Colorado State University

Science Forum:
Science-based integrated forest management for
enhanced biodiversity, human well-being and climate change resilience

Hosted By:
International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS)
In recent decades, integrated approaches to natural resource management have been receiving attention as means for coordinating the different uses of ecosystems in a manner that generates the greatest value of ecosystem goods and services whiles also maintaining the resilience of the system to adapt to change and uncertainty. The integrated approach embraces the complexity of social-ecological systems, draws from multiple sources of knowledge, and aims to enhance synergies and reduce trade-offs among diverse stakeholder values across scales by employing participatory processes and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as negotiation and mediation. When applied to forests and other types of ecosystems, the integrated resource management approach holds promise for promoting a more equitable, effective, and efficient implementation of policies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. This proposed session seeks to promote dialogue among scientists, policymakers, private sector, indigenous people and local communities, youth representatives and the organizations who serve youth, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders with the aim of addressing the theoretical, governance, and methodological challenges in the implementation and monitoring of the integrated natural resource management approach.