Due to the uncertainty of the Covid-19 situation we postponed our 2020 conference until this year. Although considerable uncertainties remain, we are determined to go ahead on 7-9 September this year. We are hoping a hybrid conference will be possible, where at least some of us will be able to meet in Edinburgh and others joining remotely.
It is increasingly recognised that forests, woodlands and trees provide societal benefits and nature-based solutions to wicked problems, including the climate emergency and the biodiversity crisis. This international conference will explore how landscape ecology can inform the expansion and restoration of forests, woodlands and trees to secure these public benefits into the future.
We aim to bring together people with relevant expertise from across science, policy, conservation and industry, to learn from each other, and identify ways in which landscape ecology can support ambitious policy targets, including those for woodland expansion, greenhouse gas reduction, biodiversity conservation, commercial viability, and sustainable development goals.
This multidisciplinary conference will appeal to anyone with an interest in the protection, planning and management of trees and forested landscapes, including researchers, policymakers, and foresters and conservation practitioners. We are seeking contributions that provide insight, potential solutions, and examples of action on the ground. If you would like to present a talk or a poster, please submit a 250 word abstract before 16 May.
The provisional programme can be found on the conference web pages. Keynote speakers will be: Jo Pike, CEO of the Scottish Wildlife Trust ; Jon Stoke, director of Trees, Science and Research at the Tree Council ; Jenny Hodgson, senior lecturer at the University of Liverpool; and Sallie Bailey, regional manager for southern Scotland at Forestry and Land Scotland. We plan to announce the full programme and open registration in June.