In January 2008 the IAVS Executive Committee approved the first formal public Resolution of IAVS. This adoption grew out of a discussion in the Council and General Assembly meetings in Swansea in 2007, and the Executive Committee and Council anticipate adopting future Resolutions as a particularly effective way to honor the aim of the Association articulated in the statutes to 'increase awareness and to disseminate knowledge about vegetation.'

IAVS Resolution on Australia

September 8, 2023

The International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS), representing a global community of researchers and practitioners dedicated to advancing the understanding of vegetation and ecosystems, has held its 65th Annual Symposium this week at Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The participants had a chance to experience the unique plant assemblages in this region, including the greatest global diversity of eucalypt forests, temperate and subtropical rainforests. These forests provide habitat for many ancient lineages of flowering plants and songbirds as well as relict animal species, such as koala, rainforest frogs, platypus and echidnas. At the same time, during field visits, conference participants were shocked to see the recent degradation of this biodiversity hotspot by industrial logging, including areas in the proposed Great Koala National Park. The International Association for Vegetation Science praises the local authorities for the ambitious plan to establish the Great Koala National Park, but also calls on them to take immediate conservation measures to halt the destruction by ongoing industrial logging of the remaining ecologically fragile and globally significant biodiversity hotspots in New South Wales.

Press release from NSW government 12 September 2023.

Follow up from The Guardian 12 September 2023.

IAVS Resolution on Portugal

PLEASE READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE.

The first resolution addresses biofuels, and Mike Palmer of Oklahoma State University prepared the rationale for the IAVS Resolution. "There are few regions of the world that are not experiencing the effects of an increased demand for biofuel production. In many cases, this is resulting in an intensification of agriculture. In others, it is accelerating the loss of natural vegetation. As vegetation scientists, we need to be aware that many of the systems we study are threatened. On a more positive note, our expertise on the productive capacity of vegetation is directly relevant for the science of biofuels - although the intellectual capacity of our discipline has not yet been tapped. The proposed resolution is a statement that we recognize the concern, and that vegetation scientists have a potentially important role to play during these crucial times for our biosphere."

IAVS Resolution on Biofuels

January 11, 2008

Whereas:

• Over the past few years, concern about global climate change and energy security has dramatically increased interest in biomass‐derived energy
• Almost all attention on biomass‐derived energy has been focused on High‐Input, Low‐Diversity (HILD) systems, which have questionable sustainability and are susceptible to disease and crop failure,
• Low‐Input, High‐Diversity (LIHD) systems have not been explored as a source of biomass for energy, despite their possible advantages for global carbon balance,
• In some regions, LIHD systems have potential additional value for sustainability, plant and animal biodiversity, nature conservation, honey production, aesthetics, erosion control, and other benefits,
• Vegetation scientists have particular expertise on the productivity and sustainability of vegetation‐ derived biomass, and are thus especially qualified for addressing fundamental issues associated with biofuel production,
• Expenditures for Scientific Research on biofuels have expanded dramatically, but not for vegetation science,
• Increased production of HILD crops is threatening natural vegetation worldwide, and much of this vegetation is of high conservation value or provides valuable ecosystem services,

Therefore be it resolved that:

• We, the International Association for Vegetation Science, call upon scientific funding agencies to increase funding for basic and applied vegetation science,
• We call upon industry, government, and other institutions to avoid a strictly crop‐based approach, and to consider LIHD production where appropriate,
• We call upon our own membership to remain mindful and vigilant that many of the natural communities we value and study may come under threat from strong pressure for HILD developments,
• We call upon our own membership to consider how its expertise can be used and mobilized to contribute to a global research program, in which alternatives to HILD are explored,
• And we call upon our own membership to communicate a balanced view of biomass‐based fuels with stakeholders, including threats and opportunities associated with leading opportunities.