The Third International Young Scientist Forum for Climate Change
Sustainable Development through Bamboo Resources
When?
Where?
The deadline for abstract submission is July 15, 2025.
For any questions please contact: info.afrc@ubc.ca
Forum Summary
The Third International Young Scientist Forum for Climate Change with the broader theme of Sustainable Development through Bamboo Resources is a five-day hybrid event organized by the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Zhejiang A&F University (ZAFU), and International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR), co-organized by International Center for Bamboo and Rattan (ICBR), China-Canada Joint Laboratory for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Asia Pacific Forestry Education Coordination Mechanism (APFECM), Nanjing Forestry University, Southwest Forestry University, and IUFRO Division 5.11.05 – Bamboo and Rattan. Taking advantage of hybrid platforms, the forum will facilitate international participation and communication. The event will explore innovative bamboo-based solutions to combat climate change, covering a range of topics in the following 4 sessions:
Theme I: The Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative (including but not limited to):
– Advances in bamboo fiber composites, packaging, and consumer goods
– Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) comparing bamboo to conventional plastics
– Policy and business strategies for market transformation
– Standardization and certification pathways for bamboo-based substitutes
Theme II: Carbon Sequestration and Climate Mitigation (including but not limited to):
– Bamboo’s carbon sink function in different ecological zones
– Restoration of degraded lands using bamboo and its role in ecosystem resilience
– Its inclusion in carbon accounting frameworks, including NDCs and Article 6 mechanisms
– The potential of bamboo-based credits in voluntary and compliance carbon markets
Theme III: Technological Advancements and Innovations (including but not limited to):
– Smart harvesting techniques, digitization, and automation
– Advances in bamboo processing, such as engineered bamboo, textiles, and biomass energy
– Biorefinery and bio-based material innovation
– Enabling conditions for a circular economy within bamboo value chains
Theme IV: Livelihoods, Community Development, and the Global Bioeconomy (including but not limited to):
– Rural income generation and job creation, particularly for smallholder farmers
– Gender equity, youth engagement, and community empowerment
– Integration of bamboo into national bioeconomy strategies
– South-South collaboration and capacity building in bamboo-producing countries
This forum welcomes global young scientists, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and young professors conducting relevant research. Participants will engage in discussions, share knowledge, and foster collaborations to promote a sustainable future using bamboo as a key resource in combating climate change. There are also opportunities to submit posters to the forum. Furthermore, the journal Advances in Bamboo Science will launch an eponymous special issue reflecting the theme of the forum, encouraging global young scientists to participate and showcase their work.
Forum Plan
If you cannot attend in person, the forum will also take place online via Zoom. Please refer to the details below to join your corresponding session(s). If this is your first time using Zoom, please refer to the Joining a Zoom meeting article for instructions on how to join from your system.
1-2 December
Editorial Board Meeting. Only open to the editorial board members of the Journal of Advances in Bamboo Science.
3-4 December
Bamboo Forum. Main body of the forum, including the opening ceremony, plenary sessions, parallel sessions, networking events, and closing ceremony. Open to the public with free registration fees.
5 December
Post-Forum Excursion. The optional field trip to Anji County of Zhejiang Province will be organized. This will involve a fee. Visits will be made to the naturally growing and plantation bamboo sites, as well as the key bamboo factories.
Organizers
- Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia
- Zhejiang A&F University
- International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR)
Co-organizers
- International Center for Bamboo and Rattan (ICBR)
- China-Canada Joint Laboratory for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology
- Asia Pacific Forestry Education Coordination Mechanism (AP-FECM)
- Sichuan Agricultural University
- Jiangxi Academy of Forestry
- Southwest Forestry University
- Nanjing Forestry University
- IUFRO Division 5.11.05 – Bamboo and Rattan
Sponsors
- Journal: Advances in Bamboo Science
(This list will be continually updated)
How to Join the Forum
The forum will also take place online via Zoom. Please refer to the details below to join your corresponding session(s). If this is your first time using Zoom, please refer to the Joining a Zoom meeting article for instructions on how to join from your system.
Plenary & Room 1
TBD
Room 2
TBD
Room 3
TBD
Room 4
TBD
About the Forum
The Third International Young Scientist Forum is committed to investigating bamboo-based solutions to address the urgent issue of global climate change, emphasizing the crucial role of young scientists. The ongoing climate crisis poses significant and irreversible impacts on natural ecosystems, human societies and economies, demanding urgent, immediate and ambitious efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions drastically and initiate a transition toward a sustainable and resilient future. Bamboo, a fast-growing woody grass, has shown immense potential as a nature-based solution to climate change. It outperforms many tree species growing in similar regions in terms of carbon sequestration and storage capacity. Bamboo forests, now covering over 35 million hectares globally, serve as an exceptional renewable resource, yielding a variety of durable and sustainable products, from flooring to furniture, that can substitute carbon-intensive materials, thereby reducing deforestation and pollution. In 2022, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) launched the ‘Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative’. This initiative aims to amplify the use of bamboo to mitigate plastic pollution and address climate change challenges. With the global bamboo industry estimated to reach USD 90 billion by 2030, the development of bamboo-based products holds significant economic potential. In addition, introducing improved forest management activities in bamboo forests can generate carbon offset credits, providing financial incentives for farmers to better manage their bamboo forests and thus contributing to climate change mitigation and rural poverty reduction.
The forum seeks to gather young scientists from around the world, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and young professors, to delve into the potential of bamboo as a climate change solution. The forum will explore a range of topics, including bamboo livelihood and rural development strategies, climate change mitigation strategies, sustainable management practices, emerging bamboo-related technologies and businesses, and biodiversity conservation. The forum aims to inspire and empower young scientists to contribute to a more sustainable future by facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange. The forum will encourage high-quality article submissions to an eponymous special issue of the Journal of Advances in Bamboo Science.
About the Post-Forum Excursion
On 5 December 2025, the forum committee will organize a post-forum excursion to Anji County in Zhejiang Province. Located approximately one hour’s drive from the forum venue, Anji County is renowned as one of China’s premier “bamboo hometowns,” with around 70,000 hectares of bamboo forests. In 2022, nearly 1,000 bamboo-processing enterprises operated in Anji, collectively generating an industrial output value of approximately 2.5 billion USD. During the excursion, participants will visit multiple demonstration sites showcasing bamboo plantations, improved management techniques, and ecological restoration practices, offering firsthand insights into Anji’s innovative approaches. Additionally, visits to leading bamboo enterprises will provide an opportunity to explore technological advancements in bamboo products, including applications supporting the “Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative” and beyond. Detailed trip schedules and payment options will be announced one to two months prior to the forum; however, please indicate your interest during registration. For more information, please view the introductory YouTube video about Anji’s bamboo forests below:
Accommodation & Visa
Invitation letters will be provided to all attendees and guests for applying for a Chinese Visa. Detailed information on accommodation will be provided around July/August 2025.
Poster Presentation
To be updated
Awards
- Best Presenter – First Place
- 3 winners ($1200 each)
- Best Presenter – Runner-up
- 6 winners ($600 each)
- Best Presenter – Third Place
- 6 winners ($300 each)
- Best Poster
- 3 winners ($200 each)
- Industry Leadership Award
- 2 winners ($200 each)