The XXV IUFRO World Congress 2019 opened in the Brazilian city of Curitiba on Monday 30 September. This is the first time that the congress, that is held every five years, has been hosted on the South American continent. The six-day event saw some 2600 attendees from 90 countries present 350 talks and 964 posters in 195 sessions. IUFRO President Prof. Mike Wingfield welcomed guests, colleagues and dignitaries to the congress which also marked the end of his five-year term as President of IUFRO. He noted that research collaboration is more important than ever because of problems such as climate change, forest degradation and changing political landscapes are becoming increasingly complex and cannot be resolved without international co-operation, which IUFRO offers. He encouraged delegated to use the congress to forge new collaborations to address these challenges that face the planet. The opening also included the IUFRO scientific achievement awards and officially started a jam-packed six-day programme at the Expo Centre Unimed.

FABI was well represented at the congress with its Director Prof. Bernard Slippers being joined by Prof. Brenda Wingfield, Prof Wilhelm de Beer, Prof. Brett Hurley, Dr Irene Barnes, PhD candidates Darryl Herron, Joey Hulbert and Josephine Queffelec as well as communications officer and IUFRO President's liaison officer Morné Booij-Liewes. Plant Sciences’ Prof. Paxie Chirwa was also present as well as SA Forestry’s Research Director Dr Ronald Heath.