Working Party on Environmental and Ecosystem Services

Objective

The overarching objective of the IPC Environmental and Ecosystem Services Working Party (WP-ENV) is to be a leading global source of technical knowledge and biological information about tree genetics and ecophysiology. The Working Party also aims to provide networking opportunities focused on the environmental and ecosystem services that poplars and other fast-growing trees provide.

WP-ENV seeks to enhance information exchange about ecological restoration, reclamation, remediation, and other nature-based solutions that are used to green and clean the environment. At the same time, WP-ENV aims to provide economically viable and sustainable, long-term solutions for increasing biodiversity conservation and resilience, while improving ecosystem services (e.g., clean water, healthy soils, carbon sequestration), and reducing global degradation of land, water, and air, thus directly contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal

Action plan 2023-2024

The approach of WP-ENV initially consists of a planned survey to be sent to international experts, practitioners, and other user groups with varying levels of knowledge about fast-growing trees to identify priority needs, challenges, and opportunities that WP-ENV can help address (short-term). Results of the survey will be used to inform future WP-ENV strategies and approaches that can be replicated throughout the world.

In addition, the primary ongoing approach (short-, medium-, and long-term) of WP-ENV consists of conducting priority activities within each of the three core areas of interest:

Engage into networking, by leading and contributing to collaborations across IPC Working Parties and with other organizations (e.g., IUFRO, IEA, EURAF, IUAF, etc.); by organizing and joining online discussion sessions; by leading or participating at international conferences, symposia, or meetings and by providing internship opportunities for students and young professionals with practitioners and experts

*Especially WP-PRO (Production systems for the bioeconomy) and WP-COM (Communication and outreach)

Leading in outreach and facilitation of technical exchange on research and sustainable management of poplars and other fast-growing trees grown for environmental and ecosystem services, including production of food crops in agroforestry systems ; through products such as science briefs; online webinar series; technical papers or educational videos for multiple platforms and audiences

Actively recruiting members that can contribute to accelerating knowledge exchange on research, management, education, and outreach environmental and ecosystem services provided by poplars and other fast-growing trees, thanks to personal contacts; young professionals’ network; science theme groups and internship opportunities for students and young professionals with practitioners and experts

Call for abstracts

For the submission of abstracts for the 14th International Short Rotation Woody Crops Conference, please fill out the form.

For any additional information, please refer to: 14th International Short Rotation Woody Crops Conference - Call for abstracts

Key results and publications

Science Briefs:

IPC WP-ENV science briefs are two-page summaries of published manuscripts and major reports, activities, etc. related to environmental and ecosystem services.

March 2019	Riparian Buffers in Agricultural Areas Phytoremediation in Your Own Neighbourhood: A Guide for High School Students
April 2019	Positive Water Linkages of Bioenergy and Phytotechnologies: Poplars and Willows Bridging the Gap Between Phytoremediation, Agronomy, Horticulture, and Forestry
May 2019	Selecting Poplar Trees to Remediate Landfill Leachate
June 2019	Long-term Phytoremediation Using Poplar: Ecosystem Services
August 2019	Selection of Poplars and Willows for Phytoremediation of Nitrate
October 2019	Poplars Grown on Artificially Contaminated Soils: Growth and Physiology
December 2019	Hybrid Poplar and Russian Olive: Height Growth, Survival, and Phytoremediation on Saline Soils

WP-ENV Contacts

Ronald S. Zalesny Jr., Chair, Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, USA. Contact: [email protected]; https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/people/Zalesny
Anneli Adler, Vice-Chair (Human Dimensions), Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden. Contact: [email protected]; https://internt.slu.se/en/cv-originals/anneli-adler/
Sharon L. Doty, Vice-Chair (Phytotechnologies), School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, USA. Contact: [email protected]; https://sites.uw.edu/sldoty/.
Andrej Pilipović, Vice-Chair (Phytotechnologies), Natural Resources Research Institute of the University of Minnesota Duluth, USA. Contact: [email protected]; https://nrri.umn.edu/faculty-staff/andrej-pilipovic-phd https://nrri.umn.edu/faculty-staff/andrej-pilipovic-phd
Elizabeth R. Rogers, Vice-Chair (Ecosystem Services), Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, USA. Contact: [email protected]; https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/people/elizabeth.r.rogers.
Ryan A. Vinhal, Vice-Chair (Outreach and Recruitment), Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, USA. Contact: [email protected]; https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/people/ryan.vinhal.
Jan Weger, Vice-Chair (Agroforestry), Silva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening, Czech Republic. Contact: [email protected]; https://www.vukoz.cz/index.php/en/department-054/94-weger-jan?alias=weger-jan&catalias=157.