The 5th international conference Old-Growth Forests: Policy and Practice organized by the Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava" in cooperation with International Union of Forest Research Organistions and supported by Latvian Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences and Forest Research Station, has concluded.
Researchers and experts from 7 countries, including the Hungary, Romania, Finland, Poland and other, came together to present resent research on old-growth forests and their characteristics, and share insights on the importance of old-growth forests. With over 60 participants joining us from around the globe — both in person and remotely — the discussions were vibrant and impactful!
The event was kicked off by Professor William Keeton from University of Vermont, who gave his insights related to a global perspective on temperate old-growth forest ecology, conservation, and restoration!
Huge thanks to all the speakers for their outstanding presentations and valuable contributions: Tibor Standovár (Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary), Ewa Grabska (Jagiellonian University, Poland), Ana Mary Petritan (National Research and Development Institute in Forestry "Marin Dracea", Romania), Stefan Prost (University of Oulu, Finland), Anna Mežaka (Daugavpils University and Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Latvia), Daniela Dúhová (Czech University of Life Sciences, Czech Republic), Laura Ķēniņa (Latvian State Forest Research institute "Silava", Latvia), Gita Strode (Nature Conservation Agency, Latvia) and Āris Jansons (Ministry of Agriculture, Latvia).
On October 17, Conference participants took part in an excursion that began in an old-growth birch stand and continued to the old-growth pine stand. Participants were introduced to the overall results of the old-growth forests research projects conducted in Latvia – related to carbon pool sizes, stand structural change, deadwood, ground cover vegetation estimations, and others. Afterwards, Jānis Belickis (JSC "Latvia's State Forests") presented measures for the forest habitat reconstruction of Zvirgzdes kāpa.
