest Restoration Operations and will learn what it takes for restoration to be successful especially from a forest operations perspective. Host Gerda Wolfrum from IUFRO Headquarters and co-host Sara Santiago from The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment in the USA, and IUFRO Communications Working Party Deputy Coordinator, spoke with Task Force co-leads Nate Anderson, Research and Development, U.S. Forest Service, Missoula, MT, and Jay Kim, Texas A&M University, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, USA. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast! Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to follow us! Find this and other podcast episodes at: https://www.iufro.org/podcast
S3 · E5
June 25 · 30 min
Episode 5: Raised to solve problems
Season 3 of Branching Out: The Forest Podcast explores how IUFRO scientists work across disciplines to address emerging issues through Task Forces. In the fifth episode, we focus on the IUFRO Task Force Stand Complexity in Planted Forests and discuss the resilience and value of planted forests, and the need to address common misconceptions. Host Gerda Wolfrum from IUFRO Headquarters and co-host Clarissa Chimeremeze Enyi, Nigeria, from the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA), spoke with Task Force co-leads Christophe Orazio, Institut Européen de la Forêt Cultivée (IEFC), France, and Tim Payn, Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao, New Zealand. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast! Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to follow us! https://www.iufro.org/podcast
S3 · E4
June 1 · 30 min
Episode 4: For the love of trees and water
Season 3 of Branching Out: The Forest Podcast, hosted by Gerda Wolfrum from IUFRO HQ, explores how IUFRO scientists work across disciplines to address emerging issues through Task Forces. In the fourth episode, we discuss the relationship between forests, water, livelihoods and governance, including the vital importance of forests for the quality and quantity of drinking water. Hear from Task Force co-leads Mingfang Zhang from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, and Nadeem Shah from Forest Research, Great Britain, along with co-host Lubna Anfaresi from the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA), joining from Indonesia. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast! Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to follow us! https://www.iufro.org/podcast
S3 · E3
May 5 · 29 min
Episode 3: Not a moral add-on
Season 3 of Branching Out: The Forest Podcast, hosted by Gerda Wolfrum from IUFRO HQ, explores how IUFRO scientists work across disciplines to address emerging issues through Task Forces. In the third episode, we discuss the importance of gender equity, diversity, and inclusion (GEDI) in forest-related sectors, how excluding people and their knowledge from decision-making affects outcomes, and how embedding GEDI can create positive change. Hear from Task Force co-leads Todora Rogelia from the University of Padova, Italy, and Rattiya Lippe from the Thuenen Institute of Forestry, Germany, along with co-host Bashir Isiya from the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA), joining from Nigeria. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast! Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to follow us! https://www.iufro.org/podcast
S3 · E2
March 16 · 31 min
Episode 2: New ways of doing things
Season 3 of Branching Out: The Forest Podcast, hosted by Gerda Wolfrum from IUFRO HQ, explores how IUFRO scientists work across disciplines to address emerging issues through Task Forces. In the second episode we discuss why innovation matters in the forest sector, the different forms it takes, and how science underpins scaling up of innovation. Hear from Task Force co-leads Lyndall Bull, an Australian forester specializing in innovation and the bioeconomy, and Rajat Panwar, a professor of responsible and sustainable business at Oregon State University, along with co-host Leila Rossa Mouawad from the American University of Beirut and Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO’s Communication Working Party. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast! Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to follow us! Podcast website: https://www.iufro.org/podcast
S3 · E1
February 17 · 27 min
Episode 1: Breaking down silos
Season 3 of Branching Out: the forest podcast, hosted by Gerda Wolfrum from IUFRO HQ, aims to explore how scientists in IUFRO work across disciplines to tackle emerging topics. This work takes place in Task Forces, and the first episode talks about bioeconomy and how to build an integrated vision of the forest-based sector within a bioeconomy. It features Ivana Živojinović, a senior scientist at Boku University in Vienna, Austria, and Ricardo Vargas Carpintero, based in Colombia, who recently obtained his PhD from the University of Hohenheim, Germany, along with co-host Fernanda Gonzalez from IUFRO HQ. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast! Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to follow us! Podcast website: https://www.iufro.org/podcast
S2 · E9
Dec 18, 2025 · 26 min
Episode 9: Not About Trees
The final episode of Season 2 of Branching Out: The Forest Podcast, hosted by Jose Bolaños from IUFRO HQ, focused on IUFRO Scientific Division 9 – Forest Policy and Economics. The episode features Janette Bulkan from the University of British Columbia in Canada and Lukas Giessen from the Technical University Dresden in Germany, along with co-host Gerda Wolfrum from IUFRO HQ. Janette and Lukas coordinate Working Parties on Indigenous peoples and forest landscapes and A.I. methods in forest social sciences, respectively. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast! Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to follow us! More at iufro.org!
S2 · E8
Nov 5, 2025 · 15 min
Episode 8: Holistic approach to forest environment
This episode, hosted by Jose Bolaños from IUFRO HQ, focused on IUFRO Scientific Division 8 – Forest Environment. The episode, featuring Co-Coordinators Alexia Stokes (INRAE, France) and Chabi Djagoun (University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin), along with co-host Paz Constanza Zenteno Painemal (Conny), from IFSA and an intern at IUFRO HQ, delved into the crucial role forest science plays in confronting global environmental challenges. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast! Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts, and don't forget to follow us! More at iufro.org!
S2 · E7
Sep 18, 2025 · 23 min
Episode 7: What is a Healthy Forest?
In Episode 7, host Jose Bolaños (IUFRO HQ) and co-host Raghav Sharma from the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA) spoke with Tod Ramsfield (Natural Resources Canada/University of Alberta) and Maartje Klapwijk (Swedish University of Agricultural Science), Co-Coordinators of Division 7, Forest Health. They explained that their Division focuses on the interactions between trees and harmful biotic impacts, which are broadly divided into forest pathology (diseases, often caused by fungi) and forest entomology (insects). Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast! Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts, and don't forget to follow us!
S2 · E6
Jul 31, 2025 · 12 min
Episode 6: From tree-only to participation
In this episode, we talk about the work of IUFRO’s Division 6: Social Aspects of Forests and Forestry. Hosted by Jose Bolaños, IUFRO HQ, and Ngozi Edum, IFSA, this episode features Purabi Bose, Co-Coordinator of Division 6. For too long, the social dimension of forests and forestry was seen as a "soft skill", with people's participation often overlooked. This episode addresses that challenge, emphasizing that people's participation is crucial. You'll uncover how Division 6 serves as a key platform, fostering cooperation and interdisciplinary communication within the scientific community. More at iufro.org
S2 · E5
Jun 11, 2025 · 21 min
Episode 5: A century of wood
In this episode of Branching Out, host Jose Bolaños is joined by Franka Brüchert and Roger Meder, Co-Coordinators of IUFRO Division 5 Forest Products, to explore how wood can define the 21st century. From traditional timber to cutting-edge innovations like beech wood textiles featured at Berlin Fashion Week, the conversation dives into the versatility, sustainability, and future potential of forest products. Discover how wood is reclaiming its place in architecture, fashion, and global markets—and why Division 5 is considered the heart of forestry.
S2 · E4
Apr 23, 2025 · 24 min
Episode 4: Modelling the Future of Forests
How can we manage forests for a future we can’t fully predict? In this episode of Branching Out: The Forest Podcast, we dive into the work of IUFRO Division 4—Forest Assessment, Modelling and Management. Co-coordinators Dr. Bianca Eskelson and Dr. Don Hodges share how data, simulation tools, and emerging technologies like AI are helping forest scientists and decision-makers explore alternative futures. From wildfire risk to green jobs, we explore the science behind forest planning in an uncertain world—and why local knowledge and collaboration remain essential. If you're curious about the future of forest science, this episode is for you. Presented by Jose Bolaños (IUFRO HQ) and Nele Römer (IFSA).
S2 · E3
Mar 5, 2025 · 14 min
Episode 3: The how of forestry
Dante Bertocci (International Forestry Students’ Association, IFSA) joins Jose Bolaños (IUFRO HQ) to talk to one of Co-Coordinators of IUFRO Division 3: Forest Operations, Engineering, and Management. René Zamora-Cristales (Oregon State University and World Resources Institute) explains that this Division focuses on how forestry activities are carried out - from seed collection and forest restoration to logging and resource management. He emphasizes that forest operations go far beyond timber harvesting, playing a key role in biodiversity conservation and forest landscape restoration. He also highlights that meeting global restoration targets, such as 350 million ha of forest landscapes by 2030 goal set by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, requires careful planning. Without proper operations and engineering, even well-intentioned restoration efforts can fall short. We invite you to tune in to the Branching Out: the forest podcast. Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts, and don't forget to follow and review! More info at iufro.org
S2 · E2
Jan 16, 2025 · 23 min
Episode 2: Tree functions and the genes that drive them
Nilo Wijaya (IFSA), a forest policy student at the University of Gadjah Mada in Indonesia, joins Jose Bolaños (IUFRO HQ) to discuss IUFRO Division 2 Physiology and Genetics with Amanda de la Torre (Nothern Arizona University) and Santiago González-Martínez (INRAE), Division Co-coordinators. Santiago shared his fascination with conifers, showcasing their remarkable adaptations to diverse environments, such as fire resistance of species in the Canary Islands, and Amanda reflected on her journey from studying Amazonian trees in Peru to exploring the genomic complexities of conifers like Douglas fir. From Gymnosperms to the transformative power of genomics, this episode offers a whole spectrum of tools for our forests' survival. We invite you to tune in to the Branching Out: the forest podcast. Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts, and don't forget to follow and review! More info at iufro.org
S2 · E1
Nov 20, 2024 · 24 min
Episode 1: Care of the forests
The first episode of the podcast second season features Division 1, Silviculture, with its two new co-coordinators: Pil Sun Park from Seoul National University, Republic of Korea, and Teresa De Jesus Fidalgo Fonseca from the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal. The guest host for this episode is Alexander Watson from the International Forestry Students' Association (IFSA) and a master's student in Tropical Silviculture and Forest Ecology at the Georg-August University of Göttingen in Germany. The podcast begins with an introduction, brings out some personal experiences, participation in the Division's work, current scientific findings, and upcoming projects and conferences. Get to know the two coordinators better, discover what excites them, and learn about one moment that was most formative in their career. The two guests also debunk the misconception that silviculture is solely focused on increasing timber yield. Read more at iufro.org
S1 · E6
Apr 29, 2024 · 23 min
Episode 6: The way forward for forests, science and people
In this special episode, Jose Bolaños from IUFRO HQ talked with Daniela Kleinschmit, professor of forest and environmental policy at the University of Freiburg, Germany, and incoming President of IUFRO; Woodam Chung, professor of forest engineering at Oregon State University, U.S.A., and incoming IUFRO Vice-President for Divisions; and Isabelle Claire Dela Paz, President of the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA). One of the highlights of the discussion was the outlook on the upcoming IUFRO World Congress in Stockholm this summer. Our guests shared their expectations for this global gathering, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing. From climate change to biodiversity loss, they underlined the myriad of challenges facing the forest research community in the coming years and highlighted innovative approaches to tackle those. And it becomes clear that collaboration, innovation, and youth engagement will be essential in addressing the complex scenarios ahead. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast on your favourite platform or visit our website to access this episode. And don’t forget to subscribe, share, and join us on this podcasting adventure. More info at iufro.org
S1 · E5
Feb 7, 2024 · 32 min
Episode 5: Forests for Sustainable Societies
This episode delves into four distinct sections, each shedding light on crucial aspects of the IUFRO World Congress 2024 theme "Forests for Sustainable Societies." We are excited to present the newest episode of Branching Out. Join us as we discuss nature-based solutions (NBS) and links between forests and human health, power and equity in the forest sector and the complexity of forest governance. Co-hosted by Yasmeen Sands from the USDA Forest Service and Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO‘s Communications and Public Relations Working Party, with Harini Nagendra, Director of the Azim Premji University Research Center and leader of the University’s Center for Climate Change and Sustainability (and keynote speaker at the Congress), Cecil Konijnendijk, Director of the Nature Based Solutions Institute, chaired the Global Forest Expert Panel (GFEP) on Forests and Human Health, Judith Kamoto from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi, and Mónica Gabay, Coordinator of IUFRO Division 9 on Forest Policy and Economics. We explore how forests are linked to various aspects of sustainable societies, from nature-based solutions and urban forestry, to human well-being and poverty eradication, and to forest ownership, power and equity in the forest sector. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast on your favourite platform or visit our website to access this episode. And don’t forget to subscribe, share, and join us on this podcasting adventure. More info at iufro.org
S1 · E4
Nov 27, 2023 · 25 min
Episode 4: How Biodiversity and Forest Ecosystem Services shape our world
On this episode, we discuss the relationship between biodiversity and other services our forests provide. Featuring co-host Peter Edwards, senior researcher at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, New Zealand, along with Sally Aitken, from University of British Columbia, Marjana Westergren from the Slovenian Forest Institute, K.M.A. Bandara Conservator General of Forests from Sri Lanka, and Nazmus Sadath from Khulna University in Bangladesh, who together provide information about genetics, society's role in halting biodiversity loss and two case studies. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast on your favourite platform or visit our website to access this episode. And don’t forget to subscribe, share, and join us on this podcasting adventure. More info at iufro.org
S1 · E3
Sep 20, 2023 · 22 min
Episode 3: Forest in clothes, food and medicine?
On this episode, we venture into responsible forest bioeconomy. Listen how forest bioeconomy contributes to sequestering carbon, mitigating climate change, creating jobs and developing rural areas. Featuring co-host Ida Wallin, from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), along with Anne Toppinen from University of Helsinki, Nellie Oduor from the Kenyan Forest Research Institute, Verónica Loewe Muñoz from the Instituto Forestal de Chile, and Jinlong Liu from the Renmin University of China, who together provide a vast list of examples from Africa, Latin America and Asia. New products, use of biomass challenges and innovating actions. Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast on your favourite platform or visit our website to access this episode. And don’t forget to subscribe, share, and join us on this podcasting adventure. More info at iufro.org

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes