IUFRO Scientific Achievement Award for Professor Maria Nijnik

"I am delighted that IUFRO have recognised the importance of social innovation and entrepreneurship in forestry as a means of delivering support to people, including forest-dependent communities, and helping in strengthening the resilience of socio-ecological systems"

Professor Maria Nijnik, a senior scientist within the James Hutton Institute’s Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences group, has been distinguished with a Scientific Achievement Award by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), on account of outstanding contributions to social science research on forestry, climate change and social innovation in forestry.

The award specifically recognises Professor Nijnik’s input in the development of novel ways of stakeholder evaluation of landscape change, conceptualization of multi-functional forestry and assessing of the cost-effectiveness and social acceptability of woodland expansion.

IUFRO highlighted that Professor Nijnik’s scientific accomplishments also cover socio-economic aspects of tackling climate change through forestry in Scotland and a number of other countries.

IUFRO is the global network for forest science cooperation. It aims to advance research excellence and foster the development of science-based solutions to forest-related challenges for the benefit of forests and people worldwide. It links more than 15,000 scientists in almost 700 Member Organizations in over 110 countries, and features a newly launched unit coordinated by Professor Nijnik.

Commenting on her award, Professor Nijnik said: “Innovation, including social innovation, is considered a driving force of sustainable forestry development. It helps regenerate the economy, improve the environment and advance people’s quality of life. We believe that it is timely and worthy for scientists, the community of practice and local people to explore the opportunities arising from innovation.

“I am delighted that IUFRO have recognised the importance of social innovation and entrepreneurship in forestry as a means of delivering support to people, including forest-dependent communities, and helping in strengthening the resilience of socio-ecological systems.

“I am grateful for the nomination and to all who supported it. I am also pleased to bring this year’s IUFRO Scientific Achievement Award to the James Hutton Institute in Scotland”.

More information about the recipients of the Scientific Achievement Awards 2019 is available in a special issue of IUFRO News. Two recipients of the 2019 awards, professors Nijnik and Elena Paoletti, are both members of the European Forest Institute’s Scientific Advisory Board.

The award will be presented to Professor Nijnik in a special ceremony at the IUFRO headquarters in Vienna, which is planned for 28^th October 2019.