IUFRO: History and role in the 21st century

From its small beginnings in Central Europe, the IUFRO has grown into a maj or global organization. The Union has gained reputation for facilitating re search cooperation, maintaining high scientific standards and promoting the exchange of information. These will remain a focus of the IUFRD also in th e 21st century. To survive and to prosper in the next millennium, the Union must, however, reconsider its organizational and financial structure, deve lop further its network, put more emphasis on problem-oriented research, an d act as a bridge between the scientific community and policy makers.