Highlands Forestry International Film Festival and Conference
A three day celebration of forestry in the Highlands – and around the world – is set to take place in Inverness from 8th and to 10th of September 2011.
Organised by the UN Associated Training Centre CIFAL Findhorn with support from partner organisations, the festival is part of the United Nations International Year of Forests.
Councillor Ian Ross, Chairman of The Highland Council's Planning Environment and Development Committee, said: “Every person living in or visiting the Highlands is involved or connected in some way with our impressive forest resource and it is only fitting that we mark that relationship in this the International Year of Forests.
“This is going to be a fantastic three days and it will highlight the many public benefits associated with the forests of the Highland and the current challenges and opportunities which exist in developing and enhancing our forest resource.”
The three day forum will include a conference on Friday (9 September) , a day of field trips on Saturday (10 September) and will open on Wednesday (8 September) with screenings of award winning films entered in the International Forest Film Festival.
The films being shown – including titles such ‘Satuyama: Japan’s Secret Forest’, ‘Hope in a Changing Climate’ and ‘The Queen of Trees’ are drawn from over 160 films from more than 30 countries, and were showcased at the United Nations’ global launch of the International Year of Forests. www.forestfilmfestival.org
The conference, being held at Council HQ, Inverness, beginning at 9.30 am, will feature key speakers from a wide range of organisations, who will provide insights into aspects of forestry and delivering economic, social and environmental sustainability within all areas of the forest sector.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to join field trips to learn first hand about social forestry enterprises, how the difficulties of steep ground harvesting are overcome and witness successful large-scale ecological restoration projects.
Limited spaces are available and anyone interested in joining should book a place at www.cifalfindhorn.org or call CIFAL Findhorn on 01309 678130 in the first instance.