A global network for forest science cooperation, devoted to forest research and related science focusing on two main efforts:  1) collating, critically analyzing, and synthesizing existing scientific knowledge on topics of international relevance in the forest, society, and environment interface in order to draw out important lessons learned and recommendations and 2) undertaking new research to fill in crucial gaps in existing knowledge.

Nine divisions:

1. Silviculture: forest and ecosystem management; stand establishment and treatment (including fertilization); agroforestry; biomass for energy; restoration of degraded sites; mountain zone and arid zone silviculture; tropical, boreal and temperate zone silviculture; and natural (extensive) and artificial (intensive) silvicultural systems.
2. Physiology and Genetics: specifically on xylem, stem, canopy, and roots; on sexual and vegetative reproduction; on breeding and genetic resources of conifers and hardwoods in virtually all regions of the world; on quantitative and biological genetics of trees and tree populations, including molecular and cellular genetics; and finally on seed physiology and technology.
3. Forest Operations Engineering and Management:  forest infrastructure, machinery, and operational methods in all forestry practices, forest nurseries, operational planning, management, modeling, information systems, and control, ergonomics, small-scale forestry, harvesting, logistics, and the interface between forest operations and environmental protection.
4. Forest Assessment, Modelling and Management: studies of growth and yield; forest resource inventory; forest management planning and managerial economics; remote sensing; management sciences of forest enterprises; statistical methods, mathematics and computer technology.
5. Forest Products: the microscopic and macroscopic structure of wood and its utilization; engineering properties; protection in storage and use; wood physics; drying, conversion, and performance of solid wood and wood composites in use; production of energy and chemicals from trees.
6. Social Aspects of Forest and Forestry: forest and human health, forest education, forest ethics, gender and forestry, landscape planning and management, nature-based tourism, nature conservation and protected areas, recreation, rural development and urban forestry.
7. Forest Health: physiological and genetic interactions between trees and harmful biotic impacts, including resistance mechanisms; biological and applied aspects of tree diseases; environment/ pathogen interactions in forest decline; the biology and control of forest tree insects; and impacts of air pollution on forest trees and forest ecosystems, including diagnosis, monitoring, biology, genetics and treatment of polluted forests and other wooded lands.
8. Forest Environment: forest ecosystems; site research and site classification; forest hydrology (including water quality); natural disasters and mitigation measures; forest fire prevention and control; wildlife and its habitats; biodiversity; forests and climate.
9. Forest Policy and Economics: information services and knowledge organization; management of forest research; forest and woodland history; forest sector analysis; social and economic aspects of forestry; forest policy and governance; forest law and environmental legislation.

Events:

• Numerous, including a world congress every five years attended by ~2,000 scientists and stakeholders

Publications:

• Approximately 100 in the World Series (e.g., a global study of Teak, 2017, 108p), Research Series (e.g., Forest Biodiversity, 2004, 320p) and Occasional Papers (e.g., Forest Landscape Restoration, February 2020, 61p)
• Annual Reports
• Proceedings of events