Download the full programme including the speaker bios here.
Monday, 12 April 2021
Informal Networking Session (optional)
13:45 - 14:00 UTC +2
Zoom
Before the official start of Forests in Women’s Hands, the participants who have joined the meeting early will have the opportunity to network in small, randomly selected groups for 3-5 minutes each, simulating arriving at an in-person event and reaching out to fellow participants. Participation is optional.
Opening and Keynote
14:00 - 15:00 UTC +2
Zoom
[14:00-14:20] Transformative Change: A Collective Call for Action
Speakers:
Elisabeth Köstinger
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Regions and Tourism (BMLRT), Austria
Peter Mayer
Head of the Federal Research Centre for Forests (BFW), Austria
Dagmar Karisch-Gierer
Head of Forstfrauen, Austria
John Parrotta
President of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), USA
Barbara Öllerer
Direction Member of the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA) and Head of the IFSA FiWH Task Force, Austria
Moderator: Hermine Hackl
Head of the Traunkirchen Forest Training Centre of BFW at WALDCAMPUS Austria
[14:20-14:50] Keynote:
(Un)doing gender in and through forestry networks - processes of inclusion and exclusion
Speaker:
Gun Lidestav
Associate Professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden
IUFRO Task Force Coordinator “Gender Equality in Forestry”
Break
14:50 - 15:00
Stakeholder Dialogue - Panel Discussion
15:00 - 16:50 pm UTC +2
Zoom
Connecting and engaging women in the forest-based sector
The Stakeholder Dialogue brings together policy and decision makers, forest owners, forest practitioners, scientists and student representatives from many countries in order to share and discuss their views on gender matters in forestry. The stakeholders are invited to formulate what can be expected with regard to tackling challenges of gender imbalance in the sector.
Speakers:
Alina Lehikoinen
President of the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA)
Student at the University of Helsinki, Finland
Gun Lidestav
Associate Professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden IUFRO Task Force Coordinator “Gender Equality in Forestry”
Beth MacNeil
Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada
Andrea Pirker
Forest Owner and Manager of an agricultural and forestry business, Founding Member of Forstfrauen, Austria
Renate Späth
Ministry for Environment, Agriculture, Conservation and Consumer Protection of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Berta Stašková
Head of WOODLANDER s.r.o., Slovakia
Moderator: Alexander Buck
Executive Director, International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), Austria
Break
16:50 - 17:00
Forests in Fashion
17:00 - 18:00 UTC +2
Zoom & SpatialChat
Introduction on Bioeconomy
Lisa Lehner
International Forest Policy Officer, Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Regions and Tourism (BMLRT), Austria
Forests at the heart of sustainable fashion: Forest-based bioeconomy helps us to shape our future with its nature-based solutions. This statement goes beyond looks and touches on aspects of sustainable production and consumption, resource efficiency and where it all starts: in our minds.
Film Presentation Forests in Fashion
Inspired by forests and nature, the students of the 5th year of Ebensee fashion school, Austria, produced two different collections for Forests in Women’s Hands. After creating mood boards based on forest features, they went on to design, using fashion drawings they had drawn themselves, which were then compiled into collection books.
The results of this exciting project are unique pieces of the Streetwear and the Forest Fairies collections, which were sewn from high-quality and environmentally friendly materials from Austrian companies such as Lenzing AG and Steiner Loden, and completed with natural materials such as moss, clay, feathers, bark and branches. During the presentation of the garments, handbags made of wood by nussbag also adorn the wonderful, unique pieces.
Moderator: Hermine Hackl
Head of the Traunkirchen Forest Training Centre of BFW at WALDCAMPUS Austria
Informal Networking (optional)
18:00 UTC +2
SpatialChat
After the official programme, participants are invited to continue networking.
Tuesday, 13 April 2021
Informal Networking Session (optional)
13:45 - 14:00 UTC +2
Zoom
Before the official start of Forests in Women’s Hands, the participants who have joined the meeting early will have the opportunity to network in small, randomly selected groups for 3-5 minutes each, simulating arriving at an in-person event and reaching out to fellow participants. Participation is optional.
World Café
14:00 - 15:50 UTC +2
Zoom
The World Café hosts the main dialogue among participants of Forests in Women’s Hands.
In this online-supported World Café session, all participants are invited to formulate their ideas and suggestions for how women, their perspectives and experiences can be included in the development of sustainable forest management.
The following questions are discussed in a virtual space. Consider which topic(s) you are most interested in discussing in a breakout group where you will be able to contribute your suggestions.
Topics
- Education - how can a gender-sensitive environment be achieved?
What criteria and indicators characterise an inclusive learning environment? How can faculties/course organisers and teachers meet these criteria and indicators, i.e. implement a gender-sensitive learning environment?
- Forest ownership and management - what do forest owners need?
What do female forest owners need and how can they be supported professionally and structurally in their activities, in the administration and management of their forests and in their role as forest owners?
- Forestry organizations and institutions - measures to promote gender equality?
What helps to promote and support women in their participation, professional development and career opportunities, and what can concrete organisational measures look like?
- Forestry enterprises - measures to promote gender equality?
What helps to promote and support women in their participation, professional development and career opportunities in the private sector, and what can concrete measures look like?
- Entrepreneurship or self-employment - an opportunity for women in the forestry sector?
Currently, only a fraction of entrepreneurs and self-employed in forestry are women. What are the constraints and the opportunities that entrepreneurship or self-employment offer and how can women meet those? What can be done to establish forestry entrepreneurship or self-employment as an opportunity for women?
- International cooperation of networks - growing together
Local and national networks of women as forest owners, and professionals, are already accomplishing great things. How can these experiences and achievements be upgraded through international cooperation?
- Competence and visibility - challenging gendered norms?
Making women, their perspectives and competence visible, entails consequences to male dominated organisations, and sometimes also to the individual woman. What needs to be done so visibility and competence recognition become a factor of success for both women and the organisation?
- Research - existing knowledge and knowledge gaps (hosted by Gun Lidestav)
There is an increasing body of gender research, also related to forestry. How can we make better use of this theoretical and empirical knowledge in practice? And, what knowledge gaps are most urgent to fill out?
- Gender balance for resilience (hosted by Alice Ludvig)
The effects of gender balance on the wood value chain: women in leadership and management positions.
Women's participation and management in the timber value chain could make it more resilient. How can we ensure that this knowledge becomes transparent?
Moderator: Sabine Pelzmann
Managing Director at Integrative Organisational Development, Austria
Break
15:50 - 16:00 UTC +2
Information Market
16:00 - 17:30 UTC +2
SpatialChat
Conference participants present women’s networks or relevant initiatives connected to gender equality in forestry. All participants can directly join the online meeting with a person representing the network or initiative to ask questions and exchange information. The Information Market is an occasion to share about the networks and projects that you are already familiar with, and to discover others.
The platform that is used for the Information Market additionally allows for networking among participants.
Closing
17:30 - 18:00 UTC +2
Zoom
The main conference outcomes are summarised by the Organizing Committee of Forests in Women’s Hands.
Moderator: Hermine Hackl
Head of the Traunkirchen Forest Training Centre of BFW at WALDCAMPUS Austria