Our global forests hold the key to some of the most timely and topical challenges of our time – a rapidly changing climate, an expanding human footprint, global food security, and sustainable development. Young forest professionals are driving change and are at the forefront of this changing face of forestry – one that embraces innovation, complexity, and collaboration. This session will set the scene for the special event “The Future is Now: “Investing” in Young Forestry Professionals & Career Development” hosted by ForYP. Through the style of a fireside chat, this side event will provide young forest professionals with an opportunity to engage in an interactive discussion exploring the diversity of forest professionals working across our forested landscapes. Through story-telling, we’ll collectively explore the diverse and dynamic profession of forestry, and share how unique and local environmental issues, regional ecosystems, cultural backgrounds, and professional trajectories factor into what influences management practices and priorities across forest landscapes and forest regions across the globe. As future stewards of forests and forest ecosystems, youth are positively influencing and shaping different aspects of forests and their resources in different capacities. This dialogue will provide a unique opportunity for young forest professionals to hear and learn from their peers’ lived experiences and realities of the forest sector. Through honest discussion and storytelling, this side event will provide an opportunity for cultural exchanges (e.g., understanding forest sector work environments in different regions of the world) and reflect a sense of community and camaraderie within the sector.

Location: Hall E4