Conference Details
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Working Group Small Scale Forestry and Forest History and Traditional Knowledge Conference will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 21st to 23rd July 2026, followed by an optional post-conference tour. The objective of this conference is to exchange knowledge among researchers and other professionals on family and community forest ownership and management, historical facts and narratives of forests, traditional ways of knowing about forests, and related fields. The conference will be held at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Conference Theme and Topics
The conference theme is:
“The Supply of Forest Products and Services from Small-Scale Forests, Agroforestry, Farms, and Community Lands.”
The conference will bring together researchers, managers, policymakers, and community representatives from across the world in one of the globe’s longest-inhabited landscapes providing a unique focus on understanding how traditional approaches to managing small areas of forests and trees (whether owned individually, by family, or collectively) can be supported and enhanced to ensure sustainable provision of a wide range of products and services. While most human societies have developed ways of sustainably managing and using small areas of forests and trees, the social, environmental and institutional characteristics that enable this are highly variable. It is important to know how traditional and small-scale forest management can be supported and enhanced to ensure sustainable provision of products and services, especially under pressures of climate change, poverty, and industrialisation. Recognising that much of the world’s forest research is oriented to large-scale management by governments and industry, this conference highlights the essential role of small-scale landowners and local people and their forests and trees in addressing the global challenges.
In addition to topics related to the theme, all papers that address one or more of the topics related to Small-scale Forestry or Forest History and Traditional Knowledge will be considered. These additional topics include, but are not limited to:
Strengths and challenges of small-scale forestry.
Understanding long-term changes in people and landscapes.
Sustainable supply of timber and non-timber products.
Social benefits and impacts for owners, communities, and stakeholders.
Enhancing returns from marketing, forest co-operatives, growers’ organizations, and other arrangements.
Innovations in modeling landowner behavior and decision support systems.
Adapting traditional forest management to address new problems.
Traditional knowledge (re)shaping the values and practices of forests.
Forest histories as a frame to informing present and future forest management.
Forest tenure and governance systems.
The role and effectiveness of government policies, programs and subsidies.
Research, education, and extension for small-scale and community forest owners and managers.
Developing and adapting management techniques and technologies specific for the needs of small-scale and community forest owners and managers.
Conference Schedule
The conference has been proposed as:
Monday, 21 July 2026: Plenary and concurrent sessions.
Tuesday, 22 July 2026: In-conference field trip (details to be communicated).
Wednesday, 23 July 2026: Plenary and concurrent sessions.
Thursday, 24 July 2026: Optional post-conference tour (details to be communicated).
Selected papers will be invited to publish in a special issue of the Small-scale Forestry journal.
Submission Process and Decision Criteria
AAll abstracts will be reviewed by at least two members of the conference scientific committee. The materials will be assessed based on relevance to the conference, scientific contribution, novelty/innovativeness, adequacy of the research/study methods, and the organization and writing quality of the abstract. Acceptance decisions, and any comments from the reviewers, will be returned to the lead author.
The link below should be used to submit proposals. The information requested includes a presentation title, an abstract (maximum of 1,500 characters), a list of authors and affiliations, and desired presentation type (full oral presentation or speed talk). The speed talks are in place of poster presentations.
To submit a proposal, please use this online form.
Timeline
First call for papers published: 16-Feb-2026.
First call for papers ends: 16-Mar-2026.
Announcement of decisions from first call for papers: 6-Apr-2026.
Registration Opens: 6 -Apr-2026.
Fees and Registration Information
Tiered registration fees will apply, including early-bird, regular, and student rates. To qualify for the student rate, you must be currently enrolled in a degree program at a higher education institution.
The registration fees will cover:
Participation in all conference sessions and the in-conference field trip.
Conference day meals for 21st July to 23rd July 2026.
Post Conference Tour
All conference attendees and accompanying persons are invited to attend the optional post-conference tour. The post-conference tour fee includes lodging and transportation, as well as all meals (More details to come).
Conference Venue, Logistical Support and Accommodation
The conference will be held at the headquarters of the Kenya Forestry Research Institute. (More details to come)
Organisation, Committee and Contacts
The Kenya Forestry Research Institute is organising the conference in conjunction with the IUFRO research groups 3.08, Small-scale forestry, and 9.03, Forest History and Traditional Knowledge, African Forest Forum and the University of Nairobi.
For further communication, contact us through smallscaleiufro2026@kefri.org
.jpg)