A conversation exploring the intersection between our future forests and young forest stewards

Written by: Ritikaa Gupta

On day two of the XV World Forestry Congress, we hosted a fireside-style chat, A conversation exploring the intersection between our future forests and young forest stewardswhich welcomed a panel of intergenerational forest professionals from Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

From a forest engineer to a trade forester, a sociologist, a policy maker, an agroforester, and a data analyst -- the audience who ‘sat around the campfire’ with these diverse individuals were able to participate in an honest and open intergenerational conversation that illustrated the distinct ways youth and young forest professionals are positively influencing various aspects of forests and the forest sector. Each panelist was first invited to ‘plant the seeds’ and share how they began their journey in the forest sector, and then continued ‘growing their roots’ through an open question-and-answer (ask me anything) period directly amongst one another and with the hybrid audience.

The conversation was rich and discussed several topics, one of which touched upon how their contributions to forest sustainability take shape in many ways. For example: 

  • Esteban Barriga works closely with forest-dependent Indigenous communities in Ecuador

  • Amina Maalim interacts with forests through agroforestry-related research and youth mentorship in her community

  • Davia Carty makes decisions that support forest management planning practices in Jamaica

  • Hyeonju Ryu analyzes data to assess the impacts of deforestation-free measures that impact the global trade market

  • Kim Carstensen plays a lead role in supporting the development of certification standards to ensure that wood is harvested responsibly and sustainably in different countries

  • Ronnakorn Triraganon works directly with forest communities to improve their capacities and enable them in managing their community forests

The six panelists, through their various capacities, collectively contribute to the health and sustainability of forests and the well-being of forest-based communities. Their contributions extend beyond the forest floor. 

The conversation was guided through the co-moderation of Dana Collins and Khalil Walji who summed up the conversation in the following ways:  

  • There is a diversity of worlds within forestry where multiple subjects interact including climate, endangered species, soil health, and biodiversity, and youth and young forest professionals are managing all these complex interactions on the ground daily - Dana Collins 

  • As forests continue to be threatened by environmental and anthropogenic pressures, solutions to maintain the sustainability of forests are not simple nor immediately clear. The diversity present within the sector, as illustrated by the panelists, holds promise for diverse solutions that can allow for the sustainable management and use of forests globally - Khalil Walji

This fireside chat showcased how the contributions of young forest professionals extend beyond the canopy to communities across forested landscapes, national forest policy frameworks, and many other aspects of the forest sector.

Thank you to all the panelists, youth, and partners who supported us in delivering this event and sharing about this important topic.


Live event transcript 

Part 1: What does forestry mean to me?

Khalil: To me forests are work and a refuge to escape to at the same time. A place for health and fitness. 

Dana: My country has the 3rd largest forests in the world. Forests are woven into cultural identity via hiking for example. Forests are managed by foresters and are done in a sustainable way. 

Moderator to Amina: What does forestry look like to you and how do you interact with forests? 

Amina:  I am the only female forestry researcher in my region and of Mali descent. I interact with forests via research and communities.

Dana: Diversity of worlds exist in forestry such as the climate, endangered species, soils, etc. 

Khalil to panelists: How did you find yourself in this role?

Kim: I am not a forester but studied sociology which has come in handy. What I wanted to focus on was how to make certification a tool relevant to indigenous communities. People come to forests not just for timber but for other values such as spirituality, and water management.  I work to steer FSC in that direction strategically and build partnerships that recognize the multiple values of forests.

Khalil: Good point, there are more entry points (aside from trade foresters) into the sector for different values other than from timber. Diversity is important for the sector. The follow-up to Kim, with a background as a sociologist, how do you incorporate that into forest dynamics, and how does that manifest on a day-to-day level in your daily work?

Kim: The starting point is to convene stakeholders both environmental and economic stakeholders. And try to assess what responsible forestry looks like. For example, it is not the same in Denmark as in Brazil.  How do we get people together and gain the acceptability of standards?

Dana: Nice to hear about making equitable systems and tools to access such as certification themes

Dana to Ronn: Tell the audience what your role consists of and how you found yourself?

Ronn: I am a forester with 4 decades of experience in social forestry. I see forests, wildlife, and trees as being nature. My work allowed me to talk to local people. That clicked. I thought I knew everything but after talking with locals I realized they know better and realized it's better to work with them than alone in the field. If we want to sustain ourselves we have to include people in discussions related to forests. It is not the poor destroying people, a common misperception.  I love to advocate for and empower local people. I train gov officers, the private sector, and NGOs to help them understand the values and potential of how people can manage forests for their own benefit.

Dana to Ronn: How can we combat misinformation and conflicting values? 

Ronn: I worked in building capacities and how people should be in the center of forest management. Locals have the capacity to do so. 

Khalil to Estaban: Tell us about your work in engaging others via social media and communications?

Estaban: I am not sure if I am a forester.I am an environmental engineer, a middle lane between forest and social aspects. I work with indigenous communities, someone asked me who I was? Not sure if he meant literally but I thought who am I as there are other Estaban’s and env engineers. It is like two words, bridge and mirror: 

  • Coming here is a transformation and traveling is a mix of experiences. In mind and body

  • I am a bridge as I connect my country with what I learn in communities here 

  • And as a mirror, I reflect my love for others 

  • I act as a bridge in communities where there is no perfect solution.

Khalil: You brought your learnings here and will take what you learn here back to the community.

Estaban: For me, forests mean going to work. For body and mind. There are many medicinal plants in Ecuador. Forests are a place of peace and wisdom and further my thoughts and learn about my mistakes and find solutions and grow.  

Dana: We can consider ourselves as part of those systems and then that's how we find nature-based solutions 

Hyeonju: In my world forests appear in numbers. I try to monitor the impact of deforestation-free measures on the global market. And to find insight from those numbers and visualize data effectively. 

Davia: I am not a forster. This is a testament that you can work with the forest sector with varying educational backgrounds. I’ve done technical work in forestry and strategic policy and planning. What forests look like is sustainability and long-term planning. I worked on 10-year forest management plans and also did reporting on the status of forest projects, such as for national reporting reports. 

PART 2: Growing the Roots - Ask me Anything 

Q: Who is accountable for ensuring the effective engagement of youth and new professionals? What are the larger forestry companies doing to measure effective management?

Ronn: Large companies on different continents are accountable. Forest is not about birds and trees but the environment and so perception needs to broaden to recognize the other many values of forests.

Kim: take responsibility and opportunities. You get invited to these meetings […] FSC has not focused on youth until now. FSC needs youth as the workforce is retiring. FSC is looking for new inspiration and is open to that. Other companies not doing this at the moment, however.

Q: The Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh has created environmental problems and climate refugees. From the youth perspective, how can we restore nature and what can we do for it?

Estaban: When working with communities, you need to identify the structure of the community as it would be difficult to work with an undivided community

Ronn: [provided an example] In some countries, peat swamps are considered wasteland and this can be a problem for locals as it's a daily source of products and life. So there needs to be an environmental education program teaching students about not just peat swamps but their many values. Better job to communicate the many aspects of forests.  

Q: Forest activities are often linked to increased emissions and biodiversity loss. What role can young foresters play in addressing the ecological crises we face?

Kim: There is already a paradigm shift ongoing. As traditional foresters we knew it as an extractive industry but we are not understanding it holistically and seeing high productive forest areas can be maintained while leaving other parts for community utilization of biodiversity. Young foresters can be a major force in driving this paradigm shift.

Ronn: Using digital devices and social media involved in the process. Data is just an enabler. But if in the hand of decision-makers it could be better to manage. 

Kahlil: in Kenya, youth in ecosystems are driven to converse and restore homelands. But they need economic opportunities and livelihoods. The fallacy of the city draws them in as they need money. So we need to think about how rural forests and rural development can keep those entrepreneur youth in their rural areas and conserve the forests 

Q: Youth often work with data on pressing issues however it is limited or even no data available. So how can youth be part of that solution? 

Hyeonju: For data on illegally sourced timber products for example. The collection of data is outsourced to whoever gets it from official gov websites. You would think official gov data is reliable but it is not. There is a  huge gap between countries. Even in Korea, the details of the info are missing.

Davia: We do still have to have policies in place and legislation but are challenged when there is no data to drive that. So we must rely on traditional knowledge or community inputs. 

Q: What did your network look like when you were in your early 30s, engagement, and how visible were you? For youth, how often do you have opportunities like this? And for FSC how often do you give youth opportunities like this to your youth?

Ronn: Forests still had to be managed by foresters. But things changed when climate change hit as it was not just foresters working in forests but they had to collaborate with other elements and sectors of society to better manage forests. Such as networking with agriculture, fishery, etc.

Kim: FSC is interested in engaging with youth. Membership is aging and see other perspectives and working with organized youth. 

Hyeonju: I use my networks to invite others and seniors and share work and make the opportunities myself. 

Estaban: There are not so many opportunities but this is my first time in this space. When I travel I develop workshops and that's one way to showcase my knowledge and experience. I believe in connections as a social person.  Will you get experience if the opportunity is not put in front of you? It's not magic and you will never reach a stage where you think you know it all. I am still stumbling to find out and learn

Q: In your view how do you see the view of the forest sector?

Davia: Bright and diverse. A few years ago forest sectors were under the Ministry of the Environment. And now it’s under the Minister of economic growth and job creation. This shows that while forests are acknowledged to be connected to the environment it is not just boxed in there anymore. Forests impact more and inform everything. The forest sector is critical to all areas.

Kim: Forestry, as protecting & managing it. Other sectors make it difficult to manage and protect forests like agriculture and other pressures. Forestry is now seen as important and not just productive for timber but for other values like climate change, and biodiversity.

Hyeonju: Diversified, colorful in the future. Forests are home, we are not living in oceans. More types of forests are talked about more often. Diversification also brings new opportunities in dealing with the challenges the forests are facing. The world is getting complicated and more problems will come and lots of work to do by foresters. 

Ronn: I see the same issues being discussed here at WFC as I did 10 years ago. It is important to bring perspectives from other sectors. Not just foresters talking about forestry. But other sectors to engage in this conversation 

Esteban: Action and effort. Hope moves us. And action impulses hope. For this we need accessibility.

Summary of the session by co-moderators:

Dana

  1. All different backgrounds. You all prefaced you didn't bring to the table (i.e. highlighted if you were or were not a forester). If we leverage differences as strengths we are the faces of forestry. All contributing to the forest sector

  2. People can't be separated from nature

  3. Value lived experiences and this is how we can advance youth and listen to what they say

  4. Sometimes we don't have the solutions. This is to reflect on. It's ok to not do it but we must be transparent in dialogue and listen and be willing to engage in values and stakeholder

Khalil

The success of projects is bound on how to engage with stakeholders, and speak and understand power dynamics. And understand what is best for them. We should also talk about passions of wanting to work in this space, aside from the challenges that are commonly highlighted. And how it's those passions where those solutions lie.