Forest International Programs

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1 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service International Programs 1 Thomas Circle, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 13 th Annual International Junior Foresters Competition Sponsored by the Russian Federal Forest Agency September 49, 2016, Peterhof (outside of St. Petersburg), Russia Deadline for Applications: July 8, 2016 Background: The US Forest Service (USFS) and the Russian Federal Forestry Agency (RFFA) have been collaborating for over 50 years on research, technical cooperation, and policy issues. Like the U.S., Russia contains temperate and boreal forests. The forests share similar species, similar forest health problems, and some common threats. In addition, both countries benefit from exchanging lessons learned through their extensive experiences in forest research and management. The current focus of collaboration between the two agencies focuses on mutually important themes such as: forest inventory and monitoring, wildfire management, illegal logging, climate change, and others. The Junior Foresters Competition is an annual event hosted by RFFA, which brings together youth from nations around the world to promote and reward young scientists for their interest and efforts in the environmental field and to encourage international dialogue concerning forestry issues. The overall goals of the competition are: to encourage cooperation among young people of different countries; to develop students environmental awareness; to share students knowledge and practical experience in forest management and environmental science; to attract students attention to global forest issues; and to encourage student initiatives which will broaden their knowledge and promote skills development in forest ecology, silviculture and forest protection, forest treatment and regeneration, and training, education and vocational guidance in the fields of forestry and environmental management. Competition Details: This year s competition will take place in earlyseptember. Participants will spend 1 day in St. Petersburg for sightseeing and collaborative activities with other students from around the world. They will then travel to the nearby town of Peterhof, a picturesque area that was once the location of the tsars summer palace and will be the location of this year s competition. Detailed information about the competition requirements and an application form are attached. Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper

2 US Forest Service International Programs will provide one scholarship to cover international travel for the most qualified applicant. To compete for this scholarship, the deadline for submission of projects to the US Forest Service International Programs office is July 8th, A USFS panel will review and select project that best fits the guidelines outlined by RFFA (Projects can be submitted by individual students or teams of two). USFS International Programs will submit the chosen project to the competition organizers on behalf of the applicant. The author of the chosen project will travel to Russia in September 2016 to defend their project in the competition. The competition dates are September 4 th to 9 th, Depending on your departure point in the US, travel to Russia can take up to 48 hours, so applicants should plan on departing from home on September 2 nd in order to arrive on September 4 th. Return flights will be on September 9 th or 10 th (leaving St. Petersburg and arriving home on the same date). Expenses: USFS International Programs will cover the international travel costs for the selected competition contestant and the Russian Federal Forestry Agency will cover costs for meals, lodging, and ground transportation while the contestants are in Russia. Contestants will need to cover any additional costs themselves (cultural activities, souvenirs, project supplies, etc.) To Apply: Please see the document Competition Requirements and Procedures for detailed application instructions. Contact: You may contact USFS International Programs with any questions or concerns. Jennifer Smith: jennifercsmith@fs.fed.us, ; Jacob Minor: jminor@fs.fed.us

3 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service International Programs 1 Thomas Circle, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC th Annual International Junior Foresters Competition Sponsored by the Russian Federal Forest Agency September 49, 2016, Peterhof (outside of St. Petersburg), Russia Competition Requirements and Procedure Competition Objectives The Junior Foresters Competition is an annual event hosted by the Russian Federal Forestry Agency, which is open to students from around the world. The specific objectives of the competition are: to support student initiatives in protection, conservation and regeneration of world forest resources at local and global levels; to encourage student interests in research in forest stock record and monitoring, sustainable forest management, evaluation of anthropogenic impacts on forest resource conditions and forest input in sustainable development of the planet s biosphere, biological diversity conservation, and efficient use of wood resources on the basis of updated scientific methodology; to involve young people in activities related to the exchange of ideas about sustainable forest use involving various public sectors; to identify and encourage young students who have special expertise and skills in forestry and environmental science. Competition Requirements Up to two representatives from each country will be invited to participate in the competition. In the past, as many as 32 countries have taken part in this annual competition. All contestants must be between 1422 years old. Potential project topics include, but are not limited to, the following list of current research trends: Forestry and Silviculture: wood identification; forest regeneration and succession; impacts of recreation, thinning, wildfires, and other disturbances on forests; forest regeneration after logging; effectiveness of artificial forest regeneration efforts, forest plantations, etc. Wildlife ecology: fauna, ecology and behavior of birds, insects and other forest species, including pests; study of the effectiveness of biological controls (e.g. attracting predators to control pests), etc.

4 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service International Programs 1 Thomas Circle, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC Ecology of forest plants: floristic and geobotanical studies of forest plant communities, studies of ecological and biological characteristics of forest plants, establishment of interpretive trails in forests, etc. Competition Procedure Students interested in representing the United States in the competition may submit an application and detailed project description to the USFS International Programs Office by July 8 th, A panel of USFS experts will review the applications and select one project (projects can be submitted by one individual student or by teams of two students.) The USFS International Programs office will submit the chosen project to the Russian competition organizers, who will make the final decision of acceptance to the competition. During the Competition in Russia (September 49), contest participants will present their projects to an International Panel of Judges. Contestants will respond to the Judges questions and give responses using necessary visual aids (photos, slides, tables, figures, posters, etc.). Projects will be evaluated based on the following criteria: relevancy, scientific value, practical importance, validity of research goals and objectives, quality and clearness of presented results, command of the material and proper presentation abilities. Prizes will be awarded in the following manner: o The winner of the International Junior Forester Prize will be presented with a Grand Prize. o The second and third places will be presented with special prizes. o The winners from the fourth to tenth place will be awarded incentive prizes. o All finalists will receive competition diplomas and medals. Please submit completed applications, resumes, and project descriptions by to Jacob Minor, jminor@fs.fed.us, at the USFS International Programs office. Questions and inquiries may be submitted to Jennifer Smith (jennifercsmith@fs.fed.us) or Jacob Minor (jminor@fs.fed.us)

5 FEDERAL FORESTRY AGENCY Programme XIII International Junior Forest Contest Time: the 4 th 9 th of September 2016 Place: Data and time Event Place Saint Petersburg, Peterhof The 4 th of September, Sunday Arrival of delegations to Saint Petersburg. Meeting at the Pulkovo airport and railway stations. Transfer and accommodation at the hotel in Peterhof Registration the members of the Contest. Peterhof Breakfast Lunch Dinner The 5 th of September, Monday Breakfast Peterhof Sightseeing tour around SaintPetersburg Meeting on the organization issues Collection of research works SaintPetersburg Lunch Visit to the Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical University under name of S.M Kirov Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical University under name of S.M Kirov Returning to Peterhof Peterhof Dinner Music programme

6 Data and time Event Place The 6 th of September, Tuesday Breakfast Peterhof Official opening of the XIII International Junior Forest Contest The XIII International Junior Forest Contest Coffeebreak The XIII International Junior Forest Contest Lunch The XIII International Junior Forest Contest Dinner Forest quiz The 7 th of September, Wednesday Breakfast Peterhof The XIII International Junior Forest Contest Coffeebreak The XIII International Junior Forest Contest Lunch The XIII International Junior Forest Contest International jury meeting on bringing the results of XIII International Junior Forest Contest Dinner Evening event

7 Data and time Event Place The 8 th of September, Thursday Breakfast Peterhof Awarding the winners of the Contest, special prizes and diplomas to contestants Establishment of a tree alley Lunch Visit to The State Peterhof Museum Reserve and the city of Kronstadt Dinner Departure of delegations according to their schedule, transfer to the Pulkovo airport and railway stations The 9 th of September, Friday Breakfast Peterhof Lunch Dinner Departure of delegations according to their schedule, transfer to the Pulkovo airport and railway stations