On 16 September 2016, the annual conference of EFI (European Forest Institute) was held in Prague. The EFI is an international organisation with 36 member states that have ratified the EFI convention. It has a significant presence in Brussels, as well as offices in several cities and countries: Joensuu, Bonn, Barcelona, Rome and Kuala Lumpur. From 2009 to 2019, IEFC partners ran the EFI regional office in Bordeaux, dedicated to planted forests. In 2020, when this regional office closed, the IEFC hired staff to maintain a link enabling shared communication on certain activities, such as the publication of fact sheets and the organisation of ‘Let’s Talk About Planted Forests’ webinars. These activities are carried out by the IEFC as part of the EFI’s research network on planted forests.
In addition, these webinars are also conducted under the IUFRO Task Force, one of 12 selected in spring 2025 from 25 applications: ‘Stand complexity in forest plantations: Harnessing stand complexity to improve the resilience of single-species and mixed plantations for the benefit of nature, climate and people’. The IUFRO Task Force is a working group composed of around 40 volunteers from all continents. IUFRO – International Union of Forest Research Organisations is one of the oldest organisations dedicated to scientific cooperation between universities and research organisations on forestry. Since 2019, it has been opening cooperation with stakeholders to address cross-cutting issues through ‘Task Forces’ that include civil society actors in addition to researchers from each of IUFRO’s divisions.
© Photo credit IUFRO: Meeting of the IUFRO Extended Bureau, Vienna, 22 May 2025.
Task Force 47 brings together around 40 people involved in planted forests around the world. While IEFC is an association of organisations, this working group is open to any individual wishing to contribute to the resilience and management of planted forests worldwide. In addition, this working group publishes publications and organises events, including the International Congress on Planted Forests, which takes place every five years. The last event was held in Kenya in 2023, and the next one will be held in North America in 2028.
A key partner of this Task Force is FAO – Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, which, after receiving support from the IEFC for the organisation of the 27th session of IPC (International Commission on Poplars and Other Fast-Growing Trees Sustaining People and the Environment), has again requested the institute’s assistance in updating the IPC’s strategy in 2026.
IEFC is a member of the European network of forestry advisers FOREXT, coordinated by EFI and organisations responsible for promoting management among forest owners, such as CNPF in France. The IEFC’s objective is to convey a number of messages about planted forests in an environment where continuous cover forestry is popular.
IEFC is also part of the network of resin-producing regions in Europe, coordinated by CESEFOR, which helps to share technical and economic information on resin tapping in Europe and, in particular, has produced a summary note on the evolution of the resin market and a poster on resin products.
In addition, IEFC is active in national networks and involved in the themes of its members, such as RMT AFORCE for the adaptation of forests to climate change. IEFC also supports international meetings of GEFF (Groupe des Entomologistes Forestiers Francophones), FRANCE DOUGLAS an interprofessional organisation focused on Douglas fir, and PROPOPULUS the European network for poplar, etc.
In conclusion, if you would like to exchange information and knowledge on the sustainable management and resilience of planted forests, find partners, join our networks, subscribe to our newsletter and, above all, become a member of IEFC please get in touch!
Christophe Orazio, IEFC