The Forum will be held in English, French and Portuguese, and will be structured into a comprehensive program that includes traditional formats such as plenaries, parallel sessions, roundtables, panels, training sessions, exhibitions, pre-conference webinars, poster sessions, and side events. The event is intended to be a technical meeting bringing together representatives of national and local governments, academic and research institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), researchers, urban planners, representatives and experts of national and regional forestry institutions and networks, foresters, urban foresters, landscapers, practitioners from the private sector and young people involved in the planning and management of urban forests and public green spaces. More information is available on the website of the event, at: https://afuf.co.za/
A call for abstracts for the selection of speakers is also open. The Forum is intended for a variety of stakeholders, so both research projects and actual case studies will be accepted. Everyone is invited to contribute to the discussion by submitting their proposal for an oral or poster presentation – either in English, French or Portuguese – in one of the following thematic areas:
- Climate-proofing African Cities. This sub-theme prioritizes climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, positioning urban forests as essential tools for enhancing the climate resilience of African cities. Contributions under this sub-theme will highlight innovative strategies for climate-proofing urban areas through the integration of urban forests and green spaces.
- Equitable Access, Health, and Well-being. This sub-theme emphasizes the importance of ensuring that all urban residents, particularly marginalized communities, have equitable access to the myriad benefits these green spaces offer. By leveraging urban forests and green spaces, we can promote public health and well-being in African cities while ensuring that these advantages are distributed fairly across all communities.
- Making the Business Case for Urban Forests. This sub-theme emphasizes the economic opportunities that urban forests offer, promoting collaboration between the public and private sectors to drive investment in green infrastructure. By showcasing the long-term financial returns associated with urban greening initiatives, this sub-theme highlights the significant economic impact of urban forests in African cities, particularly concerning local development.
If you wish to submit an abstract, please indicate so when registering and you will be directed to the dedicated form:https://afuf.co.za/registration/
The deadline for abstracts submission is Monday 18th November 2024.
To receive updated information on the Forum, we invite you to regularly access the website. For any questions or requests for information, please do not hesitate to contact us at: https://afuf.co.za/contact/