Forest Frontlines: From Conflicts to Diplomacy
- Date: 17 September 2025
- Venue: Linnaeus University, Växjö
- Duration: 09:00–17:00 CET
The 2026 EFI Scientific Seminar will explore how forest conflicts emerge, how they are governed, and how they can be constructively addressed through mediation and diplomacy. The overarching objective is to deepen participants’ conceptual understanding of forest conflicts while exposing them to concrete tools and mindsets for conflict transformation and forest diplomacy.
The programme is structured into three interconnected blocks. Block 1, “Seeing forest conflicts”, focuses on concepts and empirical insights through three extended keynotes on patterns of forest conflicts, power and justice dimensions, and human–wildlife conflicts in forested landscapes. Block 2, “Negotiating forests”, links these conflicts to policy, law and diplomacy via short impulse talks on science/forest diplomacy and on EU Forest Strategy and Nature Restoration Law, followed by a panel discussion with science, policy, practice and youth voices. Block 3, “Transforming conflicts”, translates insights into practice. A concise introduction to the Collaborative Learning approach and mediation principles is followed by short presentations of three flagship conflict cases, which then feed directly into a world café. The expected outcome is that participants leave with clearer conceptual frames for understanding forest conflicts, concrete ideas for using collaborative and diplomatic approaches in their own work, and strengthened connections across science, policy, practice and youth.
- Opening: Why forest conflicts, why diplomacy? (09:00-09:50)
Opening Moderator: Maria Engelbrektson (Linnæus University)
09:00–09:15 Welcome
- Maria Engelbrektson (Linnæus University)- Welcome and introducing the program
- Peter Aronsson (vice-chancellor of Linnæus University) Welcome address from the host
- Robert Mavsar (EFI Director) Welcome address from EFI
09:15–09:30 Opening Keynote: From Conflicts to Diplomacy
- Anders Persson (Linnæus University)
09:30–09:50 – “The conflict that keeps me awake.”
- Block 1 – Seeing forest conflicts (09:50–10:30)
09:50–10:05 What is a forest conflict? Patterns and actors
10:05–10:20 Power, justice and forest struggles
10:20–10:30 Q&A
10:30–11:00 – Coffee & Art
- Block 2 – Negotiating forests (11:00-12:00)
11:00–11:15 Impacts of geopolitical conflict on forest sector
11:15–11:30 From science diplomacy to forest diplomacy
11:30–11:45 Q&A
11:45–12:00 – Participant perspectives: How to move from conflict to collaboration?
12:00–13:30 – Lunch
- Block 3 – Transforming conflicts: mediation & collaborative learning (13:30-17:15)
13:30-14:30 Panel: Negotiating forests: From conflicts to Diplomacy in practice
14:30 – 15:00 Coffee break
15:00-15:15 Collaborative Learning and mediation basics
15:15–15:35 – Introducing 1-3 Contemporary Forest Conflicts
15:35–16:35 – World café (2 rotations of ~18–20 min)
16:35–17:05 – Plenary harvest
17:05–17:15 – Closing-towards a forest diplomacy mindset