IUFRO International Conference on Reforestation Under Drought 2026

Drought affects forests from the boreal to the tropics and is increasingly becoming a major concern for successfully establishing new trees through reforestation and afforestation as water limitations are the new normal. Ensuring success of new regeneration is critical for meeting forestry objectives, yet many of the areas committed to management are or have experienced recent droughts hindering regeneration and threatening forest sustainability. The inaugural IUFRO International Conference on Reforestation Under Drought brings together forest managers, researchers, graduate students, nursery professionals, and policy makers to interact and learn about cutting-edge research spanning seed to post-planting success, mechanistic responses to drought, modeling and advanced inventory techniques, and regeneration methods following natural disturbances. Participants will leave with an understanding of the state of knowledge, practical information and takeaways that they can implement on the ground in their region, and contacts for future collaboration. The conference will feature a mix of plenary talks, oral and poster presentations, field tours, and socializing opportunities. Themes include: (i) management from forests to agroforestry systems, (ii) plant responses to drought, (iii) modeling & advanced inventory techniques, and (iv) ecological responses.