Future forestry education: responding to expanding societal needs

Abstract

This policy brief consolidates recommendations of the first global workshop on forestry education held in September 2007, at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Nairobi, Kenya. The workshop called for changes in forestry education, research and practice. From emerging evidence, forestry education in the recent years has largely failed to adequately respond to the dynamics in forestry practice, the demands of the job market and challenges of new global forestry paradigms. The declining investment in the sector leads to diminishing esteem for the forestry profession. Major changes in forestry education, research and practice are urgently needed to improve relevance and popularize forest science, technologies and practices. Many curricula are outdated and in need of review to align with current and future needs