IUFRO - Call for new Task Force Proposals

IUFRO Task Forces are established on a temporary basis to advance inter‐disciplinary forest science cooperation in fields spanning IUFRO Divisional interests. They focus on emerging key issues that are of strong interest to policy makers and groups inside and outside the forest sector, and contribute to international processes and activities. Task Force coordinators are non-voting members of the IUFRO Board, and are invited and expected to attend IUFRO's annual Board meetings. For more information on the activities and accomplishments of current and earlier Task Forces please visit: https://www.iufro.org/our-work#task-forces 

During the current (2024-2029) Board term, 13 Task Forces have been established. In order to support the activities of the XXVII IUFRO World Congress 2029 in Nairobi, Kenya, this call is launched for the establishment of 1-2 new Task Forces.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Proposals for new Task Forces will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Potential to strengthen the XXVII IUFRO World Congress 2029 outputs on specific topics of African relevance (the theme of the Congress: Advancing Global Partnerships in Forest Science for Sustainable Futures);
• Potential to strengthen inter‐Divisional collaboration on specific topics of African relevance;
• Potential to contribute to broader policy processes or interdisciplinary science‐policy initiatives of African relevance;
• Engagement of two or more Divisions by involving relevant Divisional units (Research Groups and/or Working Parties). Proposals should be jointly developed with the relevant IUFRO Divisions and their units, but may involve additional experts currently outside of the IUFRO network and partner institutions.
• Task Force activities should not duplicate current work within IUFRO Divisions, but rather complement and expand their activities;
• Rationale for the involvement of (non-IUFRO) partner institutions (if relevant);
• Task Force membership reflecting the required spectrum of scientific expertise (including both natural and social sciences), as well as geographical (in particular from African countries), cultural and gender diversity, and providing opportunities for early-career scientists
• Clarity of timelines for proposed Task Force activities and their deliverables.
• Clarity of operational aspects (roles and responsibilities of Task Force coordinator and members, roles and responsibilities of partners involved, if any), budget for activities and funding sources.

PROCEDURE 

We invite IUFRO officeholders and members to prepare, by 1 December 2026, a short 1-2 pages Concept Note that provides a brief statement of the objectives/aims and proposed activities of the Task Force. Please submit your concept notes to IUFRO Vice-President Task Forces Elena Paoletti (elena.paoletti@cnr.it) with a copy to IUFRO HQ Junior Professional Officer Fernanda González Montes (gonzalez@iufro.org). The concept notes will be reviewed by the IUFRO Board members within approximately 20 days.

If the Task Force concept note is viewed favourably by the Board, then a full proposal will be requested, with a due date for full proposals of January 15th, 2027. Submitted full proposals will be reviewed by February 5th, 2027, by the Vice‐President for Task Forces in consultation with the members of the IUFRO Board. If revisions are required following proposal review, prospective Task Force coordinators will be asked to prepare a final revised proposal by February 26th, 2027 after which a final decision on the establishment of new Task Forces will be made by the IUFRO Board by an electronic Board ballot vote. The coordinators of new approved Task Forces will be invited to attend the 66th IUFRO Enlarged Board Meeting in Metz, France (4-5 October 2027).

TIMELINE 

• 15 October 2026: Launch of the Call for New Task Force Concept Notes
• 1 December 2026: Deadline of the Concept Notes and start of the evaluation process with forms sent to the Board members
• 20 December 2026: Deadline for reviews by the Board members and comments sent to TF proponents
• 15 January 2027: Deadline for full proposals and responses to the Board comments
• 5 February 2027: Deadline for reviews by the Board members and comments sent to TF proponents
• 26 February 2027: Deadline for final revisions; Electronic vote by the Board and notification to the TF proponents, including invitation to the 66th IUFRO Board Meeting in Metz, France (4-5 October 2027)