Breakout Sessions

1 February, Thursday

12:00 - 1:00 pm

Lunch Talk with Kalani Souza

Workshop leaders: Kalani Souza, Olohana Foundation
Location: Native American Cultural Center, 26 High Street
Register Here

Kalani Souza works directly with indigenous communities throughout Oceania and North America on issues of resource conservation, food security, disaster preparedness, local economy, and self-governance.
 

3:30 - 4:30 pm

The Social Dynamics of Stopping Deforestation: Participatory Case Study of Aceh Tamiang

Workshop leaders: Robin Barr, The Forests Trust
Location: Rotunda, Marsh Hall, 360 Prospect Street
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Aceh Tamiang District in Indonesia includes the Leuser Ecosystem; one of the last in-tact forest ecosystems in Sumatra and home to Sumatran orangutans, elephants and tigers, who are currently threatened by high rates of deforestation.  In this session, we will give an overview of what is currently known about the deforestation taking place, and together explore the roles that different stakeholder groups play in driving deforestation, as well as the roles they could potentially play in keeping forests in the landscape.  We will also talk about what methods can be used to achieve this goal. Special emphasis will be put on the unique role that international companies with commitments to No Deforestation and No Exploitation can play in the landscape.
 

4:30 - 5:30 pm

Global Forest Watch: An Interactive Introduction

Workshop leaders: Andrew Maddocks, World Resources Institute
Location: Room 319, Kroon Hall, 196 Prospect Street
Register Here

In this hands-on workshop, learn about and experiment with the latest freely available data, technology, and tools available on Global Forest Watch to empower people everywhere to better protect forests. See freely available data promoting transparency and accountability. Try out our open-source mapping platforms or our mobile application. And understand how to connect with our community of over 1 million users. 
 

2 February, Friday

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Keynote Discussion Group: with Christine Padoch

Workshop leaders: ISTF Organizing Committee Members
Location: Room 24, Sage Hall, 205 Prospect Street
No advanced registration required

This discussion group will dive deeper into the keynote’s remarks, engaging in conversation around the issues raised by the speech. The discussion will be led by each keynote presenter and facilitated by a Yale Faculty member.  
 

Keynote Discussion Group: with Victor Arroyo-Rodriguez

Workshop leaders: Victor Arroyo-Rodriguez, Keynote and Dr. Liza Comita, Yale Faculty
Location: Room 319, Kroon Hall, 196 Prospect Street
No advanced registration required

This discussion group will dive deeper into the keynote’s remarks, engaging in conversation around the issues raised by the speech. The discussion will be led by each keynote presenter and facilitated by a Yale Faculty member.
 

Keynote Discussion Group: with Nigel Sizer

Workshop leaders: Nigel Sizer, Keynote and Brad Gentry, Yale Faculty
Location: Room G01, Kroon Hall, 196 Prospect Street
No advanced registration required

This discussion group will dive deeper into the keynote’s remarks, engaging in conversation around the issues raised by the speech. The discussion will be led by each keynote presenter and facilitated by a Yale Faculty member.
 

Speed Networking

Workshop leaders: ISTF Organizing Committee Members
Location: 3rd Floor Cafe, Kroon Cafe, 196 Prospect Street
No advanced registration required

An opportunity for participants wishing to create a network at the conference, speed networking allows one to meet other participants in a more informal setting. Participants move in a circle and have five-minute conversations with another over coffee. Question prompts will be provided to help guide conversation. 
 
 

3 February, Saturday

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Leveraging technological innovation:  Connecting forest landscape restoration with competitive forest products supply chains

Workshop leaders: Ruth Nogueron, World Resources Institute; Rene Zamora, World Resources Institute; Alvaro Samyoa, Astrostat
Location: Room 319, Kroon Hall, 196 Prospect Street
Register Here

The breakout session will highlight emerging monitoring tools for forest management and landscape restoration. Further, the discussion will focus on how these monitoring tools can support not only legal, competitive and efficient forest products supply chains, but also be used to assess performance, measure impact and incentivize landscape restoration for sustainable forest management purposes.

Breakdown or Breakthrough? Peer-to-Peer Session on the Nuts and Bolts of Project Planning

Workshop leaders: Ruth Metzel, Azuero Earth Project
Location: Room G01, Kroon Hall, 196 Prospect Street
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This session will discuss the major challenges in project development and tropical forest management, and create opportunities for peer-to-peer advice on how to overcome these hurdles to achieve and scale conservation and reforestation outcomes. The breakout session will be organized in 4 tables according to different phases of project development: (1) Project Proposal, Budgeting and Fundraising; (2) Project Planning; (3) Project Implementation and Technologies; and (4) Project Documentation, Reporting and Sustainability. Participants will cycle through each of these tables, discussing the challenges and solutions to challenges in particular phase of project planning. Participants that work in different dimensions of similar issues may offer up new and innovative tactics to each other that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of forest projects.

Mapping the Way for the Reactivated Global International Society of Tropical Foresters 

Workshop leaders: Sheila Ward, International Society of Tropical Foresters (parent organization)
Location: Room 32, Sage Hall, 205 Prospect Street
Register Here

The parent International Society of Tropical Foresters is restarting and we need your input! We want your opinions on the base documents for the new ISTF: draft bylaws, chapter guidelines, and guidelines for how to be a global communication network using electronic media. Your reactions will be fed back to the ISTF Reformulation Committee for incorporation in the next round of drafts. Draft documents will be provided before the session, and please read them before coming. But come regardless!

Building Social Capital to Advance Adaptive Capacity

Workshop leaders: Josh Fain, USDA Caribbean Climate Hub
Location: Room 24, Sage Hall, 205 Prospect Street
Register Here

Vulnerability to disturbance is composed of sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity. Like many tropical islands, the U.S. Caribbean is a region of high exposure and sensitivity to the effects of climate change. Building adaptive capacity within working land communities in the region is the focus of the USDA Caribbean Climate Hub. This session will discuss case studies and strategies for building the governance structures and social capital necessary to engage in this work.