FAO experts supported young foresters

– The results of the XVIII International Junior Forest Contest held by the Federal Forestry Agency (Rosleskhoz) have been summed up. 12 members of the jury, including representatives of international organizations, along with FAO, forest departments, scientists, and experts of the forest industry evaluated the presentations of the contestants and selected the winners.

Oleg Kobiakov, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation, in his welcoming speech, noted: "This Contest has become a landmark event of the international calendar, as for such a category of participants, there are really few scientific and competitive events that would allow them to realize their potential both in science and in the research of practical solutions in forestry." "Forest management issues cannot be considered outside the context of sustainable development ones. The study of forest issues is the most relevant in the context of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, which is being carried out both in the Russian Federation and in the countries represented by the participants of the Contest," concluded the head of the FAO Moscow Office.

Kristina Rodina, FAO forestry expert, jury member of the Contest, noted that the future of forests depends on the position and activities of modern young people. "In FAO, we strongly believe that it is our responsibility to join forces and ensure that the youth inherits a world, where healthy and rich forests and forest-related nutritious products are available for everyone, everywhere." She gave several examples of how FAO supports young people and told about a junior video contest in the framework of the XV World Forestry Congress held under the auspices of FAO.

Dr Sergey Rodin, PhD in Agriculture, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Distinguished Forester of the Russian Federation, Acting Director of the All-Russian Research Institute of Silviculture and Mechanization of Forestry (ARRISMF), stressed that it was not easy for the jury members to choose the winners, as the participants' works were distinguished by new methods and creative approaches: for example, artificial intelligence was used and topical issues of ecosystems variability were addressed. In this regard, the Chairman of the jury expressed his hope that the studies could be applied to conservation practices and many participants would continue to explore the biodiversity of the planet.

The contestant from Russia Ekaterina Makarova won honourable third place with the project titled "Structural Changes of the Vegetative Shoots of Scots Pine (Pínus sylvéstris L.) Driven by the Emission of pollutants into the Atmospheric Air from the Syktyvkar Timber Industry Complex". A student from China shared the bronze prize with her. Second place went to young foresters from Austria and Brazil. Maria Serebriakova, a participant from Belarus, who presented her work "Mycological Monitoring of Forest Ecosystems and Approbation of Methods to Increase Yield of Mushroom Places" became the winner of the Contest.

Further, FAO awarded a special diploma and souvenirs to the youngest contestant, 15-year-old Ivan Kozorez (Belarus, "The Impact of the Tarpan Horse Reintroduction on the Structure and Dynamics of Herbivorous Megafauna of the Republican Landscape Reserve "Naliboksky").

Summing up the results, Alexander Panfilov, Deputy Head of Rosleskhoz, expressed his confidence that the Contest will give impetus to new collaborative research and projects in the forestry sector.

This year, 23 finalists from 12 countries took part in the Contest, including four Russians.