Speakers
Keynote Speakers
“International expertise for forest science, innovation and climate action”
Keynote Programme
Confirmed Keynote Speakers
A concise overview of the seven confirmed onsite and online keynote speakers contributing to IYSF 2026.
Carlos Ruiz-Garvia
UNFCCC secretariat
Team Lead, Adaptation Committee, Adaptation Division, UNFCCC secretariat
Climate adaptation governance · resilience planning · international climate cooperation
Leads work supporting the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee and the implementation of international climate adaptation policy.
John Innes
University of British Columbia
Dean Emeritus · Forest Renewal BC Chair in Forest Management
Sustainable forest management · forest governance · certification · climate change
An international forestry scholar whose work connects sustainable management, monitoring, communities and climate adaptation.
Guangyu Wang
University of British Columbia
Associate Dean, Asian Strategies · Professor · Director, Asia Forest Research Centre
Sustainable forest and watershed management · protected areas · nature therapy · human well-being
Also leads UBC initiatives in nature therapy and national parks, linking forest systems, restoration and human health.
Siren Lan
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Counsellor, Fujian Provincial People’s Government · Former President · Professor
National parks · protected areas · biodiversity conservation · ecological governance
Professor and doctoral supervisor with extensive work in landscape architecture, forestry, biodiversity and ecological civilization.
Fuliang Cao
Nanjing Forestry University
Academician, Chinese Academy of Engineering · Professor
Silviculture · forest ecology · forest culture · ginkgo · bamboo
Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor at Nanjing Forestry University, with long-standing research in silviculture, forest ecology and the cultivation and utilization of major forest resources.
Amy Duchelle
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Senior Forestry Officer and Team Leader, Forests and Climate, Forestry Division, FAO
Forests and climate · mitigation and adaptation · integrated fire and risk management · resilient livelihoods
Leads FAO’s Forests and Climate team and will deliver her IYSF 2026 keynote presentation online.
Haitao Li
University of British Columbia
Geospatial Systems Analyst, Forest Resources Management
GIS · remote sensing · geospatial analysis · machine learning · forest applications
Geospatial specialist working across GIS, remote sensing, data analysis and machine-learning applications for forest-resource management.
Additional Speakers
Additional keynote positions
Sixteen keynote positions are planned. The remaining nine positions will be updated as invitations are confirmed.
To Be Announced
Institution to be confirmed
Keynote Speaker
Detailed research areas will be added after the speaker confirms participation.
The speaker biography and institutional information will be published after confirmation.
To Be Announced
Institution to be confirmed
Keynote Speaker
Detailed research areas will be added after the speaker confirms participation.
The speaker biography and institutional information will be published after confirmation.
To Be Announced
Institution to be confirmed
Keynote Speaker
Detailed research areas will be added after the speaker confirms participation.
The speaker biography and institutional information will be published after confirmation.
To Be Announced
Institution to be confirmed
Keynote Speaker
Detailed research areas will be added after the speaker confirms participation.
The speaker biography and institutional information will be published after confirmation.
To Be Announced
Institution to be confirmed
Keynote Speaker
Detailed research areas will be added after the speaker confirms participation.
The speaker biography and institutional information will be published after confirmation.
To Be Announced
Institution to be confirmed
Keynote Speaker
Detailed research areas will be added after the speaker confirms participation.
The speaker biography and institutional information will be published after confirmation.
To Be Announced
Institution to be confirmed
Keynote Speaker
Detailed research areas will be added after the speaker confirms participation.
The speaker biography and institutional information will be published after confirmation.
To Be Announced
Institution to be confirmed
Keynote Speaker
Detailed research areas will be added after the speaker confirms participation.
The speaker biography and institutional information will be published after confirmation.
To Be Announced
Institution to be confirmed
Keynote Speaker
Detailed research areas will be added after the speaker confirms participation.
The speaker biography and institutional information will be published after confirmation.
Registration
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Hear from international experts and connect with researchers advancing forest-based climate solutions.